The Coziest Place on the Moon [Forthcoming: November!]
The Coziest Place on the Moon [Forthcoming: November!]
OUT NOVEMBER 4, 2025! Please note that due to shipping costs, all the books included in the same order as The Coziest Place on the Moon will ship together, in November 2025.
Written by Maria Popova
Illustrated by Sarah Jacoby
From The Marginalian creator Maria Popova and acclaimed illustrator Sarah Jacoby comes this gorgeous picture book about the dark side of the moon, and creative solitude as an antidote to loneliness.
Feeling like the loneliest creature on Earth, Re decides to go live in the coziest place on the moon. Re packs a suitcase and takes off on a beam of light, shooting out into the cosmic aloneness of space. Re's aim is to go into the cozy nook that the moon is said to possess. But shortly after arriving, Re makes a surprising discovery: Re is not alone. Indeed, another lonely soul has beaten Re there! And so, Re meets Mi, and while each lives in their own chamber of the nook, these two single souls still become, at times, a kind of togetherness. Each remains alone but less lonely, and now each can watch over the solitude of the other. Moreover, on certain nights, the solitary songs of them both might be heard cadencing the night together, in harmony, across the vast and starry sky.
ISBN: 978-1-59270-437-8 • 9” (W) x 9.5” (H) • 44 pages • HCJ
Librarians & booksellers, click HERE for Edelweiss!
REVIEWS
"This is a sweet one... Delves deep into the difference between solitude and aloneness and how solitude can nourish your spirit." —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog)
"An exploration of tranquility and solitude, glimpsed from a snug nook in the moon... Popova takes exquisite care to clarify to young readers that being by oneself can be a positive, even healing, act ('that feeling which feels like hearing your own voice singing back to yourself'). Evocative language punctuates the book in unexpected ways... Jacoby’s dreamlike art gives all characters an inner glow of their own, staving off the impenetrability of space in favor of light, warmth, and fuzz. A loving acknowledgement of the joys of being 'happy-alone,' told with care and delicious language." —Kirkus Reviews
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “This picture book is a song to the happiness found in solitude—and in the unexpected joy of discovering someone who shares your love of quiet. Jacoby’s breathless, weightless art is the perfect complement to Popova’s whisper-soft prose, which revels in the beauty of stillness and space. Her lyrical language—words like ‘unsea’ and ‘happy-alone’—makes each verse feel not only poetic but insightful. I adore this book and everything it represents. The edges feel smudgy and dreamlike, but the science gives it a strong and steady backbone. It’s absolutely charming, and I can’t wait to read it to my students. I highly recommend this book for both home and library collections.” —Rachel Joiner, Librarian at Advent Episcopal School (Birmingham, AL)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “This book is utterly charming and kids are going to love it. Re and Mi are illustrated in a style that reminds me of Fluffy McWhiskers and that is my students' favorite book of all time. I am excited to add this to my library and I think it is a great fit for elementary and public libraries. I am especially excited to share this with some of my quieter students.” —Lauren Kessel, Librarian at Kent Elementary (Kent, WA)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “Oh, this was exactly what I needed today… This is a stunning picture book. It would be a terrific addition to a classroom or school library, and I would use it as a provocation for conversations around space (both personal and outer), use of colour and media in art class, and as a jumping off point for so many discussions about what spaces make you feel cozy or lonely. This is a beautiful text to share with someone you love. So many thanks to the author and illustrator.” —Lisa Noble, Makerspace Coordinator at Trent University’s School of Education (Peterborough, ON, Canada)