Where Has the Moon Gone?

Two little mice love to look at the moon. One morning, they wonder where the moon goes during the day, so they decide to search for it. What will they find--an orange, a balloon, or the marvelous moon? With beautiful, colorful illustrations, and two adorable characters, this picture book adventure story is filled with the excitement and curiosity of exploration. StarBerry Books, an imprint of Kane Press, is a library full of diverse and imaginative children's books created by authors and artists from all over the globe. Read Your Way Around the World!

About the Author :
Hiroyuki Arai was born in Tokyo and majored in design at Tokyo Zokei University. He is the father of two daughters and the author of many books, including Can We Go to the Sea?, also published in English by StarBerry Books. Yukiko Kobayashi lives in Japan. She is the illustrator and author of a number of picture books. She has collaborated with Hiroyuki Arai on several titles, including Can We Go to the Sea?, a companion book to Where Has the Moon Gone?

Review :
Two gray mice, dressed in pants with suspenders, notice that the moon follows them at night and doesn't during the day. They wonder where it goes and set out to find it. They see a yellow round shape in a tree and climb the tree to see if it is the moon. It is a balloon. The duo's adventure continues from round shape to round shape until they are spied by a cat and chased. They make a great escape via the yellow balloon floating into the now night sky. There, they discover the real moon. Engaging two-page illustrations, in bright springtime colors, make good use of space to express size and perspective. The black cat looks ominous enough to give young readers a gasp and then a smile of relief as the cute mice escape. Conversational text between the mice keep things lively with just the right amount of narrative to keep the story moving. Originally published in Japanese, this charming and simple tale translates well and is sure to entertain. VERDICT A solid addition for storytime and small group sharing.--School Library Journal -- "Journal" Two curious mice set out to find out what happens to the moon during the day in this Japanese import. Declaring that the moon must really like them since it follows them around, Chuchu and Chichi decide to find out where it goes when the sun comes up. What at first looks like the object of their search turns out to be a balloon stuck in a tree. Then a glimpse of yellow prompts them to creep into a house and nibble on an unidentifiable 'moon-fruit' (presumably a lemon, because it 'was very tart!') and to check out a small bell--which turns out to be connected to the collar of a very large and irate cat! Scurrying back out the window and into the tree, the two mice bite through the balloon's string and escape into the sky . . . where they are last seen floating through the nighttime sky and hailing the bright moon. The co-published Can We Go to the Sea? is similarly open-ended, as Chuchu and Chichi are left traveling on the back of a leaping dolphin after floating down a stream and over a waterfall. Like the 'moon-fruit, ' Kobayashi's versions of the moon, the balloon, the cat, and for that matter 'Ms. Dolphin' don't look particularly lifelike, but the mice, sporting big pink ears and baggy shorts, are cute, and their dramatic brushes with death at least help to counter the general blandness of the art and the storylines. Sweet tales, if not quite scientifically rigorous or, for that matter, quite finished off.--Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal"