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Moon River Picture Book
Follow a little girl on a magical journey along the Moon River. It flows from her bedroom and out into the big wide world just waiting to be discovered. She's soon to be joined by other children who are all excited to be exploring the beautiful world together. There is such a lot of world to
see!
Moon River is a song composed by Henry Mancini with Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It recieved an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its performance by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).
see!
Moon River is a song composed by Henry Mancini with Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It recieved an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its performance by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Tim Hopgood
64 books41 followersTim Hopgood is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in magazines such as Esquire, GQ, and Harper’s. He lives in York, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 5, 2019
We were elated to find this one at our local library. The cover is what grabbed my daughter’s attention, but for me it was the title. The book is based on the song “Moon River” by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini. In the book, a young girl dreams about seeing the world and begins traveling with her rocking horse and teddy bear. The illustrations by Tim Hopgood are imaginative and beautiful.
“Moon River” is a song my grandfather used to sing, and it made this book nostalgic for me. We listened to Andy William’s singing along with the book which made it even more delightful. The illustrations pull you in and I enjoyed seeing my daughter's eyes light up with each new page. I think I enjoyed it as much as my daughter did. This is a sweet book that would also be perfect for a bedtime story.
5*****
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 16, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250159008
ISBN-13: 978-1250159007
You can also read this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2019/...
“Moon River” is a song my grandfather used to sing, and it made this book nostalgic for me. We listened to Andy William’s singing along with the book which made it even more delightful. The illustrations pull you in and I enjoyed seeing my daughter's eyes light up with each new page. I think I enjoyed it as much as my daughter did. This is a sweet book that would also be perfect for a bedtime story.
5*****
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 16, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250159008
ISBN-13: 978-1250159007
You can also read this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2019/...
March 23, 2019
I’m always delighted when I read these “song” books illustrated by Tim Hopgood. They are so affirming and uplifting that you come away with high spirits and a spring in your step.
Familiarity with the song and tune, or lack thereof, is what makes or breaks this series of books for a person. The words, music and images all work in harmony to create a favorable mood of happiness and tranquility.
In Moon River, as you read and hum along, it’s easy to imagine yourself in the scene. Whether you’re simply meandering along, just going with the flow and letting life take you where it may, or actively scanning the banks for excitement and adventure, you’ll experience so much as you drift along.
It’s exciting to consider and anticipate the possibilities of all that there is to see and do in our great big world and the imagery and effect produced here calms and soothes. Just as the river seems to endlessly flow along so too will your hopes and dreams.
How and when you get there is not important, but be confident that life’s gentle motion will take you where you need to go when to need to go there. What a peaceful and sweet thought to reflect upon as you cast your cares aside and drift away.
Familiarity with the song and tune, or lack thereof, is what makes or breaks this series of books for a person. The words, music and images all work in harmony to create a favorable mood of happiness and tranquility.
In Moon River, as you read and hum along, it’s easy to imagine yourself in the scene. Whether you’re simply meandering along, just going with the flow and letting life take you where it may, or actively scanning the banks for excitement and adventure, you’ll experience so much as you drift along.
It’s exciting to consider and anticipate the possibilities of all that there is to see and do in our great big world and the imagery and effect produced here calms and soothes. Just as the river seems to endlessly flow along so too will your hopes and dreams.
How and when you get there is not important, but be confident that life’s gentle motion will take you where you need to go when to need to go there. What a peaceful and sweet thought to reflect upon as you cast your cares aside and drift away.
August 14, 2019
1. I love this song
2. I love the artwork here. It’s pure Caldecott material. It should have been an honor winner at least
3. The song plus the artwork is magic
4. This is the perfect song or story to fall asleep to.
I sang this book to the kids. They like being sang too. For each of the children, their parents sang them to sleep each night for the first 1-2 years of their life before stories became a thing. I also found out this is part of a series, so I will be getting the whole series as I love picture books based on songs. YES!
The nephew was enchanted by the story. He loved the dreams it invoked. He gave this 4 stars and told me that I sang ok. The niece came in for this story, for the song and she loved the artwork for this one too. She liked the dreamy quality of the song and how the artwork flowed with that mood. She gave this 5 stars.
March 8, 2024
Beautiful song - beautiful art - a great bedtime story. A great way to introduce children to this iconic song. I think it is very important to introduce different types of music to children; it will only help them as they broaden their perspective on what they like. The vibrant illustrations add to the charm of this book.
December 6, 2018
I just adore these Tim Hopgood "Great American Songbook"-inspired picture books. Sadly, most children's books based on popular music feel like quick cash grabs. Ephemeral at best, worthless trash at worst (think Pharell's Happy or Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You--great songs, terrible picture books).
