Ein wunderschönes Kinderbuch. Tiefgehend und berührend. Greift das wichtige Thema Demenz auf und macht es für Kinder verständlich.

A wonderful mix of sweetness and sadness - if I had to use just one phrase to describe this book, that would be it..
The obvious love that Max and hid grandfather share is visible throughout the book. Grandfather is losing his memory he keeps having the Great Forgetting. He is now in a nursing home due to the care he needs. Max misses his grandfather and wants to spend time with him, like he used to when grandpa was better He worries that grandfather will not remember the love Max has for him.
Reading about the Great Forgetting did get me all teary-eyed as I recalled episodes of my dad's forgetfulness when he was recovering from a major brain surgery years ago; and then again, a few months earlier, just before he passed way, when he was fighting cancer.
So, one day, he plans a cool escape from the nursing home. The two of them make a trip to grandpa's special 'Happy Place' accompanied by Mrs.Schneider (who is another resident at the nursing home). Oh what a wonderful time they have, in spite of the Great Forgetting that keeps visiting grandfather.
I truly loved the illustrations in this book - the colors, the emotions of the characters portrayed so well, and the style used as well. They lend that perfect accompaniment to this sweet, sad, hopeful, emotional story.

In Summary: A wonderful book for kids (and adults) 8 and older who can understand and work through the emotions and issues mentioned in this book.
I hope to look for the physical copy of the book soon as it also includes a CD which, based on other reviews, is simply beautiful to listen to as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. This review is long overdue and totally my honest opinions of this book.

In one word: touching! For me, it's right up there with And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman and Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams.

This book is so beautiful! The artwork is whimsy and comforting and the message itself was so touching. It is important to have books like these, that talk about difficult parts of life like aging and forgetting. They make it easier to get through the hard times in life and give us an outlet to express our feelings, through someone else's story. I loved this and look forward to hearing the CD with the hard copy.

A very touching story about a grandchild and his grandpa that suffer from dementia. I rarely read a book that has grandchild and grandparents relationship. This one is special to me. It made me think of my grandpa back home :') I would love to get myself the physical copy. Thank you for the copy Net Galley!

The author penned a heartwarming story of a young boy's love for his grandfather. Wonderful illustrations spewed life to a captivating storyline. Simple yet touching, it was a tale that transported me back into another world - a place and time easily forgotten.

I offer my gratitude to NetGalley and Plough Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

It is beautiful story about the special relationship between grandfather with dementia and his grandchild, Very touching.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy.

This was a sweet story about a boy who loves his grandfather so much that one day, he decides to escape with him from the retirement home and take the bus to his favorite place, the beautiful Blossom Valley, where he first kissed and proposed to his wife. Accompanied by Miss Schneider, a dance teacher, they will have a formidable adventure of a day, sometimes fighting against alzheimer and dementia, but mostly enjoying the pleasure of lying down in the grass, before going back home safely, their mind and their hearts full of treasured memories.

This was a full children's story translated form German, illustrated with very colorful, warm, and funny drawings.

If My Moon Was Your Sun is a beautiful story about a boy who spends the day with his grandfather.

The illustrations by Nele Palmtag are beautiful and amazing. The simplicity behind them really shows the raw emotion behind the story itself.

If My Moon Was Your Sun By Andreas Stienhofel

Once in a while a book comes to you when you need it. I have found that out throughout life. You don't search it just appears. This is one of those books. This is the story of Max and his Grandpa who has dementia. Max wants to have one more day with him before the "Great Forgetting" comes. Little does he know during the great escape another patient Miss Schneider will escape with them from the nursing home. This is a warm, loving story of selflessness. It is a great way to introduce dementia to a child. Nice pencil coloring illustrations by Nele Palmtag are a bonus to this book. This book was originally written in Germany.

Max is a 10 year old boy dealing with the worry that accompanies his grandfather's deteriorating memory. On a seemingly normal day, Max "kidnaps" his grandfather and another elderly woman from their retirement home and set off on an adventure. During the adventure, he learns an important lesson about life and loss.

