The Moon Was at a Fiesta - Hardcover

Gollub, Matthew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1889910112 ISBN 13: 9781889910116

Publisher: Tortuga Press, 1997

Synopsis

The sun lights the day and the moon lights the night, and morning seldom breaks to find them both up in the sky. But when the moon does stay up past dawn, the people of Oaxaca, Mexico, have an explanation: “The moon was at a fiesta.” Once again, Matthew Gollub and Leovigildo Martínez have created a sumptuous original tale set amid the rich folk culture of Mr. Martínez’s own Oaxaca—a tale as exhilarating as a moonlit fiesta full of music, tamales, and paper lanterns.

California Department of Education Suggested Reading Title
Artwork honored by the Society of Illustrators in New York
Paintings and text displayed in Art Institute of Chicago and over 40 museums nationwide

About this title

About the Author:

Matthew Gollub is a nationally known children’s author, speaker and performer. He has created 18 picture books which together have garnered 25 national awards and distinctions. His musical narrations on audio CDs accompany some of his most popular books including The Jazz Fly and Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga. A dynamic drummer and bilingual presenter, he has also performed at over 1,000 elementary schools nationwide, inspiring students and families to read for fun. He lives with his family in Santa Rosa, CA.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4-This original porquoi story set in Mexico explains why the moon is sometimes visible in the morning sky. The sun and moon are happy with their celestial arrangement until the latter hears about the parties and feasts that take place during the day. She becomes jealous, and decides to have a fiesta at night. The people agree and stay out until daybreak, so when the sun rises, none of the work in the fields gets done. Although the moon is remorseful and resolves to stay in the evening sky, she occasionally likes to celebrate, and "That's why in Oaxaca, when people rise with the sun and see the moon, they say, 'The moon was at a fiesta.'" The story is perfect for reading aloud. The Spanish words, seamlessly interspersed throughout, add flavor. The watercolor, gouache, and acrylic illustrations perfectly complement the text-cool greens and blues reflect the light of the moon by night, and earth tones reflect the sun's glare by day. The same luminous colors used in the landscapes are repeated in the people's faces and clothes, suggesting their close relationship with nature. Full of wonderful details, the pictures give a glimpse of Oaxacan culture-the paper cut-out decorations, fireworks and wooden masks, and the anthropomorphized moon-and beautifully convey the people's respect for nature and their love of celebrations.
Lauren Mayer, New York Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tortuga Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1889910112
• ISBN 13: 9781889910116
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Martinez Leovigildo