A girl who doesn't fit in befriends a blind horse who also struggles to find his place in the herd. A beautiful picture book that helps readers celebrate the qualities that challenge us and make us different.
Moon cannot see but he hears sounds that other horses ignore: the eggshell crack of a meadow lark hatching. The glide of a salamander into the pond. Clara does not speak but she hears sounds that other children ignore: the hum of the oven when her mother bakes muffins. The sound of the cat's paws on the kitchen floor.
Both the foal and the little girl live with challenges. Both also have special qualities, which are recognized by friends who are open to seeing them. Midnight and Moon is about the rare and wonderful friendship that can form between opposites, a friendship that enriches both. This story shows us that our differences are positives, that the world needs both Claras and Jacks, Midnights and Moons.
One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2022), Starred Selection
“The story’s gentle drama and quiet heroics of two characters with disabilities makes this a wonderful read that also affirms being introverted, nonverbal, or shy.” —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist “Midnight and Moon is a beautiful, soft story. . . . [It] would make a lovely addition to any children’s library.” —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"This sensitive picture book . . . imagines the links among people and between humans and animals as a continuum of words, sounds, gestures and intuitionabout one another." —Imaginary Elevators
"A poignant story of disability that mingles special qualities 'by friends who are open to seeing them.'" —Story Monsters Ink
KELLY COOPER grew up on a cattle farm in the tiny farming community of Senlac, Saskatchewan. Kelly later moved to New Brunswick and now lives on a dairy farm with one husband, two daughters, a hundred cows, many cats and two donkeys. Kelly has years of experience teaching language arts and visual arts and has worked with students of all ages. She has written for radio, and her poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction have been published in a number of Canadian literary journals and several anthologies. Her first picture book, If a Horse Had Words, was illustrated by Lucy Eldridge and her upcoming picture book, Midnight and Moon, is illustrated by Daniel Miyares.
View titles by Kelly Cooper
Daniel Miyares is the critically acclaimed author-illustrator of NIGHT OUT, which was called a “pleasure” by Publishers Weekly in a starred review, and FLOAT, which the Boston Globe called a “perfect wordless picture book.” He is also the illustrator of NIGHT WALK TO THE SEA, written by Deborah Wiles, described as “majestic” by Bulletin Center for Children’s Books, and THAT IS MY DREAM! a picture book version of Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation,” hailed as “a must-read” by Kirkus in a starred review. He lives in Kansas with his family.
View titles by Daniel Miyares
A girl who doesn't fit in befriends a blind horse who also struggles to find his place in the herd. A beautiful picture book that helps readers celebrate the qualities that challenge us and make us different.
Moon cannot see but he hears sounds that other horses ignore: the eggshell crack of a meadow lark hatching. The glide of a salamander into the pond. Clara does not speak but she hears sounds that other children ignore: the hum of the oven when her mother bakes muffins. The sound of the cat's paws on the kitchen floor.
Both the foal and the little girl live with challenges. Both also have special qualities, which are recognized by friends who are open to seeing them. Midnight and Moon is about the rare and wonderful friendship that can form between opposites, a friendship that enriches both. This story shows us that our differences are positives, that the world needs both Claras and Jacks, Midnights and Moons.
Praise
One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2022), Starred Selection
“The story’s gentle drama and quiet heroics of two characters with disabilities makes this a wonderful read that also affirms being introverted, nonverbal, or shy.” —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist “Midnight and Moon is a beautiful, soft story. . . . [It] would make a lovely addition to any children’s library.” —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"This sensitive picture book . . . imagines the links among people and between humans and animals as a continuum of words, sounds, gestures and intuitionabout one another." —Imaginary Elevators
"A poignant story of disability that mingles special qualities 'by friends who are open to seeing them.'" —Story Monsters Ink
Author
KELLY COOPER grew up on a cattle farm in the tiny farming community of Senlac, Saskatchewan. Kelly later moved to New Brunswick and now lives on a dairy farm with one husband, two daughters, a hundred cows, many cats and two donkeys. Kelly has years of experience teaching language arts and visual arts and has worked with students of all ages. She has written for radio, and her poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction have been published in a number of Canadian literary journals and several anthologies. Her first picture book, If a Horse Had Words, was illustrated by Lucy Eldridge and her upcoming picture book, Midnight and Moon, is illustrated by Daniel Miyares.
View titles by Kelly Cooper
Daniel Miyares is the critically acclaimed author-illustrator of NIGHT OUT, which was called a “pleasure” by Publishers Weekly in a starred review, and FLOAT, which the Boston Globe called a “perfect wordless picture book.” He is also the illustrator of NIGHT WALK TO THE SEA, written by Deborah Wiles, described as “majestic” by Bulletin Center for Children’s Books, and THAT IS MY DREAM! a picture book version of Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation,” hailed as “a must-read” by Kirkus in a starred review. He lives in Kansas with his family.
View titles by Daniel Miyares