Reading The Moon and the Tree is more than a cozy bedtime ritual. It’s an invitation to explore the wonder of the world outside your window. With its gentle story about friendship, seasons, and nature’s rhythms, D.L. Kreager’s book creates the perfect bridge between imagination and the great outdoors.
After enjoying the moon’s calm conversation with the tree, why not carry that magic into the day with some hands-on family activities? Here are five fun and meaningful nature adventures that bring the book’s themes to life and help your child connect with the world in a deeper way.
1. Tree Journaling Through the Seasons 🌳
Like the tree in the story, the trees in your neighborhood change each season. Encourage your child to adopt a favorite tree nearby and start a nature journal.
Each month, go visit the tree and have your child draw what it looks like. Are there leaves? Flowers? Snow? Bugs?
Ask questions like:
- How does the tree look today?
- What colors do you see?
- What might the tree be saying, just like in the book?
This ongoing activity helps children build observation skills and fosters a long-term connection with nature.
2. Moon Gazing & Moon Phases Calendar
The moon plays a magical, guiding role in the book, and it can in real life, too! Go outside on a clear night and spend a few minutes moon gazing as a family.
Take it a step further by creating a simple moon phase calendar using construction paper and stickers.
Let kids track how the moon changes shape throughout the month, just like it’s watching over the Earth.
You can even pair this with a quiet reading of the book under a flashlight or by the window for extra wonder.
3. Seasonal Nature Walk & Collection Hunt
Pick a local park or trail and go on a nature scavenger hunt themed by season. Bring along a basket or bag to collect treasures like:
- Colorful fall leaves
- Spring flower petals
- Summer pinecones or feathers
- Winter twigs or ice crystals (snap a photo!)
When you return home, help your child sort and label their finds. You can even create a Seasons of the Tree collage using glue and paper to reflect the story’s timeline.
4. Kindness Rocks Inspired by the Moon’s Wisdom
In The Moon and the Tree, the moon shares calming, kind words that comfort the tree. Let your child do the same for others by making kindness rocks.
Find smooth stones and paint them with words of encouragement like:
- “You are loved.”
- “Shine like the moon.”
- “Change is beautiful.”
Leave them in your neighborhood or local park for others to find, a quiet, magical way to spread light, just like the moon does in the story.
5. Storytime Picnic Under the Sky
Pick a sunny afternoon and pack a small picnic with your child’s favorite snacks. Bring The Moon and the Tree, a blanket, and maybe even a pair of binoculars.
Read the story aloud under a real tree and talk about how the book connects to what you see and feel.
Ask:
- Can you hear the wind in the leaves?
- What season do you think it is right now?
- What would you say if you could talk to the moon?
It’s a beautiful way to bond, reflect, and let storytelling become a full-sensory experience.
Takeaway
The Moon and the Tree is a starting point for wonder, discovery, and connection. Taking these moments from page to playground gives your child the gift of imagination rooted in real-world experience. Get your copy today and start your family’s next magical adventure, one season, one moonlit moment, and one tree at a time.