The Shadow in the Moon

June 15, 2018
Two sisters learn there is more to their favorite Chinese holiday than feasting and moon-gazing. The narrator is excited to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival feast with her family. As the family "comes together and becomes whole again," they give thanks and make a wish for the coming year. The narrator's favorite part of the dinner is dessert: mooncakes with flaky crusts and yummy fillings, red bean for little sister and lotus seed for her. Each mooncake is decorated with the image of a beautiful lady in long flowing robes. "Who is this lady?" the sisters wonder. Their grandmother tells them the ancient tale of the archer, Hou Yi, and his wife, Chang'e. A long, long time ago, Hou Yi shot down nine out of the 10 suns in the sky that were scorching the Earth. As a reward, the Heavenly Immortals gave him the potion of eternal life. Hou Yi kept the potion in a safe place, but a thief tried to steal it, and Chang'e made a very big sacrifice. After hearing this tale, the narrator gains a new appreciation for the holiday and her family and finally makes her wish to Chang'e. While the modern context presented for this popular Chinese festival is noteworthy, sadly, the story does not otherwise stand out from the crowd. Both text and illustrations are staid, summoning little of the drama of the legend or the warmth the frame should provide.A basic book to beef up a world-cultures collection. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-In this title, a grandmother (aka Ah-ma) tells the story behind the Mid-Autumn Festival. Long ago, 10 suns became bored and decided not to shine individually but came out all at once, causing big problems on Earth. Hou Yi, a young archer, comes to the rescue by shooting down nine of the suns. He is rewarded for his efforts with a magic potion that will let him live forever in the sky. He and his wife, Chang'e, hide it to keep it safe. When a thief breaks in, Chang'e swallows it, and becomes the Spirit and Lady in the Moon. Sees her silhouette on the moon, Hou Yi realizes that his wife is now immortal. He is sad, but on the anniversary of when she became Spirit of the Lady in the Moon, he remembers her by putting out her favorite foods like small cakes. In addition to the story, there is more information about the Mid-Autumn Festival and a recipe for mooncakes with red-bean filling. The engaging story within a story is well written and may be relatable to many children. For example, the mooncakes are described as being "as small as my hand and as round as the moon." The cartoon illustrations are colorful and modern, yet complement the timeless tale. VERDICT A good introduction to the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese culture, perfect for classroom use or one-on-one reading.--Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2018
Grades K-2 During the Mid-Autumn Festival, a girl hears her Ah-ma tell the story of the lady whose image adorns the mooncakes. Long ago, Hou Yi the archer saved his people from the scorching heat of 10 suns, and was gifted an immortality potion. But his wife, Chang'e, swallowed the potion to prevent a thief from taking it. Realizing that she had become the Spirit and Lady in the Moon, Hou Yi honored Chang'e by presenting her favorite foods, including round cakes. One double-page spread features family members around a circular table, which emphasizes the motif of the full moon. The cartoonlike illustrations are reminiscent of Tomie dePaola, with warm reds and yellows effectively used to depict the heat of the 10 suns, while cool greens and blues show the earth's relief under only one sun. Useful for introducing a significant festival celebrated in Chinese and other East Asian cultures. An author's note includes a recipe for mooncakes with red bean filling.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)