The Night the Moon Fell: A Maya Myth

By Pat Mora

Book Overview

A whoosh from her grandfather s blowgun causes Luna, the moon, to tumble from the sky and fall to pieces in the dark ocean. To save herself, she enlists the help of little fish to glue her back... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0888993986
• ISBN13: 9780888993984
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.5" x 0.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Flawed but worthwhile

This is a breathtakingly beautiful illustrated book that interprets a Mayan myth for children. It is the story of how the moon falls to the ocean floor, breaking into many sparkling pieces, and then has to figure a way to put herself back together with the help of some newfound friends. The author is bilingual and it appears that she may have first written the English version (The Night the Moon Fell) and then translated it herself into Spanish. The Spanish language version has a few slightly awkward rhymes and may not have had the benefit of an editor who is a native speaker. There are several glaring typos that stand out in the text and on the book jacket (e.g., alredor for alrededor, se for sé, así misma for a sí misma, Oxaca for Oaxaca, distribuído for distribuido). I feel that this book would be appropriate for native Spanish speakers aged 7 or above in order to hold their interest. Younger children will enjoy the illustrations to be sure. The poetic language may be too advanced for children who are native English speakers with some knowledge of Spanish, so look for the English version for them; perhaps reading it first would help them understand the Spanish better.

Stunning

Myth. Young elementary picture book. Luna, the moon, shone in the sky. Her grandfather shot her with his blowgun, and she fell to the depths of the sea. The birds and everyone missed her light and asked her to come back. The fish became her friends and blew bubbles and sang to her. The fish looked for her reflection in the bits of shells and put her together again, wove themselves into a net and carried her high into the night sky. Unique water colors, which are very colorful and inviting.