A Cloak for the Moon [Hardcover]

Eric A. Kimmel (Author, Narrator), Katya Krenina (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A retelling of one of Rabbi Nachman's tales in which a tailor, dreaming that the moon is cold in the sky, goes in search of a special fabric with which to make it a cloak.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Based on a tale attributed to the 18th-century Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, this luminously rendered story centers on a tailor named Haskel who lives in Tzafat (one of the four holy cities of Israel, long associated with Jewish mysticism). One night Haskel dreams that the moon comes to him, wishing for a cloak to keep herself warm, and Haskel vows to make her one. When he wakes up, he says, "Dream or not, I will keep my promise." Although his uncle, a master tailor, tells him to "stop chasing dreams," Haskel dedicates himself to his goal, and when he hears of a legendary garment that stretches or shrinks to fit the wearer, he sets out to find it, in a journey that takes him first to China and then across the desert to a city evocatively named The Roof of the World. Expertly pacing the story, Kimmel (previously paired with Krenina for The Magic Dreidels) embroiders his prose with graceful details, writing of "radiant satins [and] silks like colored water." The exotic trappings will lure readers, replacing Haskel's determination to keep his promise as the central theme of the work. Intermittently embellished by borders and spot art featuring delicate flower motifs, Krenina's gouache art effectively depicts the Middle and Far Eastern settings of the tale, as well as its timeless sensibility. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-According to an author's note, this story is based on the work of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, a Jewish spiritual leader who died in 1811. Haskel, a tailor, spends his days sewing clothes and his nights lying on the roof watching the moon. In a dream, the moon tells him that she is cold and needs a cloak. Determined to make her a spectacular garment, he sets off to seek a special fabric that will stretch and shrink as the moon waxes and wanes. He travels to China, where he hears a rumor that leads him to a city located high in the mountains. When he arrives there, he learns that their princess cannot marry because the royal wedding dress, woven from beams of light, needs repairing and the secret of spinning light into thread has been lost. When he looks at the fabric through his magnifying glass, the moonlight focuses through it and spins itself into thread. The tailor mends the dress and takes a thread from it as a reward. From it, he makes the cloak and he and the moon now shine together in the sky. This unique, beautifully written story is enhanced by vividly colored, luminous gouache paintings of equal quality.-Anne Parker, Milton Public Library, MA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823414930
• ISBN-13: 978-0823414932
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #760,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is well known for the tales he has retold from around the world. Some of his best-known titles are "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" (a Caldecott Honor book), "Gershon's Monster", "Anansi and the Talking Melon", and "The Runaway Tortilla". A former professor of children's literature, he lives in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FANCIFUL TALE BEAUTIFULLY RETOLD, March 30, 2001

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cloak for the Moon (Hardcover)

Taken from one of Rabbi Nachman's tales, "A Cloak For The Moon" is a beguiling story about a tailor who is enthralled by the moon.

During the days Haskel, the tailor, devoted his time to sewing magnificent garments for the people of his town. At night he climbed to the roof of his house to watch the moon. One night Haskel dreams that the moon is shivering and wishes that Haskel could make her a cloak.

Even though he knows it was only a dream, Haskel determines to make a cloak for the moon, a garment of "shining silver thread" that the stars will envy. His uncle, a master tailor, tries to discourage him - after all, how can you measure the moon?

Hearing of a fabric woven from beams of light, Haskel sets out on a journey to find this wondrous cloth. During his search he comes upon a town where a princess has no wedding dress because the material of which her gown was made is disappearing. The thread was made from light.

Haskel realizes that he may be able to cloak the moon and help the princess. Eric Kimmel offers a proper ending to this fanciful tale luminously illustrated by Katya Krenina.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Dreamy, November 24, 2008

By 

A. Lake "selkiegirl" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cloak for the Moon (Hardcover)

This tale, possibly written by one of the greatest jewish storytellers, is written very well and has lovely, dreamy pictures that create a gentle mood. The story is a good one and the moon is beautiful!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, with a message, October 20, 2010

By 

j - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cloak for the Moon (Hardcover)

This exquisite book captures the imagination with its lush illustrations and wish-fulfilling quest. This is a hero's journey, one of tremendous empathy. A simply beautiful tale with many layers of meaning. On the surface, it is a magical adventure; more deeply, it reinforces the teaching that acts of compassion are as beneficial for oneself as for others. It is a joy to find such a book for children to encourage the wish to end another's suffering. A lovely tale for moon watchers, poets, and dreamers everywhere. Let's hope it is reprinted again and again, perhaps becoming a movie or a play for children. Our copy was on the remainder table at a university bookstore several years ago. This book belongs on the shelf!