The Hopgood books, though, are sweet, bright, whimsical, and, most importantly, centered around songs whose lyrics make sense serving as the text of a picture book. The treatment of "Moon River" is no exception. The illustrations present a childhood world of wonder, a dreamy bedtime fantasia that's both innocent and charming. And soothing, as a good bedtime book should be.
Honestly, when the "two drifters" (here a kiddo and horse) join up with all the other drifters (more children, each with their own big animal friend) to sail a winding river road in the night sky, a tear came to my eye. Because yes, these are exactly the images this lullaby evokes in the listener's mind, whether the listener is a child or child at heart.
Lovely!
The Hopgood books, though, are sweet, bright, whimsical, and, most importantly, centered around songs whose lyrics make sense serving as the text of a picture book. The treatment of "Moon River" is no exception. The illustrations present a childhood world of wonder, a dreamy bedtime fantasia that's both innocent and charming. And soothing, as a good bedtime book should be.
Honestly, when the "two drifters" (here a kiddo and horse) join up with all the other drifters (more children, each with their own big animal friend) to sail a winding river road in the night sky, a tear came to my eye. Because yes, these are exactly the images this lullaby evokes in the listener's mind, whether the listener is a child or child at heart.
Lovely!
October 12, 2018
I don't know why someone hasn't done this before - put the lyrics of a song into a book (although more learned people than me might well know of examples where this has happened previously, to me it is a newly discovered thing, although I note that on the back cover there are three other books in the series - "Walking in a Winter Wonderland", "What a Wonderful World" and "Singing in the Rain"). Maybe it has something to do with money.
This book is based on the lyrics of the song Moon River and the book follows a young girl who is drifting off to sleep, and going on a dreamy journey along the moon river seeing lovely sights from all around the world with her toy friends. As such it makes for an excellent bedtime story, especially if you read it whilst listening to the Audrey Hepburn version of the song (although there is an instrumental section in the song). It really seems to work.
Also the book lends itself to being sung, parent to child, leading to some special, cherished shared moments. It also comes with a separate CD which includes an Andy Williams version of the song and a read-along narrative version so there are multiple ways that this book can be read/sung again and again.
This book is based on the lyrics of the song Moon River and the book follows a young girl who is drifting off to sleep, and going on a dreamy journey along the moon river seeing lovely sights from all around the world with her toy friends. As such it makes for an excellent bedtime story, especially if you read it whilst listening to the Audrey Hepburn version of the song (although there is an instrumental section in the song). It really seems to work.
Also the book lends itself to being sung, parent to child, leading to some special, cherished shared moments. It also comes with a separate CD which includes an Andy Williams version of the song and a read-along narrative version so there are multiple ways that this book can be read/sung again and again.
May 14, 2022
A nice slow song for bedtime. These Tim Hopgood adaptations of songs are a favorite in our household.
November 10, 2018
Continuing his fascination with the songs of my parents' and my generation, Tim Hopgood creates illustrations that bring a fresh meaning to those songs. I can remember hearing this one song on many television variety shows, but I never really understood its lyrics. Here, readers follow a young girl and her stuffed bear as they follow Moon River in their dreams and explore the world. The various modes of transportation they take and the swirling river, resplendent in the shimmer of the moon in the nighttime, captured my attention immediately, and my eyes enjoyed following the path the two friends took as they moved from page to page. I'm not sure if I'd sing or just recite the lines, but I know for sure that I would linger on each page when sharing it with youngsters. Although the dream journey is exciting, there is something comforting about the song lyrics and the constantly-moving shapes and colors of the illustrations and the places they go. Perhaps this book would work as a bedtime reading.
February 24, 2019
3.5 stars. Reading as a fan of the song makes for a really nice experience, complete with dreamy, colorful artwork. For someone unfamiliar with the song, I don't know that the lyrics have enough concrete meaning to make for an interesting story. Especially considering that the lyrics are so short, they're repeated here to be long enough for a decent-sized picture book.
October 14, 2018
Stunning illustrations- So calm and gentle. I long to have children of my own to share this with at bedtime some day.... Such a calm song. Can imagine it in classrooms too when it's time to breathe and relax. Maybe before rest time in younger classrooms.
July 3, 2018
In the series of Hopgood titles related to familiar music/songs. I like that these books are in the world as we can extend the text by sharing the music and song.
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October 17, 2018A wonderful song to be lulled to sleep with. Sweet, gentle illustrations, too.
November 14, 2018
Pretty and dreamy, great bedtime storysong. Recommended for ages 1-4.
November 15, 2018
A bedtime lullaby based on the song Moon River by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini. Beautiful and dreamlike illustrations accompany each verse in the song. This would make a great bedtime story.
December 1, 2018
One of my favorite songs interpreted and illustrated thorugh the dream of a child.
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December 5, 2018Beautiful dreamy book!
