A Full Moon Is Rising

Mysterious and evocative, the full moon is the most celebrated phase of the earth s only natural satellite. Around the world, people and other living things interact with and are affected by the full moon in fascinating ways. Sailors set out to sea on the high tides the full moon causes. Insects and migrating birds are guided by its brilliant light. Families dance, sing, and feast at full moon festivals, while traders buy and sell camels. Corals reproduce, wolves howl, and children dream of being astronauts.

In this poetic exploration of full moon science, celebrations, beliefs, and illusions, Marilyn Singer and Julia Cairns take us on a whirlwind international tour. Along the way we visit Canada, Israel, Morocco, India, China, Australia, and more as we learn about the many ways people welcome and honor Earth s wondrous full moon.

MARILYN SINGER is the author of more than eighty-five children s books in a variety of genres, including many poetry collections. Honors her books have won include the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor, Parents Choice Award, Children s Choice Award, and Notables from ALA, NCSS, NCTE, and NSTA. Singer s lifelong fascination with the moon led her to explore moon customs, beliefs, and celebrations of different people and cultures. She and her husband live in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, Connecticut.

JULIA CAIRNS is a fulltime fine artist and illustrator known for her colorful images and joyous, whimsical style. In addition to creating illustrations for children s books, Cairns has exhibited her work in shows and galleries around the United States, England, and Botswana, all places where she has lived for several years. The moon always inspires me, says Cairns, and it often appears in her paintings. A Full Moon Is Rising gave Cairns many more opportunities to paint her favorite celestial body. She lives in Galisteo, New Mexico, with her husband and their two children.