The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn Mansfield Branley

The Moon Seems to Change Reviews

• 
  Sarah

  I like this book a lot. The illustrations are fun and interesting. The text informative, but not too complicated. My favorite thing about this book is that it has the best experiment I have ever seen that explains the phases of the moon. Very awesome! Other experiments I've seen just don't quite explain the moon phases as well as this book does.
• 
  Briana Bencivenga

  
  1. Awards: n/a
  2. Appropriate grade level: Kindergarten-4th grade
  3. Original summary: This book explains the different aspects of the moon. It includes information about the shapes of the moon, why these shapes form, rotation of the moon, the path it follows, and much more. There is also an experiment included that the students could perform.
  4. Original review: The illustrations are fun, interesting, and helpful for understanding the information. The accurate diagrams could be useful for all types of learners. There is an elaborate, but age appropriate range of vocabulary that is a great asset to this book.
  5. 2-3 in class uses: This book can be used during lessons about the moon or about different perspectives.
  
• 
  SaraKat

  This is a picture book that attempts to convey the reason that the moon has phases. This is a complicated topic even for older students, so it is a hard topic to teach smaller students. The author does a good job, but the text was a bit dense in places and I wasn't a fan of the experiment at the end being part of the story--maybe separating it into a new section of the book would be better. The illustrations were great and detailed, but so dark that seeing the detail was difficult. That may have been on purpose to make readers really concentrate, but I didn't like it.
• 
  Brittany Sands

  I read this book with my elementary science class and it was a great way for young readers to better understand the phases of the moon and how/why those changes occur! Franklyn Mansfield Branley is a well recognized author for children's literacy in terms of the science world, and this book was no exception to the outstanding work seen in their other books. Definitely recommend as a classroom aid!
• 
  Christine Turner

  Twilight Tales -- SRP 2019
  
  Have you noticed that the moon sometimes seems to grow and shrink? Read and find out about the phases of the moon! With a simple experiment using an orange, a pencil, and a flashlight, you can see for yourself why the moon looks different at different times of the month. Both text and artwork were vetted for accuracy by an expert.
  
  Moon -- Juvenile literature.
• 
  Melissa Namba

  An excellent resource for young kids curious about the moon. Full explanations in basic terms, with appropriate illustrations. There is also a step by step experiment to help show how the science behind the moon works.
• 
  Barbara

  It was fine as far as it went but I was hoping for more about why it takes a month for the moon to go around the earth, why you always see the same side of the moon, plus more on what part of the sky the moon is in during each phase and why. I imagine it is good for very young children.
• 
  Karen

  This book is great for what it is: An early-reader explaining the moon to young elementary school students. And -- bonus!-- it has artwork by Ed Emberley.
  
• 
  Indrani

  It's a great book to pair with Monkey & the Moon. Use this book to provide background knowledge & then read Monkey & the Moon.
• 
  Daniela

  Grade Level: 2-3
  Main Characters: NA
  Setting: Outer Space!
  POV:
  
  Summary:
  This book gives students information about the moon, and its role in the universe. It explains why the moon looks different (it revolves around the earth and it reflects light from the sun). It also explains how when it is day time in one place, it is night time in another place. Science terminology such as "waxing" and "waning" is used throughout the book to explain the phases of the moon. There are many diagrams to show the moon in different phases and its location to the sun and earth at different times of the day. The book ends with an experiment kids can do to see how the sun reflects on the moon as it revolves around the earth.
  
  Classroom uses/themes:
  Students can use this book to better understand the moon and its role in the universe. Students can do a hands on activity to show exactly how the sun reflects on the moon as it revolves around the earth.
• 
  Eva Kelly

  This guy has written a lot of fact books, so that makes him a genius, so of course no matter what he writes about you believe him. And this time he's writing about the moon! It explains stuff pretty good.
  It's got some experiment in it with an orange and a stick that we tried doing, except the orange leaked and the stick got all juicy and so we ate the orange.
  But I got the point. The sun shines on the moon at different spots and makes some of it dark, so you only see half of it.
  But you know what? Even when the moon isn't all the way light you can see the dark parts. They're just darker. But we saw it in a telescope.
  This one is kind of wordy but most fact books are. And it's not too hard. It just takes a while to read, but if you get bored you can always just give up and look at the pictures.
  So this is a good one for all sorts of reasons you wouldn't think.
• 
  Gina Starling

  K-3
  
  "Because the moon revolves around Earth, it seems to grow and shrink. Children can read about the phenomena of the moon’s phases and with an experiment using an orange, a pencil, and a flashlight, they can see why the moon looks different at different times of the month"
  
  I would use this book to discuss the changes in the moon and why it changes.
• 
  Gianina

  So many moon facts in such a great book. It was too advanced for my daughter. We will have to revisit and give it a more qualified rating at that time, but I enjoyed it anyways and she learned about full, quarter and crescent moons which I consider a win.
• 
  Melanie Martel

  This book would be a useful too for science lessons about the moon and phases. It ihasalot of useful information and some great pics.
• 
  Hailey Dellinger

  This is a great book for grades 2nd through 3rd grade and gives great information about the moon! This book gives more information on the importance of the moon’s role in the universe.
• 
  Mo

  Geared toward kids but I learned interesting things about the moon phases that they don't teach you in school.
• 
  Paula

  Read for Energizers Plus 11.19.2013.
• 
  Brianna Crall

  Used for science unit, good book to explain moon phases.
• 
  Michael Fitzgerald

  Clear and informative. Great illustrations by Helen Borten.
• 
  Jeremiah Henderson

  ELA curriculum. Good simple explanation of the moon phases. And great experiment in the back!
• 
  Phyllis

  I like the artwork by Helen Borten. 1960.