Disclosure: Greatful Moments received a copy of When a Moose Has a Mustache for review. This article contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Sharing children’s books I wish I had when Charlie and Suzzane was little is one of the reasons I love having Greatful Moments because it helps me bring reading to the children I know. Today I would like to share When a Moose Has a Mustache by Sam Caldwell. Be watching the children’s faces when they read this fun book and listen for them to be laughing out loud like my family did.

When I picked up When a Moose Has a Mustache, I had no idea how much fun I was about to have with this book. It’s an over sized board book that is a lift-and flap book making it more fun to read, the Authors includes silly woodland animals, and interactive surprises that make you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next.

And when I started reading it, I couldn’t help thinking about my own family. Charlie and Suzzane would have been all over this book when they were little. David Michael would have enjoyed it, too. There is just something about a silly children’s book that gets everybody involved, especially when it gives you a reason to laugh together.

But what makes this book even funnier for me is that mustaches have become a family topic all on their own! Charlie has been trying to grow a mustache. The other day, he came into my office and asked, “Did you even notice I haven’t shaved?” I looked at him and said, “No, I didn’t, but I do like the mustache.”

Then, about 30 minutes to an hour later, he came back into my room. “Do you notice anything different about me?” Now, I was working and not paying that close attention to Charlie. I said “Nope!” Well, he’d shaved it off. Apparently, Charlie has decided he isn’t growing a mustache until winter. Don’t ask me why. I have no idea! But as a mom I will pick my battles and facial hair is one battle I’m not ready to tackle.

David, on the other hand, has a beard year-round. And that brings me to a memory from when Charlie was little. David had gone to get a haircut and had his beard shaved off because he had a Christmas party at work that evening. When he came home, he held out his arms for Charlie, expecting his little boy to come running to him.

Charlie absolutely refused to go to him! Why? Because Daddy was clean-shaven, and apparently, that wasn’t the Daddy he recognized. I can still laugh thinking about it. Now, when I look at Charlie trying to grow a goatee, mustache, or beard, I sometimes have to remind myself that my little boy isn’t so little anymore. And after reading When a Moose Has a Mustache, I’m beginning to wonder whether I should grow a mustache myself. Maybe then I’d fit into my family! LOL

The first thing I noticed about the cover of the book is how the moose looks like a lumberjack. He’s wearing a flannel shirt, blue jeans, and work boots, and he looks right at home in the woods. In fact I could see David going to work with him one day. Just leave me at home.

In the book are beautiful birds, a coffee pot, which Charlie said he would like to have a cup of coffee and little details that make the setting feel cozy and outdoorsy. You can almost imagine sitting around a campfire, enjoying the fresh air and watching the woodland creatures go about their business.

This book is illustrated by Sam Caldwell, the book features playful, stylized, vibrant artwork that brings the animals and their funny mustaches to life. I love that the animals aren’t just standing around looking silly. They have personalities, activities, and little details for children to discover as they explore the pages.

Here’s where the fun begins! When a moose has a mustache, it wiggles when he walks. That made me think about Charlie when he was little. He wiggled, he wobbled, and he didn’t fall down! I’m laughing just remembering him. But the moose isn’t the only animal getting in on the mustache business.

When a toad has a mustache, it tickles when he hops. Yes, a toad, not a frog! When a bear has a mustache, it stands straight when he growls. Now, if I encountered a growling bear in the woods, I wouldn’t be standing around studying his mustache. I’d be running for the hills!

And what about a coyote? His mustache droops down when he prowls. Oh, my goodness. Who knew there were so many things to consider when it comes to woodland facial hair? I’m not going to tell you everything that happens in the book because that would spoil the fun.

You’ll have to discover what happens with the raccoon, the mouse, the trout, the crow, and the deer yourself. And no, we’re not talking about a reindeer this time! The mouse even has a campfire moment that sounds like something you’d want to discover on a camping trip. Imagine roasting marshmallows with a mustachioed mouse!

One of my favorite things about When a Moose Has a Mustache is that it isn’t simply a book you read from beginning to end while a child sits quietly beside you. The over sized board-book format and life-the-flaps books invites children to interact with the story. They can lift the flaps, discover the animals, and wonder what funny surprise might be waiting on the next page.

