Full Moon Rising

Linda Ludke is a librarian at the London Public Library.

As we follow a young farm girl throughout the year, the names of each
month’s full moon are described in poetic vignettes. “January brings
the Wolf Moon, the wild Wolf Moon. Frost has painted pictures on our
windowpanes. We are cosy indoors. Out in the snow-white, moon-white
field, the wolves howl.” Under March’s Sap Moon, the family rides
out to the sugar bush to tap the maple trees. Fields are plowed and
gardens are tended to during May’s Planting Moon. June’s Honey Moon
is a perfect time for a wedding celebration. Jars of pickles and
preserves are sold at a farmer’s market under September’s Harvest
Moon. Holiday preparations “light up the dark time under the
Long-Night Moon” of December.

Tooke’s magnificent acrylic paintings complement and extend the brief
text. The seasons are vividly brought to life in the realistic
illustrations. Children will find many details to examine in the
full-page spreads, including horse-drawn wagon rides through snowy
fields, newborn lambs in the barnyard, and picnic tables laden with
corn-on-the-cob.

Endnotes provide information on blue moons and black moons. A list of
the different names for the moon in each month is also included. Full
Moon Rising is a beautifully designed book that celebrates rural life
and nature. Highly recommended.