Book Review: Orange Moon and the Grandmother Tree

How exciting, this is one of my favorite author/illustrators with an amazingly beautiful and insightful story of Orange Moon with the magic of nature at her fingertips and a heart full of wonder and joy! 


Rich hues of orange-red with a hint of umber contrast with brilliant wildflowers of summer, to set the stage for a vibrant story that warmed my heart and imagination!

At bedtime I sat down to read Orange Moon and the Grandmother Tree
Elloise, otherwise known as Orange Moon loves to play outside anytime of the year, but especially summer.  Reading the story aloud to myself brought to life the healing power of love.  
Orange Moon (Elloise) shares her love and joy with a new friend.  She has experienced grief and empathizes easily with the loss her friend feels. So Orange Moon shares what she compassionately believes to be true and gratefully celebrates this with her Grandmother Tree and her new friend too.

Gently Orange Moon models how to open our hearts warmly with love to discover more about nature, our relationships and our selves.

I noticed myself pausing to gaze at the beautiful pictures. As I reflected, they reminded me of my own childhood innocence spent in natural spaces relaxing and playing during timeless days. 

I realized the power of these beautiful pictures can invite a young child also to pause and gaze at the nature surrounding Orange Moon. The pictures can invite the readers to talk and warmly open our own hearts to share just like Orange Moon.


This story eloquently expresses the healing potential of seeking out nature and noticing how infinitely connected we all are to each other and everything on our world.

This book is a treasure, a keeper, and one that will enrich a very young child as a picture book and last right through the school age years!

The story can enrich our adult lives too, as Orange Moon encourages all of us to open our hearts, to notice the beauty and healing potential within nature! There is a lifetime of wisdom to discover within this story, to grow with your child and within us adults too.


The morning after reading Orange Moon, the sunlight shone a little brighter as it melted the snow in my backyard. The warm winds that night had blown the coldest winter chill away.

The sunlight barely enters my kitchen and only in the winter. So on this warmer day, I opened the kitchen door and encouraged my cat Lila to it lay upon a chair in the sunshine. I sat in the sunshine too and together we absorbed the brilliant and warm solar energy for a half hour before it slipped behind a cloud.

During this quiet sit, I realized that Orange Moon was with me too at that moment.  With my eyes closed, face tilted into the sunshine, I could see the soothing colorful hues of orange and red with a hint of umber. In this warm space, I too reflected on the teachings of Orange Moon.

In the afternoon, the sun returned and so I drove up to higher hills to go for a walk, just so I could linger in the sun and stretch the daylight a little longer

Marghanita Hughes is such a talented Storyteller, Illustrator, and Photographer!  She is truly able to spark a child’s sense of wonder or with the active child within your adult heart!
Orange Moon is part of a book series based upon a child’s wonder of the natural world. 
So the fun will continue!
To purchase this Ebook or illustrations 
and view other products visit 
  Orangemoontribe.com
*Choose some crafts at the end of the story to inspire 
your play outdoors and notice the magic and wonder in nature!

Educators, Counsellors etc. would also 
appreciate this book as an excellent therapeutic tool 
for discussion of death/dying.

As well, Marghanita Hughes is the award winning creator of, 
“The Little Humbugs”.

She is also Founder of the non-profit organization, 
Let’s Go Outside 
whose mission is; to inspire to change the way children spend their time.

As Marghanita Hughes states,
“ We Are Nature - We Are All Connected!”

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6 comments:

  1. Dearest Sherry

    Your review brought tears to my eyes. For our little Orange Moon to evoked such feelings in you filled my heart with the warmest glow possible. I am deeply touched by your expressive love and connection. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful that our paths have crossed and look forward to the day we can walk in nature together. Wishing you a beautiful weekend, kindred spirit, love and peace, Marghanita x

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  2. Thank you kindly! Yes, someday we will have to share a walk together! Your beautiful work makes me wish I had young children all over again..or even Grandchildren so that I can share the beautiful story and pictures again and again!
    Now I know, the warmth of sunshine on my face will also remind me of the essence of Orange Moon!
    Bright Blessings!

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  3. Beautiful review.. Am searching to see if published hard copy available? or still in e-book form? Truly looks like a keeper.. amazing illustrations and I expect the story is also.

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  4. Hi Janet,

    Thank you for asking!

    I agree, they are amazing illustrations and yes the story is full of magic!

    I understand that Marghanita has the Ebook and individual Illustrations for sale. I will ask her about hard copy editions!

    You could also contact her directly by clinking the link at: www.orangemoontribe.com

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  5. Hi Janet and Heather,

    The Author, Marghanita Hughes has informed me that the Hardcover version of this wonderful book should be available in May of 2012!! I know, I know, it is hard to wait for something as good as this! But in the meantime, consider buying the Ebook Version! I noticed that it is a secure site!
    Just visit:
    Orangemoontribe.com and stay in contact with the Author this way. She is amazing too!

    Another great idea is to follow the new Facebook Page for Orange Moon Tribe at:
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Orange-Moon-and-the-Grandmother-Tree/354993347849947
    (Just copy and paste)

    Sherry

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  6. What a beautiful review! I would be interested in a physical book as well. Thanks for sharing this, Sherry.

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