Can I Cuddle the Moon? by Kerry Brown and Lisa Stewart is an endearing story for the very young about a baby owl who just needs a good cuddle. He thinks about trying to cuddle the moon, the stars, the sun and even a crocodile, but finally realises that what he needs is much closer to home.
Brown's question-and-answer text, presented in rhyming couplets, makes for enjoyable bedtime reading, but it is Stewart's highly decorative collage illustrations that totally enchant. The baby owl is a delightfully expressive ball of fluff, his features suggested by simple brushstrokes. Decorative flowers and leaves abound, butterflies flutter b on lacy wings, and even the boa constrictor is non-threatening, sinuously created from flower-print origami paper. But most striking of all is owl's mother, a gorgeous creature with soft tawny feathers and flower-patterned wings.
This book is a visual delight, and with its whimsical text and strong message about the importance of both mothers and cuddles, it is sure to be a winner with the preschool set.
Stephanie Owen Reeder, Canberra Times, June 5, 2010
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