All the moons in the sky become friends with Lucy in “The Moons,” a beautiful children’s picture book written by musician Chan Poling and illustrated by Lucy Michell (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $17.95).

Chan Poling (Courtesy of the author)

In this story about treasuring friendships that come along rarely, Lucy is sorry to move to the country and leave her friends in the city. “Yes,” says her mom. “True friends/come along once in a blue moon,” explaining that a blue moon is something precious. After the move to the old farmhouse beside a large cornfield, Lucy is lonely and can’t sleep because it’s so quiet. She sings to the night sky: “Once in a blue moon, you meet a friend…” The song floats upward and the moon in all its phases become her friends: Papa Moon, Mother Moon, Brother Moon and Uncle Gibbous. But Blue Moon is her special friend: “Blue liked to float in the dark, star-pricked sky and listen to sad songs.” Eventually the sky is filled with all the moons who promise to watch over Lucy.

Minnesotans Poling and Michell will launch their book at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Wild Rumpus bookstore, 2720 W. 43rd St., Mpls. They will host a story time at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul.

Lucy Michell (Courtesy of the author)

Poling is an award-winning songwriter, composer, performer and author, a member of the alternative rock band the Suburbs and the jazzy trio the New Standards. Michell does physical and digital illustration and enjoys printmaking, ceramics and papier-mache. As a songwriter she fronts the pop rock band Little Fevers as well as her Americana solo band. Their previous collaboration was “Jack and the Ghost.”

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