Winter Moon Song - Hardcover

Brooks, Martha

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554983207 ISBN 13: 9781554983209

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2014

Synopsis

Many cultures explain why we can see the shape of a rabbit on the moon. Inspired by a Lakota Elder’s version of the tale, Martha Brooks created this beautifully written story. A young rabbit asks his mother how the shape of a rabbit came to be on the moon. She tells him the story of Great Mother Creator Rabbit, who came down to Earth to see how her creatures lived. Finding herself cold and hungry, she built a fire, placing a stewpot on top. Another rabbit took it upon himself to jump in, but before he could perish Great Mother Rabbit tossed him up into the moon. This is why all the rabbits now gather to hear the choir sing Winter Moon Song.” But when all the rabbits gather to hear it, the little rabbit is disappointed: it had been beautiful, but did not seem magical. In the wintry air, the little rabbit looks up at the rabbit in the moon and is suddenly inspired to sing the song once more. He is joined by others. In singing the song anew, they realize the joy in being one great rabbit family.

About this title

About the Author:

Martha Brooks is an award-winning novelist, playwright, and jazz singer. She is a three-time winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year, as well as the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie's Book Award, the Governor General's Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Leticia Ruifernandez has illustrated more than 25 books, mainly for children, published in Spain and South America. She won the Ciudad de Alicante Award for her illustrations in "Picuyo, " and she was recognized by the International German Youth Library with a White Ravens selection for her illustrations in "Cuento hasta tres." She lives with her family in Caceres, Spain.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 3—Brooks has combined a fictional folktale about the rabbit in the moon with a story about the rabbits' tradition of singing an ages-old special song "to lighten up the darkest month of the year with a trail of magic." A "youngish" rabbit, "not big enough to be noticed in any significant way," has prepared to sing "the thrilling piece of music called 'Winter Moon Song'" with the rabbit choir at the gathering place in the burrow. Having heard the tale of the rabbit in the moon and participated in the hour-long program, the young rabbit is suddenly inspired to lead the singing of the song outside under the winter moon, starting a new tradition. Both the fictional folktale and the story that surrounds it lack ethnicity and purpose. There are no ties to a specific country, people, or religion; no problem to be solved; no truths or values for children or contest between good and evil. In the pourquoi-like tale of the rabbit in the moon, a small rabbit, recognizing the Great Mother, Creator Rabbit shivering in the snow, jumps into her stewpot of boiling water ("I must save her or she will die!"), and the Creator Rabbit flings him to the moon ("Oh no, I must save my creation or he will die!"). Soft watercolor and black-ink scenes—most in white, blues, and smeary grays—create a perfect background for the story. Successful adaptation of a folktale is a difficult task; creating a meaningful original tale, even more challenging. Brooks's attempt just does not satisfy.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1554983207
• ISBN 13: 9781554983209
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Ruifernández Leticia