When moon became the moon by Rob Hodgson

 I loved Rob Hodgson's first nature chapter book, When cloud became a cloud, and was excited to see another in this series, focusing on the moon. Although I am not usually a fan of anthropomorphic, fictionalized science, I think this format really works and Hodgson's voice makes these little chapter books very accessible to young readers.

The book is divided into 11 chapters, starting with a general introduction to the universe. "Baby Moon" appears in chapter three with a BOOM! as Earth crashes into another planet and the resulting chunks of rock form into a moon. There's still a long journey before we get to the smiling moon from the front cover though! Readers will be introduced to the phases of the moon, her effect on tides (both Earth and the Moon have female pronouns) and her excitement when she gets her first visitors.

Hodgson's simple, cheery illustrations are a great match for the brief text and his smiling moon enjoys each moment, from celebrating her craters to watching over young readers at night. At 64 pages and a trim 9x8 inches, this isn't really a picture book although it can easily be shelved in that area (and that's where I put Cloud). Ideally, it's a transitional chapter book and I'm excited to add it to my new transitional chapter book section for both readers and listeners to enjoy.

Verdict: A charming introduction to the moon, from formation to its current place in the universe. A strong addition to chapter book collections, although of course libraries will want to have clearly nonfiction titles on hand for kids eager to learn more. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780593523629; Published August 2023 by Rise X Penguin Workshop; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library