Are you looking for a story that’s filled with animals and has the ambiance of an ethereal dream? The Moonlight Zoo, written by Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrated by Karl James Mountford, is the one for you.
The story starts out with a sad incident. Eva is worried about her lost cat, Luna, and wonders if the cat’s cold, alone, and scared. In the picture, there are homemade “Lost Cat” posters on her bedroom floor, and she gazes out the window from her bed, frowning.
A hoot, hiss, and growl come from under her bed, and she follows these sounds. I speculate that the hiss must have sounded like Luna’s, for Eva is thinking that Luna might be under the bed. She doesn’t see Luna; rather, she winds up at the Moonlight Zoo, complete with moonbeam gates and star-wrapped pillars. A wolf greets her and says the zoo is a sanctuary for lost animals and pets. By looking through the pages, the place has habitats fitting different species of animals, and that’s not all. A two-page picture shows a bison sitting in a booth, holding a balloon by its hoof, while a hamster-like animal is riding on a floating balloon. The signs at the zoo have clever names, like Panda Paradise and Pet Playground.
The wolf guides her through the zoo as they search for Luna. They arrive at the Penguin Palace, which has not only penguins and other arctic animals but also a pony, jungle birds, and a couple of poodles playing ball in the water. A place like this captures the wild imagination of a child. Luna isn’t there, but they find her collar.
They search for her through Monkey Island, Wolf Mountain, Land of Elephants, and Reptile Room, because they must find her before dawn when the zoo closes. The stakes increase as the stars fade. However, Eva, with a heavy heart, insists on finding Luna. A roar resounds, and the wolf takes her to Big Cat Kingdom. An illustration shows Luna, a white fluffy cat, intermingling with the feline creatures.
The Moonlight Zoo starts disappearing as dawn progresses, and as the animals leave, the wolf carries Eva and Luna on his back. The picture makes them look like they’re flying into a shimmer of pink. None of the pages have literal glitter, but the images capture the essence of sparkle well. A giant moth flies alongside Eva and her friends. Even a rocket soars with them, either hinting that Eva is nearing home (as she has a model rocket in her room) or just adding whimsy to the story. The book ends with Eva sitting up in bed, smiling at Luna curled up, and snoozing. Underneath the bed, the wolf poses at a rock, stars, and sparkles surrounding him.
The book is filled with pinks, blues, and purples that capture the beauty of bedtime in a fantastical world. Parents may need to be aware that Eva has a peace sign poster in her room, but she has a plethora of other items that are fun to gaze at, including a jungle bird poster that grows and changes as she nears the Moonlight Zoo.
Add this book to either your daytime library or nighttime collection, especially if you like zoos, pets, and starry scenery.
