I See the Moon by Kathy Appelt (1997) begins with Psalm 139:9 - 10. That prepares the reader for the multiple references to God in this very short story for little ones. The main character is a non-gendered white child who appears to be preschool age. The child is in a little sailboat on a sea with rough waves. “Does anyone know I’m alone here at sea?” The first illustration depicts the child looking up at the moon that has a smiling human face. This child watches the stars “ from the bow of my craft “ and feels the wind “ with its whispery tail.” Night turns to day and a dove appears to guide the child to shore. The child knows that God is taking care of them. “My heart is as full as the moon and the sea. God loves them too. God loves me.
Deborah read Jenkins’s illustrations fill the pages with luscious warm shades of deep blue, gold, and green. Depictios of water and wind are swirling and vibrant. At the end of the story, the child’s face is jubilant and nearly angelic. This is a beautiful book that may be appropriate for a variety of faiths.
