Cristina García, illustrated by Sebastià Serra,
The Dog Who Loved the Moon
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008.

Ages 4-8

This delightful story is the tale of a little girl named Pilar and her lovesick puppy, Paco.  Pilar adores Paco, a birthday gift from her favorite uncle (for whom the dog is named), and the pair does everything together--everything, that is, except dance.  Pilar wears her other birthday gift, a pair of pink dancing slippers, all the time, even to bed in case she has to dance in her dreams. Every evening after sharing a bowl of warm leche with honey, Pilar tries in vain to get Paco to dance with her - but Paco refuses and instead stares longingly out the window at the moon.

When perrito Paco won’t dance at a summer fiesta in Pilar’s back yard, Tío Paco’s girlfriend Chachi (who wears shiny dresses that make her look like a goldfish) says “He must be in love.” “But with whom?” everyone wonders. 

As summer turns to fall, the nights last longer and the moon grows bigger, right along with Paco’s sadness. The police even come when neighbors complain of Paco’s plaintive howling to the fill moon!  Finally, as her next birthday approaches, Pilar decides she must find a way to give Paco the moon.  With music, magic and the help of Tío Paco, Pilar manages to entice a very special guest to her birthday party: but will this visit make Paco want to dance?

The Dog Who Loved the Moon is a departure for acclaimed Cuban novelist Cristina García (Dreaming in Cuban), and her lighthearted story of love and frivolity is a welcome treat for children and their parents. García’s inviting prose, peppered with Spanish and rich with detail, brings readers into Pilar’s world; and the stylized and playful illustrations of Sebastià Serra (If Not for the Calico Cat, Pirate’s Night Before Christmas) truly bring it to life.  One can only hope to see more from this talented team.

Abigail Sawyer
September 2008