STOUGHTON AUTHOR TAKES MOONWALK: Parent and Child Magazine recently named I Took the Moon for a Walk one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids. About Town discovered that Dawe School PTO Co-President Carolyn Curtis-Mahoney is the best-selling, highly-respected author of the book! 

Stoughton’s Curtis-Mahoney worked on the book with Alison Jay.

Amazon.com writes about Curtis-Mahoney's book: "Lyrically written and beautifully illustrated, this memorable moonlight journey will leave all who read it marveling at the serene beauty of the world at night.

“Following the magical adventure of a young boy who goes exploring with his friend, the Moon, I Took the Moon for a Walk combines lyrical verse with detailed illustrations, creating a dramatic backdrop for this imaginative journey. Readers can also discover all kinds of facts about the passage of the moon through the sky and its influence on our lives."   

Lauren Peterson of the American Library Association added, "As the sun sets and everyone heads indoors, a young boy takes the moon on a stroll around his neighborhood. Curtis' rhyming text is rich with descriptive language and images:

'We tiptoed through grass where the nightcrawlers creep / when the rust-bellied robins have all gone to sleep, / And the Moon called the dew so the grass seemed to weep / When I took the Moon for a walk.'

Peterson continues, “Jay's surreal, Salvador Dali-like illustrations not only greatly enhance the dreamlike quality of the text but also provide visual images for some of the unfamiliar words and unusual phrasings."

Elizabeth Ward of the Washington Post writes, "I Took the Moon for a Walk...is reminiscent of Salter's The Moon Comes Home because it, too, is a poem about the moon seeming to follow you wherever you go...What's nice is the blend of lyricism and precise observation." 

I'm happy to be able to share this online interview with Curtis-Mahoney with my Patch readers.

Active in the Stoughton community, Curtis-Mahoney worked alongside Rosanna Kelleher in creating the "It's Elementary! 5 School 5K & Fun Run" which generated funds last year for the town's elementary schools. A second event is scheduled for April 28, 2012 at the Striar Old Colony YMCA in Stoughton. 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: My daughter Leesa turns 18 today (Friday). She celebrated yesterday (Thursday), finishing 25th in the state in the hurdles for indoor track.

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