The Moon Bear, a full-color children's book recently released by Clyde Hill Publishing, marks the literary debut of Seattle's beloved Public Radio host Steve Scher, who built a reputation at KUOW-FM for giving guests the space to present their ideas with nuance. Scher brings a similar sensitivity, and an ear for poetic language, to his newest project.

Gwen and her friend the Moon Bear popped into Scher's mind unbidden, like a mysterious noise in the night, he says. "Their voices sang to me, whispered to me and there they were."

Illustrator Sarah Waller brought those voices to life through images imbued with the mystery and magic of the Pacific Northwest. Her richly detailed illustrations simultaneously manage to convey humor and hope.

Artist Jo Gershman brought Scher's words and Waller's images together in a design that echoes the lyricism of the text.