[review] Sweet Dreams: Moon Poems for Bedtime by Charles Ghigna and Jacqueline East

~ jama

When we were little, we likely heard about the cow jumping over the moon and the dish running away with the spoon. We learned the moon was made of green cheese, and that when the man in the moon tumbled down too soon, he burned his mouth eating porridge.

Whether in nursery rhyme or popular folklore, the moon continues to charm us. No surprise that kids are especially captivated by its presence in the night sky and curious about its changing appearance.

In Sweet Dreams: Moon Poems for Bedtime (Schiffer Kids, 2025), beloved Alabama poet Charles Ghigna serves up a delightful platter of lunar treats illustrated by Jacqueline East. The fourteen short poems in the collection invite young readers to explore the moon’s many guises, whether playful, evocative, majestic or enchanting.

When night has fallen and children are tucked safely in their beds, they can imagine the moon as a lollipop, orange, pumpkin, ice cream cone or lost balloon. They can see the moon as artist, magician, or guardian of safety.

The gentle, soothing poems celebrate the breathtaking beauty of moonlight painting “worlds of wonder” upon “canvas seas,” its ability to illuminate a dark forest as “Earth’s/Head/Light”, or with “Her satin glow/Of shimmering silk,” ‘turn the lake into a saucer of milk.’ Both companion and comfort, the moon is nighttime’s star attraction, watching over all of us no matter where we are.

Jacqueline East’s winsome illustrations, rendered primarily in deep blues and purples, capture the moon’s many moods, enhancing the striking imagery in Ghigna’s poems. I especially like the ethereal beauty of “Winter Moon,” with the maple tree’s leafless branches set against a gorgeous Prussian blue sky holding up the light in its “snowy/Hand of night.” The depictions of moonlight in each spread are magical, whether bold and striking, shadowy and elusive, or haunting and mysterious. Her pictures draw us right into a dreamy, wondrous nighttime world.

Best of all, East included a frisky wolf pup who guides the reader from poem to poem in his own visual narrative. Munchkins will enjoy the wolf’s playful energy and curious meanderings in the park and dark alleyways. Adorable how he catches raindrops or laps up “milk” with that little pink tongue!

Ghigna and East have created an entrancing read likely to become a bedtime favorite. It’s a lovely way to introduce young children to poetry and to tickle their imaginations with new possibilities.

Enjoy this pair of sample poems. They’re both food-related (what better way to induce pleasant dreams and a restorative sleep?). Nothing better than a candy shop sky or learning about the phases of the moon via fruit. 🙂

SWEET DREAMS

Clouds are cotton candy.
The sun's a lemon drop.
Mountains are big sundaes
With whipped cream on the top.

Stars are little peppermints.
The moon's a lollipop.
The sky is full of tasty treats --
A giant candy shop!

*

FRUIT OF THE MOON

The full moon is an orange.
The half moon's a lemon wedge.
The quarter moon's a banana
Balanced on its edge.

The harvest moon's a pumpkin.
The new moon is a slice.
Come see the moon fruit glowing
In its garden paradise.

*

SWEET DREAMS: Moon Poems for Bedtime
written by Charles Ghigna
illustrated by Jacqueline East
published by Schiffer Kids, August 2025
Poetry Picture Book for ages 4-8, 32pp.

**Winner of the 2025 International Book Award (Children’s Novelty and Gift Books)

Bookshop
Schiffer Kids

*

Talented Author, Poet, Voice Actor and Champion Cookie Baker Matt Forrest Esenwine is hosting the Roundup at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. Waltz on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Happy October!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2025 Charles Ghigna, illustrations © 2025 Jacqueline East, published by Schiffer Kids. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

27 thoughts on “[review] Sweet Dreams: Moon Poems for Bedtime by Charles Ghigna and Jacqueline East”

  1. Pingback: Poetry Friday: Celebrating 6 months of ‘Rainbows,’ Chappaqua, the NH Book Festival, AND the PF Roundup! (Whew!) – Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme

  2. Jama, thank you for featuring Charles’ new book! I love that lollipop moon, and the fruit of the moon is delightful! This book would make a great poetry-book-friend for The Museum on the Moon. Thank you! xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks to you and Jacqueline for creating this truly enchanting book! Such a pleasure to be able to feature such wonderful work. 🙂

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  7. Jama, your review of Charles’ book is as magical as the imagery shared. How clever of Charles to bring floating candies in space. Many children love stories, poems, and artwork about the moon. I especially like this simple statement of yours. Both companion and comfort, the moon is nighttime’s star attraction, watching over all of us no matter where we are. Thank you, Jama.

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  8. I love these poems. The moon is so much more beautiful than the sun. It’s mysterious and what makes it extra special is that it’s shape changes.my son in-law recently gave his mom and me a drawing of the shape of the moon on the day our children were born. It is so cool! As a kid I loved the Honeymooners show and that cute caricature moon that looked like Jackie Gleason!

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    1. You’re taking me back to happy memories of watching Jackie Gleason — fun times. I love the idea of moon drawings commemorating your children’s births!

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  11. Thanks so much for highlighting this lovely book of moon lullabies this week. With my first grandchild on the way, I’m adding this to my tower of books to order. That first illustration you shared is absolutely gorgeous! Wow!

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  12. oooooh! Those illustrations are just magical. They really bring the poems alive in a way that makes me want to turn the page. I think this is a must-have book for the new parents in my life. Thanks for the rec!

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