The delightful and contemplative gracefully converge in Jenny Amory’s new children’s book Moon Walk. With whimsical illustrations and elegant prose, the book chronicles a nighttime stroll in which Amory and her two sons meander to a nearby lake where they become captivated by the moon. The trio sits on a wooden bench and gazes in awe at the beauty that surrounds them.
This is Amory’s first children’s book, and to write it, she called upon memories of evening adventures in which she and her two young sons would meander through their backyard woods to a sandy beach to observe the moon. These “moonwalks” were particularly special to Amory as each walk provided an opportunity to connect with nature and reflect on the wonders of the natural world.
A community organizer and artist, Amory has spent her career working to strengthen neighborhoods and enrich the lives of young people. She has continuously cultivated her passion for visual art, from photography to jewelry making.
“One thing that fascinates me is making art part of the everyday experience,” Amory said.
In some of her early photography exhibits, Amory featured close-up images of natural elements that she encountered on walks in her favorite Northeast destinations. These snippets capture part of the larger emotional journey that one experiences when spending time in nature, a theme that Amory echoes in Moon Walk when she features the cooing of an owl or a floating lotus on the lake.
In the creation of Moon Walk, Amory extended close attention to detail when guiding the illustrations. She sent pictures of objects such as her children’s shoes and toys to the book’s illustrator who incorporated these pieces of memory into the story’s colorful pages. Each page of Moon Walk is a visual treat. Vibrant neon turquoise trees against backdrops of deep pastel purple water and skies are the foundation for an original color palette. Accented elements are highlighted in gold and yellow hues, evoking a sense of serenity and warmth.
Amory says that working on this book has been one her the most joyous projects. It synthesizes many of her passions from visual art to storytelling and fostering a connection to oneself and nature. A student of meditation, Amory hopes that in reading this book, children and adults alike are encouraged to explore and reflect on their surroundings. Whether it’s a walk in a community park or sitting on a bench next to a sidewalk tree, Armory emphasizes the incredible potency of contemplation within nature.
Moon Walk was published in December 2018, and since then, Amory has been working to make the book available in local bookstores and hold readings. She hopes to develop these events perhaps to include moonwalks, so families can create their own memories of convening with nature together.
To learn more and purchase Moon Walk, visit Amazon.com.
