A Place to Hang the Moon was our Summer’s main read-aloud, the one we read in Costco gas line-ups, snuggled on the couch in hibernation from the hot sun, and in the kid’s room at night, read by the light of “Kitty Butt.” I first heard about this book from a website that sells Read-Aloud Posters, (more about them later in the blog) and I was happy to find a copy at our local library. It was more of a hit than I could have imagined!
Sometimes I find it possible – and truthfully, a delight – to pre-read the books that I plan to read to my kiddos, and I did just that for A Place to Hang the Moon. I could not put it down! Yet sleep will often come to the eyes of a busy Mom before 300 novel pages can be read, and this was the case here. So, with only a few chapters left to read the next day, it took me less than 24 hours total to read to the last page. (Needless to say, I am a fast reader.) I was just itching to share it with my kids next.
The setting of the story is in England during World War II. William, Edmund and Anna have been shipped off to the countryside for their safety alongside a group of school children. But these three were different – not only did they need safety from the impending bombings, they were also in need of a new guardian as their Grandmother had just passed away. (The book does not focus heavily on the Grandmother’s passing beyond the first chapter, but she does come up from time to time throughout the book.) Although this is a tumultuous time for the sibling trio as they encounter much hardship at their billets, the library and its keeper are always a bright spot in their day. The children have much to learn about true family as they hope to find one of their own.
As for the Read-Aloud Poster that I alluded to above, I had recently heard about the company, Ruby Reads, and decided to give one of their posters a go. Each of their Read-Aloud Posters offer an abundance of drawings to colour, as well as questions, character studies, etc. My favourite writing component of this specific poster was where it guided us in making a list of new words that Anna learnt, having us define them through context or with the help of a dictionary. I credit this poster in the uptick in my 7-year old’s inquisitiveness with new words he hears when I’m reading. It’s so neat! But no matter if reading comprehension is your goal, if you just want to keep your children busy while you read to them, or if you want your children to interact more with the material you are reading to them, I highly recommend this Ruby Reads Read-Aloud Poster.
And should you choose to give it a read, I truly hope you enjoy A Place to Hang the Moon. I personally would say it is great for 7 years and up as there are a few elements of bullying, some instances of unkindness and hunger, and one child receives a slap on the cheek, but you know your kids best. All in all, William, Edmund and Anna are very endearing children and their search for a family is written is such a way that you will be captivated and cheering them on the whole book through. And you might even shed a few shameless tears at the end like I did.
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Published in 2021
Ruby Reads read-aloud posters – www.rubyreadsbooks.com