The Moon Ring

October 7, 2002
There's a blue moon ("second full moon in a month") in the sky on a hot summer night, and "magic loves blue-moon light," Maxine's grandmother tells her. Sure enough, a ring of silver (the ring and the moon appear in metallic paint on the page) falls from the sky and carries Maxine off to exotic locales: a polar penguin hangout, a sun-drenched savanna (where a giraffe becomes her trusty, if somewhat unsteady, steed) and even New York City. Then, with a final "Whoosh!" Maxine finds herself safely back in the reality of her home—only, what are that giraffe, seal and penguin doing in Maxine's backyard? The episodes at times seem like snapshots cobbled together, while the text offers little more than obvious descriptions of the pictures' action. But veteran editorial illustrator DuBurke's artwork makes up for the narrative's awkward pacing. His illustrations, rendered in pen, ink and acrylic, feel as magical as Maxine's lunar ring. With an offbeat aesthetic that combines an almost photographic realism with cartoon exaggeration, DuBurke's full-bleed spreads and framed panels exude a giddy energy. Maxine, with her infectious, authentic enthusiasm, communicated via lanky limbs and an expressive face, takes her wild adventures in stride. Ages 4-8

December 1, 2002
PreS-Gr 2-On the cover of this story of a magical trip, a pleased-looking African-American girl relaxes in the curve of a metallic silver moon above the skyline of New York City placed, surprisingly, behind a herd of running giraffes. As the story begins, Maxine, who sports short overalls and purple goggles, is resting with her grandmother on the porch after a hot day when they notice that there is a blue moon, a sure sign of magic. A silver ring falls from it and grants Maxine wishes, which she uses to travel to the Antarctic, the African savanna, Manhattan, and home again. The story alone is a typical, childlike, wish-fulfillment sequence, but the illustrations make it special, for DuBurke is a master of pose and expression. The word "adorable" comes to mind when looking at Maxine's penguin walk and walrus ride; and the tiny silhouette of giraffe and girl on the Empire State Building in front of the silver moon is a charmer. Most unusual and appealing are the juxtaposition of realistic human bodies and faces with flat, cartoony clothes, settings, and animals. The story is really just a vehicle for the art, but these are impressive illustrations.-Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2003
After Maxine's grandmother explains that "magic loves blue-moon light," a large ring falls from the sky that takes Maxine wherever she wants to go, from Antarctica to Africa to the top of the Empire State Building. The grandmother-grandchild bond--only "they" know that it wasn't all a dream--is the story's main raison d'etre, but the images, which get more intricate as Maxine's adventures accumulate, are noteworthy.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)