A determined mother embarks on a surreal adventure.Kraegel's format-defying tale is an unexpected story of love, determination, and parenting. Mother Shrew's son, Hugo, is taken ill on the last day of January with a rare illness that makes him lethargic, with hot feet and a cold head. From "Dr. Ponteluma's Book of Medical Inquiry and Physiological Know-How," Mother Shrew learns that the only cure for this odd, unnamed illness is a spoonful of honey from the moon. Ferociously determined to cure Hugo, she sets out to save her son. In each new chapter, Mother Shrew faces a new obstacle or not-too-scary adversary as she braves the moon's unusual environmentits verdant fields and lush forests make a stark contrast to the wintry landscape Mother Shrew has left behindand its madcap inhabitants. Divided into seven heavily illustrated chapters, the story is one that will captivate contemplative and creative young readers. Caregivers may find this to be their next weeklong bedtime story and one that fanciful children will want to hear again and again. Kraegel's ink-and-watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Sergio Ruzzier's but a bit grittier and with a darker color scheme. The surreal landscapes are appropriately unsettling, but a bright color palette keeps them from overwhelming readers.This odd story is not for every reader, but those who enjoy it may find a friend for life. (Fantasy. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In episodes divided into seven short chapters for newer readers, Kraegel (Green Pants) writes a classic quest story with a twist: it follows the parent, not the child. In winter, Mother Shrew's son Hugo contracts a mysterious illness ("His feet were hot, his head was cold, and he just slept and slept"), and her household medical reference notes that the fever is dangerous and suggests a remedy: "One teaspoon of wild honey from the moon has been known to cure." With all her energy directed toward obtaining the antidote, she sets off, negotiating a flight to the moon from a Great Horned Owl while evading his cordially phrased threats. Once on the moon, she comforts a herd of frightened Night Mares and withstands a chorus of no's from the drones guarding the Moon's Queen bee ("My dear sick son needs your honey to be well. So step aside"). Kraegel's illustrations linger on tiny lines and fine textures: leaves on trees, stars in the sky, and wood grain and warmth in the Family Shrew's tree house abode. Reassuring and warmhearted, the story celebrates a brave and loving guardian who will do anything for her child. Ages 4--8. (Nov.)

Young Hugo Shrew is ailing, and his determined mother's convinced that only a dose of wild honey from the moon will cure him. She sets off into the night, outwitting a great horned owl who would like to eat her; calming a stampeding herd of night mares; accepting nectar and a ride from a great vale of butterflies; and silencing a swarm of angry worker bees to gain admittance to the Garden of the Queen Bee. There, after an exchange of maternal feelings, the Queen sends Mother Shrew home on a moonbeam with a pot of honey. Kraegel's detailed ink-and-watercolor illustrations call to mind Sergio Ruzzier and feature colorful, anthropomorphic animals engaged in a variety of activities. The shrew's neighborhood includes numerous tiny houses suspended from trees and connected with rope ladders that serve as sidewalks. The moonscapes are equally inviting: a colorful meadow filled with butterflies and flowers, and an equally verdant bee garden. Arranged in seven mini-chapters, this is a fanciful acknowledgement of the limitless devotion of mothers to their offspring.--Kay Weisman Copyright 2019 Booklist

K-Gr 2--When her beloved only son falls ill and seems unable to recover, Mother Shrew researches his illness and discovers that the only cure is "wild honey from the moon." And so she locks the door behind her and sets off to acquire some. Along the way, she meets a hungry owl, whom she tricks into flying her to the moon, and a stampede of "night mares," whom she soothes with some motherly direction and advice. When she finally reaches the home of the Queen Bee and the source of wild honey, Mother Shrew finds a sympathetic fellow mother who commiserates on the challenges of parenting. While the story itself is simple and somewhat unremarkable, it's the whimsical, gorgeously detailed ink-and-watercolor pictures that stand out. From the charming tree house community where Mother Shrew lives to the mesmerizing patterns of the Queen Bee's garden, readers of all ages will delight in studying the intricate world Kraegel evokes. VERDICT This ode to determined mothers is a solid addition to most collections, particularly where beginning chapter books are in demand.--Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA