The Moon man finds life boring up above us all. Very good story - he fell to earth, was put in prison and escaped from it as he diminished to a slither of a crescent. Great illustrations and a good story! ( )

Tired of watching the fun of human life unfold on the planet far below, the Moon Man hitches a ride on the tail of a comet and comes to Earth. Met with fear and suspicion on his landing, he is immediately imprisoned, only to escape when his waning form allows him to slip free from his chains. After a brief interlude at a party, the Moon Man is once again on the run from the authorities, taking refuge in an old castle belonging to a long-forgotten scientist who helps him to get home.

Originally published in 1966 in German as Der Mondmann, this classic picture-book was (according to the dust-jacket blurb) described by no less an artist as Maurice Sendak as "easily one of the best picture books in recent years," upon its initial release. It's easy to see why Sendak held that opinion, as Moon Man is an amusing, entertaining, heart-breaking, and thought-provoking story, one which captures the regrettable human penchant for resorting to aggression, when faced with the unknown. It is also a visually arresting book, with Tomi Ungerer's signature artwork, so bold and colorful, so expressive and engaging. I really regret that I never encountered Ungerer's work as a child, as I suspect that he would have been a favorite. Still, there's time enough as an adult to rectify that oversight... ( )

A childhood favorite that I still read and love four decades later.  Sorry my review got lost... just take my word for it. ( )

A magical fantasy of a moon man who come to earth and get himself in trouble, but is saved by the lunar phases he goes through. A scientist finds him and send him back to space. Picture book with cartoon art show us the adventures of this moon man and the human reactions when facing something unknown.

The Moon Man gazes down at Earth every night and longs to join its inhabitants in dancing and general merriment. When he is finally able to catch a comet and ride down to Earth, his differences get him into trouble and he is not able to live among Earth's inhabitants peacefully, so he must find a way to get back home. Moon Man's disappointment hope, disappointment, and satisfaction once he returns to the moon is shown by Ungerer's vivid illustrations. Those illustrations are large enough to be easily seen from further away, which, when coupled with the engaging plot, makes Moon Man an excellent choice for story times and classroom reading.