October’s Full Moon: The Quiet Wisdom Within Karly Bonfante’s ‘Under the Hunter's Moon’
October’s full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon, a moon that rises low and bright over autumn fields just as the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp. Traditionally, it marked the time when hunters prepared for the coming winter, guided by its long, glowing light across dusky landscapes. It is a moon tied to instinct, survival, and awareness of the delicate balance within nature. Karly Bonfante’s Under the Hunter’s Moon reflects this ancient rhythm with warmth and tenderness, offering children and caregivers a story about discernment, kindness, and the quiet wisdom of choosing how we respond to the world around us.
At the heart of this story is Lola the fox, quick and clever, moving easily through the shadows of the forest. Foxes are known for their sharp instincts and adaptability. They are hunters by nature, yet their diets are varied and resourceful, reflecting the flexibility that helps them survive in the wild. Lola carries this spirit beautifully. She has the wit to outsmart danger and the speed to escape a trap, but she also holds a gentler strength: the ability to pause, to listen, and to choose kindness even when instinct might suggest otherwise.
This balance becomes the quiet heart of Under the Hunter’s Moon. Strength is not portrayed as speed or sharpness alone. It is something more thoughtful. True strength lies in discernment, in knowing when to leap forward and when to soften, when to act and when to hold back. Lola shows children that instinct and compassion can exist side by side, and that the most meaningful choices often come from listening not only to our impulses, but also to our hearts.
One of the most beautiful moments in the story comes when Lola could easily follow her first instinct at the creek. As a fox, hunting would be natural. Yet when her friend Faye asks for understanding, Lola chooses a different path. She does not deny who she is, nor does the story pretend the natural world is without cycles of predator and prey. Instead, it introduces something deeper: friendship. Within the forest’s natural balance of hunger and survival, friendship adds another layer of choice. It asks us to sometimes pause, to consider someone else’s comfort, and to care even when doing so requires restraint.
This gentle moment carries an important lesson for children. Our instincts are not wrong, but we are also capable of reflection. Being thoughtful does not mean ignoring who we are. It means understanding our impulses and deciding, with care, how we want to act. Lola’s choice shows that courage can appear not only in bold movement, but in quiet restraint.
The story also acknowledges another truth about the forest: hunters are sometimes hunted. Beneath the glow of the Hunter’s Moon, humans leave traps, and Lola must rely on her quick thinking and cleverness to stay free. In this way, she understands both sides of the cycle. She knows what it feels like to chase and what it feels like to be chased. There is no villain in this story, only the reality that life is woven together through needs, instincts, and survival. This perspective gently introduces children to the idea that the world is complex, and that empathy grows when we recognize different experiences within that web of life.
For children, this becomes a lesson in cleverness as both protection and wisdom. Sometimes being clever means finding a way out of a difficult situation. At other times, it means choosing differently than what others might expect. Lola shows that intelligence is not only about escaping danger or outwitting a challenge; it is also about knowing when kindness matters more than instinct.
Like all the stories in the Full Moon Fairy series, Under the Hunter’s Moon carries layers of meaning that unfold differently depending on who is reading. For little ones, it is a story filled with autumn magic, friendship, and a fox who is just a little faster than every trap set before her. For caregivers, it offers a deeper meditation on instinct and intention, loyalty and restraint, and the quiet choices that shape who we become.
Stories like this allow children to explore complicated ideas in a safe and gentle way. Through characters like Lola and Faye, they see how courage, kindness, and clever thinking can coexist. They learn that it is possible to be strong and gentle at the same time, and that thoughtful choices often create the strongest connections.
For caregivers, the wisdom of the Hunter’s Moon invites reflection as well. It reminds us that our children, like foxes in the wild, are naturally curious, independent, and full of instinct. Our role is not to quiet that spirit, but to help guide it with care. When children learn that their cleverness can be used not only to protect themselves but also to care for others, they begin to understand the deeper meaning of wisdom.
October’s Hunter’s Moon does not ask us to deny our instincts or avoid life’s challenges. Instead, it invites us to meet each moment with awareness and a clever heart, one that knows when to leap, when to pause, and when to choose a gentler path.
And with the next full moon just around the corner, it is the perfect time to dip your toes into the world of the Full Moon Fairy. Let this story be your lantern, lighting the way into wonder, warmth, and a little bit of moonlit magic. Because beneath the Hunter’s Moon, every heart has the chance to be both clever and kind, and every choice holds the possibility of something quietly magical.
We’re delighted to share that Under the Hunter's Moon is just one shining part of the enchanting Full Moon Fairy collection by the incredibly talented Karly Bonfante, now available for our UK community at Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks. New titles will join the collection each month, gradually unfolding the magic until the complete set of 14 beautiful books is available. It’s a gentle, joy-filled journey we’re thrilled to share, perfect for families who love stories filled with heart, imagination, and quiet wisdom.
About the Author of this Article
Melody is the founder of Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks, a UK store specialising in Waldorf-inspired sustainable toys that encourage imaginative and open-ended play. With 13 years’ experience in early childhood education and as a mother who home educates her three children, Melody shares practical tips and insights about Waldorf toys, open-ended play, sustainable toys, child-led learning, and sustainable living. Read more about the founder here.