School Library Journal

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. This ode to determined mothers is a solid addition to most collections, particularly where beginning chapter books are in demand.