This book covers the all too real topic of Alzheimer's and the worry that children or family members have during this time. Steinhöfel's often lyrical descriptions of the characters help readers connect with their situation and genuinely sympathize for Max and anyone who may be going through similar situations. Although some students in elementary/primary grades may be too young to grasp this concept, this would be a great book to read aloud to older students. As Max deals with his fears surrounding his grandfather, he learns an important lesson that all children could benefit from learning.

Additionally, I love that the book was sold with an accompaniment of music and enjoyed the sample provided. The musical selections enhance the story by setting the mood/tone and allowing readers to become even more immersed in the story.

A sweet story of Max who's Grandfather recently was moved into a nursing home due to dementia. Max is sad that he can't see is Grandfather as much any more because the home is on the other side of town so he hatches a plan to break him out.

A great topic that should be written about more often to help children with the changes that happen during old age. Beautiful and funny at times. I did think that the words were a little grown up for the lower grades.

This is a sweet story about a little boy who takes his beloved grandfather (and another nursing home patient) out for the day without permission. It handles the topics of aging, dementia, and the love between grandparents and grandchildren very well. I think there could have been another scene at the end between Max and his grandfather. The whole story would actually make a good adult novel as well.

If My Moon Was Your Sun made me feel both sad and hopeful. Max loves his grandfather, and they've always been close, but now he's in a nursing home across town. His grandfather has dementia, so it wasn't enough to just occasionally check on him at home. He needed constant care that Max and his mother couldn't provide.

One day, Max decides to take his grandfather away from the nursing home, an adultnapping of sorts, so he can spend the day in a place that was familiar and meaningful. While I'm not entirely sure I believe the logistics of this story, it was sweet and enjoyable. A few of their conversations seemed random at the time, but they did come together at the end. I wish the story had flowed a little better, but instead it felt choppy and scattered.

Despite having a few issues, it was a lovely story overall.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on August 9, 2018.

An excellent book about Max and his love for his grandfather. Max's grandfather lives in a Nursing Home. Max worries that someday his grandpa will not remember him. I like how his grandfather uses the example of the moon, that you can't always see it but you know that it's there. I love the illustrations! So pretty! This book has great humor. I love the adventure Max takes with his grandfather and Miss Schneider. I love Max's experience at a Nursing Home when he goes there to visit his grandfather. Thank you NetGalley and Plough Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

What a sweet, book about a heartbreaking subject! This author has done a wonderful job of putting the subject of a beloved family member losing their memory and how it effects a child who is close to them.
It is handled with grace, sensitivity and even a bit of comedy (which kids relate so well to).
Bravo!

The illustrations were charming and colorful but just muted enough to fit the tone of the story perfectly!

I do wish I could have gotten the full experience with the music cd that goes along with the story. But even without it it was a great read!

I received this e-book from the Publisher via Net Galley for my honest opinion and review, which I have given here.

Young boy breaks his grandpa out of the nursing home; another resident tags along, basically for comic relief. They go to a special place dear to Grandpa, where they talk about astronomy and what will happen once he forgets everything due to his illness.
The book alternates between full-page drawings done in sketchy yellow pastels and full-page text.
Best line: “Never in the history of escapes has there been a more laid-back getaway.”
If you’re a fan of Prokofiev and Bizet, there’s something special for you here.
The tale meanders as it tells about the love between these generations, but the moments that might explain to kids about memory loss and why it happens are few. As a story it works; as a lesson, not so much.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

This book was very odd. It seems to be written for children but with an adults understanding and written much too philosophical.

Such a poignant story of a young boy who is very close to his grandfather. When his grandfather is put in a nursing home because he can no longer take care of himself, the boy helps him and another elderly woman escape for a day. The illustrations were so sweet. This book would make a great read for a child who's favorite grandparent is in a nursing home battling dementia. It can help them understand the age process for that person.

If My Moon was Your Sun is a great book to use with the kids in your life to help them understand an elderly family member's dementia. I think kids of all ages can relate to this story, whether they are grandkids trying grasp what is going on or children of those afflicted in their adult years. Who wouldn't want to try and break their loved ones out of the nursing home in hopes of keeping their spirit alive?

As I only read this thanks to an ARC from Netgalley, I didn't get to experience the accompanying record. I bet it's fantastic, though.