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Ladder to the Moon [Hardcover]

Maya Soetoro-Ng , Yuyi Morales
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 12, 2011 4 - 8 years830L (What's this?)
From Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Obama, comes a lyrical story relaying the loving wisdom of their late mother to a young granddaughter she never met.

Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window, and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. In a rich and deeply personal narrative, Maya Soetoro-Ng draws inspiration from her mother s love for family, her empathy for others, and her ethic of service to imagine this remarkable meeting. Evoking fantasy and folklore, the story touches on events that have affected people across the world in our time and reaffirms our common humanity. Yuyi Morales s breathtaking artwork illuminates the dreamlike tale, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon and remember.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

A lush, haunting story that brings together a grandmother and her grandchild. When Suhaila ask her mother, "What was Grandma Annie like?" the answer comes, "She was like the moon . . . full, soft, and curious." And that night a ladder to the moon appears with Grandma Annie waiting to take Suhaila to the sky. Together they listen to moon songs, but then they hear other voices: swimmers struggling against high waves, and sisters in two swaying towers. All are invited to come and rest and drink "sweet moondew from silver teacups." These experiences, especially observing so many on earth praying to "make the fighting stop," have an effect on Suhaila, who now knows "more than she had known before." Once home, Suhaila realizes she has changed, having helped others learn and heal. Soetoro-Ng, sister of Barack Obama, has written this story of compassion as a tribute to their mother. Not every listener will understand the particulars or references, but the evocative words will wash over them, and they will respond to the expressed feelings of empathy and love. It's hard to imagine a more perfect illustrator for this text than Morales, whose rounded shapes, sunset colors, and softness and strength mirror the words. Morales captures the luminosity of both the sky and the people on earth striving and straining to make the world a better place. The endnotes by author and artist add insight into a book meant to be discussed. --Booklist, Starred Review, March 2011

About the Author

Maya Soetoro-Ng was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is a writer and educator with a PhD in international comparative education. She says Ladder to the Moon, her first picture book, was inspired by her young daughter Suhaila s questions about her grandmother Ann Dunham, the
mother of Maya and of our forty-fourth president, Barack Obama.

Yuyi Morales is the illustrator of Kathleen Krull s Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, whose accolades include a Pura Belpré Award and a Christopher Medal, as well as the Pura Belpré Award-winning Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes. Born and raised in Mexico, she now lives in northern California.

Product Details

  • Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  • Hardcover: 48 pages
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press; First Edition edition (April 12, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0763645702
  • ISBN-13: 978-0763645700
  • Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 0.4 x 11.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
(17)
4.8 out of 5 stars
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An incredible wordsmith, Maya is a natural storyteller whose use of words is like magic. Patricia Jones  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
This is such a beautiful story, one that can bind generations together. Maureen Tracy  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
The book really stimulates the imagination for young children. L. A. Maxwell  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful generational story April 16, 2011
Format:Hardcover
This is such a beautiful story, one that can bind generations together. I bought two,one for each great nephew in memory of their great grandmother. The art work and concepts are just outstanding.
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
What an honor to be the first to review this book written by the half-sister of President Barack Obama, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and illustrated by Yuyi Morales. The idea for the book was inspired by a George O'Keeffe painting titled "Ladder to the Moon," the ladder being the symbol of life's wonderous journey.
The story itself is about Grandma Annie and her granddaughter. But the granddaughter has never met her grandmother any more than the author's daughter ever met hers. Grandma Annie died before the birth as did the author's (the President's) mother. So it is a story about Grandma Annie's taking her little granddaughter on a trip that requires the use of the ladder to the moon. I will not say more because it is the author's voice and the illustrator's vision that you, the potential reader, will certainly find enriching.
You cannot go wrong with this book.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars besotted by the prose April 19, 2011
Format:Hardcover
An incredible wordsmith, Maya is a natural storyteller whose use of words is like magic. She is her mother's daughter. Losing a Mother too early is a keenly felt loss for any woman and for their grandchildren-be they granddaughters ....or grandsons. There is something special in being, seeing and experiencing the human continuum of personal strengths and resiliencies across generations. This lushly written and illustrated book captures her mother's legacy beautifully for her daughter Suhaila; a reminder that those who have come before are central to whom we are today. Brava!! Blessman- April, 2011
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fairy Tale Feelings May 6, 2011
Format:Hardcover
I had not known that this was written by Obama's half sister until after I read it. It is a tale very reminiscent to Tomie dePaola's books. Mixed with folk lore and longing for her child to have know her grandmother. The images are fairy tale like and beautiful. I enjoyed taking in the tale of granddaughter helping the grandmother help the world as they looked from the moon.

