ALA Booklist (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

The idea that a "blue moon" is a rare occurrence may need to be explained to children, but once they understand the reference, they will be able to marvel at the unexpected encounters with nature and animals expressed in these short poems. Describing large things ranging from a double rainbow, 100 fireflies, a whale, or a bald eagle to smaller creatures like ladybugs or a turtle, the poems issue an invitation to stop and consider instead of hurrying on. Each poem begins, "Once in a blue moon" to emphasize that one may see something surprising at any time. Each short poem is accompanied by a snapshot-like illustration in a folk-art style, rendered in bold colors and blocky, eye-catching shapes and featuring children with a variety of skin, hair, and eye colors. Though the moments described are rare, they're all within the realm of possibility for children to experience firsthand, and the poems invite little ones to see those moments for the treasures that they are. Ideal for one-on-one reading or as an introduction to poetry in the classroom.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Inspired by the titular infrequent full moon, the astute narrators of these fourteen four-line, free-verse poems observe what they see "once in a blue moon." The poems convey, in an understated way, the quiet joy that comes from pausing and looking at fireflies, butterflies, shooting stars, and other natural wonders. Naive-style acrylic-gouache and pencil illustrations suit the simple words.

Kirkus Reviews

Four-line poems lend a magical quality to a series of simple experiences witnessed once in a blue moon. Daniel's childlike illustrations, done in pencil and colored with flat fields of acrylic gouache in rich colors, accompany each poem, serving to frame moments in nature as special events. The format allows readers to go slowly and serves as an excellent way for children to become aware of nonrhyming poetic forms. It also conveys the sense of wonder that comes when taking a quiet moment to appreciate that which is not immediately "entertaining" in the modern sense. The repetition of the titular phrase, "Once in a blue moon," and brevity of each poem make for a soothing bedtime read-aloud, but the book will also work well as a calm break in a busy day, and it is ripe with inspirations for further activities such as painting a similar scene and writing nonrhyming verses to reflect serene moments. Each "I" in the book can apply to children from many walks of life, as those depicted have different skin colors and hair textures and are in different environments in nature. Many may be close to readers' own accessible experiences, while those that are different can inspire imagination about how other kids see the world. Daniel has enabled a full deep breath on every page of this gentle, relaxing book, which engages without overloading and lends a specialness to things too easy to miss in the natural world. (Picture book. 4-7)