My kindergartner, Leo, is suddenly obsessed with space, so when his teacher sent home "Moon Dreams" I figured he'd be into it. It's about a little girl named Luna who wonders where the Moon goes during the day. She asks her mom, who encourages her to dream about it. So, it's less about the actual science of the Moon and more about using your imagination, which I think is a good approach for little kids.
Leo really liked the pictures. They're soft and dreamy, all watercolor-y, and they definitely kept him engaged. He kept pointing out details, like the cat in Luna's room and the different shapes she imagines the Moon taking. The story itself is pretty simple. He didn't have any trouble following along, and the sentences are short and easy to understand. It's definitely a bedtime story kind of book, very calming. It was a good length for him too because he often loses interest if books are too long, but this one held his attention until the end. He even asked me to read it again, which is always a win!
The book is AR level 3.9, worth 0.5 points. He's been needing a few more points to reach his goal for this quarter, so it was perfect timing. The word count is 573, but it doesn't feel that long because of the illustrations breaking up the text. I'd say this is definitely geared towards lower grades, probably K-2. A third grader who is a strong reader would probably find it a little too easy.
This book is ideal for a kid who is just starting to get interested in space or for a parent who wants a gentle bedtime story. If your kid is looking for hard facts about the Moon, this isn't it. But if you have a little one with a big imagination, this might be a good pick. I'm planning on getting him a book about the phases of the Moon next, now that he's hooked on the topic. It was a good way to spark some curiosity!