Wonderful story to share with kids on Mother's Day!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous August 5, 2011
Format:Hardcover
One night a ladder comes down from the moon, Suhaila gets to meet her grandmother Annie. They go up together and have an adventure. From a top the moon grandmother and granddaughter watch the world and help when they can. This is a beautiful story about two generations meeting and people coming together.

"Looking past the golden ladder, she spotted people whose hands pointed upward from a synagogue, a temple, a mosque, and a steepled church. One by one, every person was finding his or her own path to the moon each path connecting with the others in hope's massive stream. "

This is simply gorgeous on all levels. I love magical feel and the lyrical flow of the text. The message of unity is naturally intertwined. Morales illus. are some serious WOW filled with warmth. They made me smile and believe in a better world. My favorite spread changed each time I turned the page. Soetoro-NG and Morales styles blended very well together. A 2011 favorite.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Ladder to the Moon September 11, 2012
By Sandy
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this book to be very heartwarming. I even got emotional reading it. The author points out that we are not alone. We all share the same problems and hopes no matter what our religion is. We all need to work together to make the world a better place.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD STORY June 15, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was taken by the illustrations as much as the story. I find them very beautiful and appealing to both children and adults. The story is imaginative, with a nice 'lesson' to it. And, I look forward to reading it to my granddaughter when she's about 2-3.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book for a Mother's Day gift! May 3, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I LOVE this beautiful book. I already own one, and just purchased two more to give as gifts. Bravo, Maya! I will be looking for more lovely, inspirational stories from you in children's book form.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Memorable
I bought this for a baby shower so at this point it is more for the mother than the child. The story is heart warming and emphasized the intergenerational links that bind us all.
Published 19 days ago by wink
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!
My daughters have a grandmother who has past and this book gives them an idea of were she might be since we are not religious. A great book written by my old english teacher. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lindy Sanchez
4.0 out of 5 stars Ladder to the Moon
It's important to remember that when the phrase "Reaching for the Moon" was originally coined, it was intended to be applied to the implausible aspirations of fanciful dreamers. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Troy Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Children!
I thought the book Ladder to the Moon is a great book for children and the young at heart. Through imaginative storytelling by the author, Soetoro-Ng and illustrations the book... Read more
Published 3 months ago by L. A. Maxwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely!!
I bought this when my own grandmother died. This is a warm tale that my children love to hear night after night.
Published 7 months ago by M.C.
4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful story about generations and love
Beautiful story about the generations and love and caring for one another. The illustrations are quite artistic and thoughtful. My daughter's attention was not held. Read more
Published 9 months ago by karlaandjune
4.0 out of 5 stars Big warm pictures
Suhaila travels with her Grandma Annie up a ladder to the moon. Grandma watches for troubles on the earth and brings the troubled to live with her in the peace of the moon. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Debnance at Readerbuzz
5.0 out of 5 stars Reverence for ancestors
I loved the story in this book, which conveys reverence for grandmothers, a lovely tribute, and that it's okay for a child to talk about the people they see in dreams. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Faye Sand
5.0 out of 5 stars TEAXCHING MOMENTS
READING THIS BOOK WITH A CHILD OPENS MANY DOORS FOR TEACHING MOMENTS AND DISCUSSION. IT GIVES THE CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION, REFLECT AND EXPRESS FEELINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW... Read more
Published on May 15, 2011 by D. Mitchell
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