Woman In the Moon a Story From Hawaii - Hardcover
Because of her extraordinary imagination and skill, Hina, the finest tapa maker, or cloth maker, in Hawai'i, escapes the restrictions on the women of her time and receives a special gift from the moon.
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From School Library Journal:
Kindergarten-Grade 4-Rattigan retells the Hawaiian legend of the woman in the moon. Hina is known to make the best tapa cloth in the islands. Her work is in great demand, and she receives no help from her husband. Many activities are forbidden to her because she is a woman. She longs for a new home where she can have the leisure to enjoy the beautiful world around her. Her search takes her to the top of a high mountain and to a rainbow. Finally, she is able to reach the moon. From there, as a goddess, she inspires Hawaiian artists, young and old. Rattigan's language is rich and concrete. The story has not been watered down for children and, as such, gives insight into the culture from which it springs. It reflects the roles of men and women in this society and shows a high regard for artists. Rattigan incorporates many Hawaiian words into the text, which adds to its flavor. Golembe's gouache paintings are flat in style and brightly colored, edged with patterns and figures used to decorate traditional tapa cloth. A glossary, an author's note, and sources are included. An interesting and striking addition to folklore collections.
Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews:
Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
An embellished retelling--subtitled ``A Story from Hawai'i'' and rooted in Hawaiian mythology--by Rattigan (Dumpling Soup, 1993) of how the woman goddess Hina came to live in her true home in this alternative to the man-in-the-moon concept. Hina, maker of tapa, a kind of bark cloth, is dissatisfied with her demanding husband and the amount of work required in making tapa for the entire village. She chooses to leave the place where so many things are ``kapu,'' or forbidden to women, and journeys up an icy mountain peak and to the hot sun before climbing a rainbow to the moon. The telling of the story is rambling, and even disjointed at times. An emphasis given to the making and use of tapa, skillfully woven into the story, provides insight into a little-known aspect of ancient Hawaiian culture, but doesn't work as a central plot device. As a result, the story falls short of a satisfying outcome. Both tapa-making and the setting provide attractive motifs for Golembe's primitive artwork, deliberately evoking Gaugin, and rendered in gouache with sea urchin purples and hibiscus pinks as delectable as spun sugar. (notes, glossary) (Picture book/folklore. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherLittle Brown Company
- ISBN 10 0000072974
- ISBN 13 9780000072979
- BindingHardcover
- Rating
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