Random Things Tours: Journey to the Moon and Other Stories by Ed Goodwin

 

As an early very avid literate reader, I liked less the fairy tales than the stories with real children set in real contemporary times. I would not refuse myself the pleasure of a djinn or dwarf or some lillyfee after all, but what I really adored were to discover character that eventually I can emulate or be inspired by.

Ed Goodwin´s Journey to the Moon and Other Stories has a bit of both. The very young - first, second year of school - reader will discover a mother, a father and their two daughters Suzie and Connie with a relatively normal life. However, there is at least one creative cloud flying over their homes, pouring rainy drops of imagination into their lives. 

´That evening the girls asked about going to the moon again´...

Still, they approach the adventurous episodes in their lives with the highest seriosity and pragmatism. For instance, when they are planning a trip to the moon. There are so many things to take into consideration, and the planning takes time, but still, the dream of the journey goes on.

The same, when Horsey, the unicorn disappears, the girls, together with their parents, should find a way to bring her back. It´s not like she can disappear like that, without a trace.

The style is so fresh and simple, with a lot of creative takes, but still very much settled on the ground. My kind of stories, if you ask me. I liked how the characters are maintained and developed through the stories: two curious girls looking for some adventures, accompanied by their equally courageous parents. A great read for intrepid children ready to start their adventure in life - and school too.

Goodwin, a retired IT project manager living in Coventry, was inspired to write Journey to the Moon and Other Stories by his five young grandchildren during the lockdown. I am looking forward to more beautiful children books from him. Both children and their parents need more such adventurous stories. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own