Synopsis: Moonchild was blowing bubbles. Big, pearly moon bubbles they were, floating off into outer space. Some burst upon the spikes of stars. Some floated all the way to earth and burst wherever they landed. A Moonchild blows a bubble that pops on an Earth baby and surrounds him in silence. His parents, a King and Queen, are devastated when they realize that their baby cannot hear or speak. But a Moonbird teaches the little prince how to use his hands and eyes to communicate.

Review: This is a beautifully illustrated fantasy tale about how a king and queen grew to understand and communicate through visual expression and sign language with Orla; their profoundly deaf son. Prince Orla’s deafness is caused by the innocent actions of a carefree Moonchild. The Moonchild sits way out in space and blows magic bubbles. He watches them float off into outer space, some burst on the spikes of stars, others float to earth and burst wherever they land. Fate carries one bubble to earth and it pops beside the ear of baby prince Orla causing his deafness, wrapping him up in silence, the silence of the moon.

As the tale unfolds Jane Ray catches the essence of the boy’s solitude in her richly, enchanting illustrations. To the silent reader, each page carries a wealth of intricate design, dream-like characters and an inspirational message about communication in deafness.

As the king and queen struggle to understand the isolated world Prince Orla inhabits they do all they can to bring him into theirs. They summon doctors and sages from lands far and wide, all set with the task of getting Orla to hear them. All fails, until one day Orla meets the Moonbird and through this meeting he brings the king and queen and all those around him into his world by teaching them the wisdom of sign and body language.

A beautiful book, highly recommended for all age groups.

2006-11-10