Night of the Moonjellies

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Night of the Moonjellies is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Mark Shasha. It was first published in 1992 by Simon & Schuster, with a 2007 reissue by Purple House Press. The story is inspired by Shasha’s memories of his grandmother’s hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut, during the 1970s. It follows a seven-year-old boy and his warm relationship with his grandmother as they run the busy stand.

The book features a small jelly-like creature from the North Atlantic called a moonjelly or comb jelly. Moonjellies are bioluminescent and belong to the ctenophore family (pronounced tee-ne-for).

Night of the Moonjellies won the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, is used in many educational programs, and has been reprinted in several editions. Smithsonian Magazine called it “sure to become a classic.” Shasha’s artwork from the book has been shown in museums and galleries since 1992. Songwriter Steve Elci has expressed interest in creating a film score if the book is ever turned into a movie.