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December 29, 2018I had the song on as I looked at the pictures, really nice.
January 7, 2019
Tim Hopgood's illustrations pair with the lyrics just perfectly. What a lovely book.
January 14, 2019
Enjoyed this book very much. Soothing for a bedtime story and lullaby. You can't go wrong with Johnny Mercer.
March 22, 2019
Beautiful, stylized illustrations depict all the nuances of the lyrics of this classic 20th century song.
February 6, 2019
Moon River by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini and Illustrated byTim Hopgood –PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillon) 2018. $18.00. 9781250159007
BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL (K-3) –GIFT
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This book is the words to the classic song –set to beautiful illustrations of an imaginary journey a girl takes with her toy bear. The illustrations take place at night, although dark are very beautiful.
This is a fantastic bedtime book for at home. It could be read or sung. I could see a grandparent giving this as a gift to their adult child who is expecting or keeping it at their house to read to their grandchildren. It’s a very sweet and lovely song and the illustrations are as well. This could work in a library because its about imagination and the music could be played out loud, but I think it works much better as a gift for home.
Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL (K-3) –GIFT
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This book is the words to the classic song –set to beautiful illustrations of an imaginary journey a girl takes with her toy bear. The illustrations take place at night, although dark are very beautiful.
This is a fantastic bedtime book for at home. It could be read or sung. I could see a grandparent giving this as a gift to their adult child who is expecting or keeping it at their house to read to their grandchildren. It’s a very sweet and lovely song and the illustrations are as well. This could work in a library because its about imagination and the music could be played out loud, but I think it works much better as a gift for home.
Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
June 9, 2019
In a dream, a little girl, her guitar-wielding teddy bear, and her rocking horse turned into real horse, travel along a river in a boat to visit places throughout the world. Other children in boats with their stuffed animals accompany the girl along the river. They visit famous landmarks in Paris, London, Venice, Rome, New York, Easter Island, Russia, Sydney, Pisa, Egypt, Barcelona, Japan, and others. A feeling of adventure and travel permeates the story. The illustrations are marvelous and add another dimension to the lyrics. The end papers are filled with famous landmarks from around the world. This lullaby like bedtime story based on the classic song by Mercer and Mancini can be sung or read to your child or class. You can extend the story by playing the song on a piano (free music tutorials online), play the chords on a ukelele (youtube), or listen to one of the singers online from Andy Williams to Elton John. Strongly recommended for preschool through elementary school.
November 4, 2018
It seems that my opinion on the book will be the exception rather than the rule in my review.
I love the song. Love it. But it just doesn't work in this book. I tried to read it as I would read it to a child before bedtime. But I kept ending up singing the lyrics in my head, which really broke up the cadence of the story.
Then there were the illustrations. I simply don't like to struggle with illustrations in a picture book.
Finally, this seems like one of those picture books that is meant to appeal more to the adult than the child.
I love the song. Love it. But it just doesn't work in this book. I tried to read it as I would read it to a child before bedtime. But I kept ending up singing the lyrics in my head, which really broke up the cadence of the story.
Then there were the illustrations. I simply don't like to struggle with illustrations in a picture book.
Finally, this seems like one of those picture books that is meant to appeal more to the adult than the child.
November 12, 2018
the illustrations are a gorgeous fantastical accompaniment to the classic song
November 13, 2018
Pleasant, dreamy illustrations complement the lyrics of the song.
April 27, 2019
Beautiful, imaginative illustrations to accompany the beautiful lyrics of Mercer and Mancini’s classic song. Listen along to the song as you go through the book! 26 pages
November 15, 2018
I love the illustrations in this book. They are breathtaking and absolutely adorable.
The song just didn’t do it for me in this one. It is genius to pair a song with beautiful illustrations but I would have chosen a different song.
The song just didn’t do it for me in this one. It is genius to pair a song with beautiful illustrations but I would have chosen a different song.
August 14, 2019
Who knew I would find a picture book about one of my few all time favorite songs with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Henry Mancini. The illustrations for this are done as what a small child sees in their sleeping dream. Interesting to see what an illustrator envisions from this song. Strange, but this is the everyday theme of my life as a major river has significance in my life. Actually reading this title was difficult as the music and phrasing of the song ran through my head and reading the lyrics as text for a picture just didn’t happen.
August 14, 2019
This book uses the lyrics of Moon River as its basis and Tim Hopgood's beautiful illustrations really bring these whimsical lyrics to life. A girl, a horse and a bear travel the world of her dreams to the moon and back. In a school setting, this book could be used as the basis for a music lesson (where the children learn to sing Moon River) or an art lesson (where the children create their own pictures to accompany their favourite song or a given song).
May 23, 2019
I normally love these books. But I don't love the song "Moon River." And kids don't recognize "Moon River." So it just doesn't work that well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews