SLJ Reviews – August, 2022

LO, Richard. After the Moonrise. illus. by Richard Lo. 32p. Muddy Boots. Aug. 2022. Tr ISBN 9781493064342. PreS-Gr 3–Award-winning Lo invites readers into his beautifully illustrated natural world with a journey of two animals foraging for food in twilight. A skunk and raccoon join forces in order to find some dinner. They venture through the countryside to find an old corn field. They delight in the delicious, sweet corn until the farm dog alerts the farmer of the intruders. The soft, almost melodic text carries the story of the hungry pair through the evening and impending night. The artwork is exquisite. The use of various shades and shadows of light creates a sense of nightfall and allows readers to immerse themselves in the search for food. VERDICT Those with a fondness for nature, animals, a farm at night, and the lovely nocturnal atmosphere will cherish this selection; especially recommended for young readers interested in this style of illustration.–Brittany McMahon

Rowman & Littlefield 

In this sequel to Rich Lo’s After the Snowfall a racoon and a skunk go foraging for food, passing several other nocturnal animals as they head toward a cornfield. Moonlight pierces the scattered clouds/ A raccoon makes her way towards a distant cornfield/ A skunk climbs out under a rotted tree and joins the raccoon on her journey/ Startled, bats flutter from under an old bridge/ An owl takes off from the roof of a barn/ A coyote howls from a faraway hill/ The raccoon and skunk come to a wooden gate at the end of an old farm road/ Flickers of moonlight guide the raccoon and skunk to the cornfield/ Hidden among the corn stalks, they gorge themselves on the sweet kernels/ Suddenly a dog barks /Lights come on inside a farmhouse/ The raccoon and skunk race out of the corn field/ When the barking stops, the two head back into the woods, their bellies full/ They part ways at the skunk’s home. A family of deer peek through the trees/The raccoon stops to look at the cornfield/ After the moonrise.