Review - The Shadow in the Moon

The Shadow in the Moon: A Tale of the Mid-Autumn Festival
by Christina Matula
illustrated by Pearl Law
Date: 2018
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A unique blend of traditional folklore and contemporary customs brings the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival to life.

Two sisters and their grandmother celebrate a popular Chinese holiday with family. Their favorite part? Mooncakes, of course--along with Ah-ma's story of the ancient Chinese tale of Hou Yi, a brave young archer, and his wife, Chang'E. A long, long time ago, Hou Yi rescued the earth from the heat of ten suns. The Immortals rewarded him with a magic potion that could let him live in the sky with them forever. But when a thief tries to steal the potion, what will Chang'E do to keep it out of dangerous hands? The sisters are mesmerized by Ah-ma's retelling and the fact that the very mooncakes they enjoy each holiday are a symbol of this legend's bravest soul.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I really enjoy books like this. The Shadow in the Moon is based on an old Chinese folktale about Hou Yi and his wife, Chang'e. The story is told to two modern-day little girls by their grandmother. It's not a story I've ever heard before, and what I love about this book is that it makes the story accessible to children who aren't familiar with the original folktale or the traditions that sprung up around it. Sometimes books with a cultural focus can assume too much previous knowledge, rendering them suitable only to those who are already a part of that particular culture. That isn't the case here.

The story-within-a-story works well here, as Ah-ma's tale is precipitated by a question about the lady depicted on the mooncakes the family is eating. The narrative is well done, with lovely writing. The illustrations are simple, but effective. There's an author's note at the back that explains a little bit more about the Mid-Autumn Festival. And there's also a recipe for red-bean mooncakes that doesn't look too daunting.

All in all, this is a nice holiday book for kids. It's smart, accessible, and entertaining. It might also make you hungry for mooncakes.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5