Luna Loves the Moon

SEL meets STEM in this 685-word picture book about a loon chick’s playful relationship with the moon, which grows increasingly confusing as the moon moves through its monthly phases. Luna’s emotions wax and wane with the moon’s monthly phases, until she learns what it takes to calm her own waters.

Although Luna Loves the Moon is a work of fiction, the story is peppered with scientifically accurate facts about loon behavior, appearance, and development that is true to a single lunar cycle. I have also included 200 words of nonfiction back matter to supplement the story.

Luna Loves the Moon was written for children ages 4-8.

This manuscript won first place in the 2023 Alaska Writers Guild annual Children’s Literature writing contest.