About This Book
Reach for this book when your child expresses a big, seemingly impossible wish or when they need a tangible reminder of a parent's devotion. It is perfect for those quiet moments before bed when the world feels vast and full of wonder. The story follows Monica, who wants the moon to play with, and her father, who goes to extraordinary lengths to bring it down for her. Beyond the magical adventure, the book gently introduces the natural phases of the moon, showing how it grows and shrinks over time. It is a beautiful choice for parents who want to foster a sense of security and limitless possibility in their children. The fold out pages create a theatrical experience that mirrors the scale of a father's love, making it a reassuring read for children aged 2 to 6 who are navigating their place in a big world.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
A preschooler who is fascinated by the night sky or a child who needs a visual representation of how far a caregiver will go to support their dreams.
Parent Prep
This is a book that can be read cold, but parents should be prepared to handle the fold-out pages carefully, as they are central to the experience but can be fragile for very young toddlers. A child pointing at something in the distance (the moon, a plane, a star) and saying, "I want that," or asking "How high is the sky?"
Age Experience
For a 2-year-old, the book is a tactile, visual marvel of changing page sizes. For a 5-year-old, it becomes a lesson in the lunar cycle and a metaphorical story about perseverance and the bond between parent and child.
What Makes It Special
The engineering of the book is its standout feature: pages that fold out in four directions to convey the immense height of the ladder and the scale of the moon, paired with Eric Carle's iconic collage art.
Read plot summary
Monica asks her father for the moon. To fulfill her wish, Papa fetches a very long ladder, climbs a high mountain, and reaches into the sky. He discovers the moon is too large to carry, but the moon explains that it gets smaller every night. Once it is the right size, Papa brings it home to Monica. After playing with it, the moon continues to shrink until it disappears, eventually reappearing in the night sky.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Papa used a very long ladder to reach the moon. If you wanted to reach the sky, what kind of invention would you build?
2
The moon told Papa it would get smaller every night. Have you noticed the moon looking different outside your window lately?
3
Monica wanted the moon to play with. What is something you find in nature that you wish you could keep in your room?
4
How do you think Monica felt when the moon finally became small enough for her to hold?
