Eleanor’s Moon

Born under a Harvest Moon, Eleanor was blessed to have a grandpa who vowed to share this moon with her, and it would be the element that connected them for years to come. When they lived near each other, they would share this love by looking at (and for) the moon; when a move to the city separated them, their connection continued through notes which always featured a moon. When Eleanor misses her grandfather, she sees moon shapes around her, like the waffle on her plate. When the Harvest Moon comes each year, they profess their love for each other connected by the same moon.

The gentle tones of the illustrations echo the deep attachment that Eleanor and her grandfather have. They seem chalk-like, elemental and rich, a brilliant conveyance of their mutual affection and connection. From an educational perspective, Eleanor’s Moon could be used in a science unit to launch a discussion of moon phases and how the moon plays a vital role in our natural spaces, even in the daytime.

Maggie Knaus is an award-winning photographer and artist originally from Washington, DC. She has taught at the Ottawa School of Art and lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters. The story in Eleanor’s Moon is based on her daughter’s connection to her grandfather when they lived far apart.