AND IF THE MOON COULD TALK, by Kate Banks, illustrated by Georg Hallensleben; Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 1998; 36 pages, $15 hardcover.

At bedtime young children are not always ready and willing to make the transition from the busy activities of the day and the close proximity of family to the quiet solitude of slumber. A picture book that invites snuggly moments of calming intimacy between parent and child can be an important part of the family night routine.

In this genre, “And If the Moon Could Talk” by Kate Banks is a real treasure. The text and illlustrations have a soothing, reassuring quality to them. Many of the illustrations will evoke the cozy familiarity of the child’s own home. It is one of the rare books that has a child appeal that results in young listeners wanting to hear it again and again and avoids the tacky pseudosweetness that would have parents gritting their teeth on the 37th reading.

“And If the Moon Could Talk,” in the tradition of Margaret Wise Brown’s classic “Goodnight Moon,” depicts the small, intimate details of a little girl’s evening as she plays quietly with stuffed animals, sits on her father’s lap for a bedtime story, gets tucked into bed and hugged by her mother, and drifts off to sleep clutching a well-loved toy rabbit. The cozy details of her room — the starfish, wooden boat, and water glass on the table beside the bed; the shoes tucked under a chair; the menagerie of stuffed animals — are depicted in the vibrant colors so loved by young children.

Intertwined with this story line are outdoor vistas that the moon illuminates. A lizard scurries home for dinner. Stars flare up. Waves wash onto a beach. The inner and outer scenes are carefully matched. The human mother tucks her child into bed as the lion mother licks her cubs. In the highly satisfying climax the moon looks in on the child, securely slumbering in her cozy room, to murmur “good night.”

The predictable pattern of “And If the Moon Could Talk,” reinforced by the repetition of “And if the moon could talk it would tell …” is endearing to young children. It also creates a scaffolding to aid a novice reader. And it provides a way for children to make this book their own.

Teachers have long known that being able to detect a rhythm or pattern in a story boosts a school-age child’s confidence in his ability to create a personal version. This pattern, the comfortable familiarity of the subject matter, and even the impressionist style of the paintings make “And If the Moon Could Talk” an ideal book for a preschool child and parent to improvise on. In addition to creating a satisfying rainy-day activity, this project would help a child see the connection between the spoken and written word and provide a real boost to his desire to learn how to read and write.

Author Kate Banks was born and raised in Maine. Spending free time outside with her sisters and brother gave her the chance to observe nature, wildlife and the interplay of changing seasons. These observations, so important to her in her growing years, have become a strong influence on her writing.

Books were an important part of Banks’ childhood. Her parents, avid book lovers, made reading and library and bookstore visits much-enjoyed family traditions.

Banks found that books were a good way to learn about and deal with emotions and the ups and downs of life. “Later, books would become a refuge, somewhere to escape to after a disappointment, a place to meet new people or to have a laugh or a cry,” she says. “I met a lot of people I liked in books and some I didn’t like. I remember feeling very close to many of the characters and learning from them.”

As a writer Banks found the picture book to be an especially appealing format. “I especially liked … the way in which words and illustrations could create a whole new world in which sometimes real and other times magical and unexpected things could happen.”

There have been a number of sources of inspiration for Banks’ books: The relationships that have been important in her life; words and rhymes that have helped to create a special place; her imagination; and her life experiences have all been reflected in her work.

Banks loves watching and listening to children, spending time with them, and writing for them. An important source of inspiration for her now is her own sons, Peter and Max. “Very often a comment of Peter’s or the way he sees something will speak to me of a story,” she says. “Other times just watching him interact with the world will give me an idea.” This perceptive observation of children is obvious in her careful and loving description of the small child’s evening world in “And If the Moon Could Talk.”

Illustrator Georg Hallensleben was born in Germany and now lives in Paris. He has exhibited paintings in European galleries and has illustrated a number of children’s books. This is the third book he has illustrated for Banks. The unusually beautiful and accurate pairing of text and illustrations bear evidence to their collaboration.

In short, “And If the Moon Could Talk” is a real treasure for young children and those who care for them — a truly exceptional book to savor rather than to rush through.