I'll Follow the Moon

MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS® GOLD MEDALIST
CANADIAN CHOCOLATE LILY AWARDS® GOLD MEDALIST

Double-gold medalist I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON (best selling turtle book of all time) begins simply in baby sea turtle's voice: "I'm coming Mama, I'll see you soon, I know just how, I'll follow the moon..." Celebrating the love between child and parent comes an achingly beautiful story that has captured hearts around the world. *Donates to charity: every book saves a turtle!

MY DAUGHTER LOVED IT!: "My daughter loved the turtle. The illustrations are great! She said, "Mom if I'm ever lost, I'll follow the moon and find you."

MY PRESCHOOLER LOVES THIS BOOK: "My 3 1/2 year old daughter loves this book. She has learned the little saying that is on every page and loves to say it with me."

GENTLE REPETITION: "The story is gentle and the repetition helps soothe my son. I like the message, and the art is beautiful."

GREAT BOOK: "Great book for the grandkids. They love it. They like to read prior to bedtime. The girls really enjoy this book."

I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: "This children's book has beautiful illustrations that compliment the lyrical, gentle words that accompany the small sea turtle's journey from
egg to sea." 

SO CUTE!: It's impossible not to be enchanted by these little creatures! I'm so in love with this book, perfect for everyone!"  

CUTE BEDTIME STORY: "I enjoyed reading this book to my daughter, she loved the artwork. It was well written and will be enjoyable for children."

BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS: "What a lovely book! A great story to introduce an environmental concept."

FANTASTIC: "A perfect afternoon read. I enjoyed it, and my son will too I'm sure."

I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: "I really enjoyed this book. I read it to my 1 and 2 year old. They really enjoyed this book. Beautiful illustration!"

SWEET AND PERTINENT: "As a resident of northwest Florida, this book is one that should be shared with all residents, young and old alike. It is currently turtle season here and all residents enjoy keeping watch on these special creatures."

SWEET CHILDREN'S BOOK: "A sweet children's book, lovely rhymes and beautiful pictures. Definitely a book worth having to enjoy over and over, great for kids of any age."

GREAT TO READ ALOUD TO THE CLASS: "My second graders will love this simple book with wonderful words and a repetitive line which they will quickly join in to read."

I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: "I read this to my boys. They loved the graphics and how cute the turtles were. The story is super cute! Very entertaining."

SWEET SIMPLE STORY, SWEET ILLUSTRATIONS: "...comforting and relaxing. The story line is not at all complex, but is appealing in its simplicity and repetitiveness."

MAKES A GREAT BEDTIME STORY!: "...decided to download it for my kid's...Cute illustrations, educational, and delivers a positive message. Makes a great bedtime story. Recommend it!"

"[G]orgeous watercolors chronicle the journey of a baby sea turtle from its hatching to its first swim in the sea." -- Kirkus Reviews, September 2005 Mom's Choice Award Gold Medalist--September 2007 Canadian Chocolate Lily Award Gold Medalist--June 2007 Chocolate Lily Award congratulates Stephanie Lisa Tara and Lee Edward Fodi (illustrator) for I'll Follow The Moon's third place win!!! -- *Chocolate Lily Award Winner - June 2007* Click, clack, tap, Blue melts away. As I tap, crick, crack, I spin, I sway. I'm coming, Mama, I'll see you soon I know just how...I'll follow the moon. First-time author Stephanie Lisa Tara and Canadian illustrator Lee Edward Fodi have teamed up to create a lyrical rendition of a green sea turtle's first glimpse of life. Hatched on a moon-washed beach, the baby turtle finds its way by instinct across the expanse of sand to the sea and a rendezvous with its mother. Written in simple verse in the first person, the rhythmic text is full of action and sensory detail and loaded with alliteration and onomatopoeia for an enjoyable read-aloud. Only one stanza using the word 'eternity' may puzzle young minds. The refrain, "I'm coming, Mama.....," repeated on each double page spread, is soothing and reassuring of the joyful reunion to come. The atmosphere of a quiet but determined struggle to break free of the egg soon gives way to growing excitement as the turtle mingles with fellow hatchlings and catches his first tempting sensations: the smell of salt air, the sight of the moon's glow, the gentle touch and beckoning sounds of the waves rushing to shore. Once he's free of the land, new motions take over: gulp, spin, float, swim.... The final happy refrain is new and satisfying: "I'm here, Mama - here with you. I know I'd find you, Moon did too." Framed by endpapers of soft, limitless, undersea green, Fodi's delightful illustrations feature an animated and engaging baby emerging from an egg buried in golden sand. With other tiny turtles, he is shown plowing through the damp sand, sampling the salty sea air and marching unerringly toward the moonlight glimmer, his guide to the ocean. Once afloat, he soon comes face to face with "eyes like mine" in his new watery home. The gold of sand, blue of sky and green of the sea repeated throughout the book bring a sense of harmony. The turtle is the focal point of all the pictures, with few background details added. The illustrator has carefully integrated the turtle's actions with Tara's verse which relies heavily on verbs: roll, slide, tumble......crawl, scoop, shove. Young children will be propelled through the story in the illustrations as well as the text. This attractive book is an enjoyable way to introduce young listeners to a fascinating cycle in nature. Highly Recommended. Gillian Richardson, who lives in BC, is a former teacher-librarian and freelance writer. -- CM Magazine, Gillian Richardson In this tranquil bedtime story, a baby sea turtle hatches on the beach and wants to find his mother. And he knows just how -- he'll follow the moon! From his gentle struggles to break free of his egg to his determination to dig his way out of the sand nest and his eager shuffles toward the ocean, we follow the baby sea turtle on each step of his instinctive journey back to his loving mother who awaits him in the sea. Stephanie Lisa Tara's gentle verse along with Lee Edward Fodi's soft, earth-toned illustrations capture the gentle natural beauty of this nocturnal beach migration. Your young readers and listeners will be rooting for the young sea turtle as he works his way toward the sea and be thrilled to see him reunite with his mother, even as they discover the beauty of this real life struggle of the green sea turtle. -- Books of Wonder, New York City; Peter Glassman December 2007