Then comes the question about what happens when you have a mustache. The illustration lets you hold the book up to your face and join the fun! I can picture a little boy or girl holding it up, looking at themselves, and bursting into laughter. And I can picture a parent or grandparent doing the same thing just to make the child laugh harder.

That is the kind of reading experience I enjoy. It’s not only about the words on the page. It’s about the shared moments, the funny faces, and the memories that develop when a family reads together. I think When a Moose Has a Mustache is a wonderful option for little boys and girls who enjoy animals, silly stories, and interactive books.

The humor gives adults opportunities to ask questions, encourage children to make predictions, and talk about what they see in the illustrations. The animals and their activities also give young readers plenty of details to explore. Parents and grandparents can make the story even more entertaining by acting out the different mustaches. What would a wiggling mustache look like? How would you walk if yours drooped down? Could you growl like a bear? And what would happen if your own mustache tickled every time you hopped? I think you can see where this could lead! Can’t you?

For homeschooling families, the book could also provide a playful starting point for an informal reading activity. Children can identify the animals, describe their movements, observe the illustrations, and invent their own silly mustache ideas. Those are activities we can enjoy without turning every story into a formal lesson.

The following description is the book information supplied for this review:

What happens when a moose—and other animals—have a mustache?

When a moose has a mustache, it wiggles when they walk. When a toad has a mustache, it tickles when they hop. When a bear has a mustache, it stands straight when they growl. When a coyote has a mustache, it droops down when they prowl.

This over sized board book with gatefolds is a silly story of forest animals sporting different mustaches. Kids will love to see the animals, including a moose with a hiking stick, a toad with a fishing pole, a coyote catching fireflies in a jar, and a mouse roasting marshmallows over the campfire. Sam Caldwell’s playful, stylized, and vibrant illustrations bring the characters and humor to life.

Meet the Illustrator: Sam Caldwell is a children’s illustrator and designer based in Glasgow, UK. He grew up in the north of England and studied painting at the Edinburgh College of Art. His playful, stylized illustrations give the woodland animals their personalities and bring the book’s humor to life.

I especially appreciate the visual storytelling in a book like this. When children are enjoying a picture book, the illustrations aren’t just decorations around the words. They are part of the experience, encouraging young readers to look closely, notice details, and discover something new as they turn the pages.

I’m sure your wondering If I would recommend When a Moose Has a Mustache? Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s silly, interactive, and full of the sort of humor that makes reading together enjoyable. The over sized board-book format,lift-the-flap books, woodland animals, and playful illustrations give children several reasons to return to the pages.

I particularly like the way it invites children to participate. Instead of simply hearing about a moose, a toad, or a bear, little readers get to discover what happens when each animal has a mustache—and eventually imagine what might happen if they had one, too. It’s a fun addition to our children’s Christmas Gift Guide. Wish List, but I wouldn’t save it just for Christmas. This is a book that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

If you’re looking for a playful book for a young reader, a grandchild, or a family that enjoys reading and laughing together, I hope you’ll take a closer look. I could see this book being a part of Charlie and even Suzzane’s reading class when we was #Homeschooling.

Santa and I have been checking our book selections, and we’ve decided that When a Moose Has a Mustache deserves a place in the sleigh for a young reader who enjoys silly stories and interactive surprises. Whether you’re shopping for a little boy, a little girl, a grandchild, or a family that loves to read together, this could be a fun book to consider.

And who knows? With Black Friday approaching, you might even discover a special price while you’re checking out your Christmas shopping list. If you haven’t had a chance to see When a Moose Has a Mustache, we hope you’ll take a look on Amazon and decide whether it belongs on your family’s bookshelf.

As for me, I’m going to keep an eye on Charlie’s mustache-growing adventures. And if he decides to shave again before winter, maybe I’ll just grow one of my own! Or I might get David to shave LORD willing and the Creek don’t run dry. Because David says his beard keep his face warm when he is working outside in the Winter. Lord, only knows if that’s true or not.

Greatful Moments: Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates