Just Rewards, Or, Who is That Man in the Moon and What's He Doing Up There Anyway?

An original interpretation of a Chinese folktale which explains the presence of the man in the moon

Grade 1-3?Based on versions found in Wolfram Eberhard's Folktales of China (Univ. of Chicago, 1965; o.p.) and Louise and Yuan Hsi Kuo's Chinese Folk Tales (Celestial Arts, 1976), Sanfield's retelling is one that he developed through years of storytelling. The tale is yet another interpretation of good deeds receiving just rewards while wrongdoings are punished. Here, the good neighbor nurses an injured bird back to health. The bird, in return, provides the man with a seed that grows into a vine yielding watermelons filled with silver, gold, and precious jewels. The evil neighbor, who injures a bird in order to heal it, is rewarded with a seed whose vine grows straight up to the moon. The man, thinking that the riches of the moon are to be his, climbs to the top only to see the vine wither and die. And there he is to this day, if you look very hard. Sanfield's writing style reflects the story's oral history and beginnings. There are asides to readers, words are repeated, and phrases are embellished in a manner that is easier to read aloud than silently. Lisker's full-page oil-on-canvas paintings consist of broad strokes and blocks of color. The good neighbor has a gentle, soft face with a peachy complexion, while the evil one has a more angular visage and a revealing stark white complexion. While both text and artwork remove the story from its Asian origins, this book stands as a worthwhile addition to storytelling and folklore collections.?Susan Pine, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In a folktale that bears the subtitle ``Or Who Is That Man in the Moon and What's He Doing Up There Anyway?,'' a kind farmer is rewarded for rescuing an injured bird, with a magic seed that grows into watermelons loaded with money and jewels. Jealous of his friend's sudden wealth, a greedy farmer decides to rescue an injured bird, too. But he creates the injury himself with a slingshot and pesters the bird incessantly for treasures. He too receives a seed from the bird, which grows into a huge vine that reaches all the way to the moon. Eagerly, the greedy man climbs the vine, stepping onto the moon just as his green ladder withers. Sanfield and Lisker (Strudel, Strudel, Strudel, 1995, etc.) have reworked this Chinese folktale so that it reads especially well aloud, with conversational asides that will make listeners laugh. The bold and expressive illustrations blend American folk art with hints (faces, colors) of Edvard Munch. Best of all, the stingy farmer's bald lunar pate provides a good forecast of his fate. (Picture book/folklore. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 4^-8. The familiar story of the good guy and the bad guy who get what they deserve is part of Sanfield's lively version of an old Chinese tale. The kind, gentle man nurses an injured sparrow, which rewards him with a seed that yields a vine of watermelons packed with jewels. His stingy, greedy neighbor wants those riches, so he shoots a sparrow with his slingshot and nurses it, always reminding the bird that he wants his reward. He gets it. The bird gives him a seed that grows into a vine that reaches right up to the moon, but when the man climbs up and up in search of wealth, the vine withers and leaves him on the moon--and he's still there. The telling is direct and intimate, with a simple rhythm for reading aloud; and Lisker's bright, clear, primitive oil paintings, with playful perspectives, are great for group sharing. In a note, Sanfield points out that just about every culture has a tale about the markings on the moon. Hazel Rochman