Moonlight Memories

Piper has lost her mother and feels sad and empty without her. Her father is coping with his own grief in his own way, and hoping to lift her spirits, he gives her a telescope. Piper eagerly heads outside to study the sky, but the lens shows no distant suns or wandering worlds. Instead, she sees memories of her mother, both large and small, and she rushes to sketch each one before it slips away.

Night after night, Piper keeps drawing until she finds herself in a room covered in memories, surrounded by reminders of how much her mother loved her. Through her story, the book gives young readers a way to name their grief and begin working through it. Its sparse, lyrical prose carries real emotion while leaving room for parents and caregivers to open deeper conversations with the children in their lives.

Whether a child turns to drawing or chooses another outlet, the book suggests that the people we lose can stay with us through our memories. A closing Note to Parents, written by a licensed children's counselor, explains how to use the book and points readers toward further resources. The author writes from personal experience, and the story is meant to comfort children who are hurting after a loss.