In this frenzied world, we are constantly being pulled in various directions. Our time is a limited, precious commodity. Between numerous commitments demanding our attention, taking the time to read a book perhaps doesn’t rank very high on our list of priorities.

Yet, in those moments of quiet solitude when reading becomes a vehicle to soothe our restless spirits, we face the task of deciding what book we should read.

Parents with small children select titles to entertain and cultivate the burgeoning minds of their youngsters. Arguably, adults without children can still benefit from reading children’s books where an honest message and wonderful illustrations create a moving experience.

I am an adult who doesn’t have children in her life. I have no embarrassment in admitting that I read and enjoy children’s books. I have no embarrassment in admitting that I absorb the lessons provided within these pages.

Megan Padalecki is a children’s book author that I had the pleasure of discovering last year. Her debut book, Big Mo, told the tale of a pet iguana with a ravenous appetite that he found difficult to control. Within this heartfelt story boasting marvelously seductive illustrations (also done by Padalecki) was a important message of recognizing our natural landscape and guarding against overconsumption. We have a responsibility to protect Earth for future generations.

Now Megan Padalecki is ready to release her second book, Little Moon. Little Moon will undoubtedly inherit the beautiful legacy of Big Mo in the sense that the book will introduce a character trying to understand its place in the world. With Big Mo we had an iguana. In Little Moon, our central character is a small squid on a quest of the ocean who likely will learn an invaluable lesson about appreciating its own gifts.

Padalecki has earned reader trust with her entertaining, informative and sensitive approach to important issues. I look forward to exploring the world of “Little Moon”