You Can Take the Moon with You

Packing Up

Around our house, we take a lot of imaginary vacations. Usually our destinations are places we’ve visited before as a family, but sometimes B picks out places from books or movies. He received a small, hand-me-down, rolling suitcase from our neighbor a couple years ago, and he loves to pack it up for our imaginary trips and other pretend games. Sometimes it’s full of clothes, but other times it is full of books, play power tools, or plastic food storage containers pilfered from the kitchen cabinets. It always intrigues and amuses me to hear B’s rationale behind his packing choices.


Trip Preparation


We just returned from our first summer getaway, and have a couple more planned in the coming months. We’re opting for shorter, nearer, more affordable trips this year, because it allows us to stretch our enjoyment (and our dollar) over the whole summer. Whether you’re traveling across town or around the globe, you’ll enjoy reading See You Soon Moon in preparation for your trip. Packing up and leaving home can be hard at any age, but for the toddler or preschooler entrenched in their familiar routines, it can be a major cognitive challenge. A book like See You Soon Moon can help address questions and soothe discomfort.


A Travel Story for Your Sprout

Donna Conrad’s See You Soon Moon is told from the perspective of a little boy preparing for a trip to Grandma’s house. You and your child can read about his preparations: “I think I’ll take my blanket,” and trepidations: “I’ll miss you swings,” as well as the trip experience: “the car is jiggling me up and down.” From the car window, it appears to the little boy that the moon he bid goodbye to at home is instead following him up the hill, around the lake, and along the highway. The trip is uniquely illustrated by Don Carter with dimensional oil painting. Upon arrival at Grandma’s the little boy greets her and discovers the moon is there too – a comforting and familiar feeling in a less familiar place. B loves to go on trips, but we always bring along some familiar objects to make our stay more comfortable, and what easier way to feel connected to home than to remember that we’re all going to bed under the same moon? How do you make trips more comfortable for your little ones?


Appropriate for toddlers, preschoolers, primary grades.


I’m linking up with Feed Me Books Friday and Meme’s the Word (on Saturday).