The Moon Was at a Fiesta [Paperback]

Matthew Gollub (Author), Leovigildo Martinez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The delightful story set in Mexico explains why the moon is sometimes out during the day. Jealous of the sun, the moon creates her own fiesta but celebrates a bit too much. A timeless tale that pulses with the energy and cultural charm of a fiesta, this has been a favorite for years at library story times. It is also recommended for teachers by the California Department of Education.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cultural charm resonates throughout this appealing original folktale. Here Gollub and Martinez, who previously collaborated on another Mexican-inspired tale, The Twenty-five Mixtec Cats , offer the Oaxaca explanation for why the moon is sometimes visible during the day. "For hundreds of years, the sun and the moon stayed in their separate skies. It was the sun's job to shine all day long while people went about their work. It was the moon's job to watch over people's dreams." When she overhears the stars talking wistfully about the games and feasts enjoyed during the sun's hours, the moon decides to throw a party of her own. Excited by the prospect, the townspeople, local animals and even the neighborhood mermaid offer to provide food and costumes. Martinez's angular, folkloric artwork features a sandy, desert palette accentuated by brightly garmented characters. Ethnic masks, dolls and lanterns, which are described in a glossary at the end of the book, further enliven the festivities. The moon's remorse when the tired, nocturnal revelers are unable to perform their daytime duties casts an ungainly moral over an otherwise sprightly and lighthearted tale. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-This original porquoi story set in Mexico explains why the moon is sometimes visible in the morning sky. The sun and moon are happy with their celestial arrangement until the latter hears about the parties and feasts that take place during the day. She becomes jealous, and decides to have a fiesta at night. The people agree and stay out until daybreak, so when the sun rises, none of the work in the fields gets done. Although the moon is remorseful and resolves to stay in the evening sky, she occasionally likes to celebrate, and "That's why in Oaxaca, when people rise with the sun and see the moon, they say, 'The moon was at a fiesta.'" The story is perfect for reading aloud. The Spanish words, seamlessly interspersed throughout, add flavor. The watercolor, gouache, and acrylic illustrations perfectly complement the text-cool greens and blues reflect the light of the moon by night, and earth tones reflect the sun's glare by day. The same luminous colors used in the landscapes are repeated in the people's faces and clothes, suggesting their close relationship with nature. Full of wonderful details, the pictures give a glimpse of Oaxacan culture-the paper cut-out decorations, fireworks and wooden masks, and the anthropomorphized moon-and beautifully convey the people's respect for nature and their love of celebrations.
Lauren Mayer, New York Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tortuga Pr; Revised edition (April 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889910139
• ISBN-13: 978-1889910130
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,108,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matthew Gollub is a children's author, speaker, storyteller and musician. He has created 15 picture books which together have garnered 25 national awards and distinctions. His musical narrations on audio CD--set to jazz, Latin jazz or rhythm and blues combos--accompany some of his most popular books. (Yes, that's also him playing drums behind his vocals.) He delights in introducing rhythmic sounds to kids while engaging their imaginations with stories. His idea of a successful children's book with audio is one that kids, and grown-ups, can savor time and again.

Kudos for Gollub's latest title, "Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga", include: Foreword Reviews Best Books of the Year Gold Award Winner; USA Book News Best Books 2010 Award Winner; International Book Awards Winner; Parents' Choice Award; Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal.

Acclaim for the original "Jazz Fly," his all-time bestselling title, includes: Writer's Digest National Self-Published Book Award; America's #1 Recommended Children's Book, Children's Book Sense 76; Benjamin Franklin Award for Children's Book with Audio; Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children; California Department of Education Suggested Reading; San Francisco Chronicle Editors' Picks.

"Gobble, Quack, Moon," loosely based on the author's family as he grew up, likewise received a Benjamin Franklin Award and was a Top 10 Book Sense selection among independent booksellers nationwide. This title enjoys a further distinction in that the author's mother has named it her favorite book!

A dynamic, bilingual (English and Spanish) presenter, Gollub has performed at over 1,000 elementary schools, providing language arts enrichment for over half a million students. His goal as an author/speaker is to inspire young people to read for fun. He lives with his wife and son in California, one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrate with a Oaxacan Moon!, October 7, 2010

By 

Miss Heidi - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon Was at a Fiesta (Hardcover)

"Mom, why is Luna still in the sky?" My children have asked me this very question. Matthew Gollub's original creation myth seeks to answer this query in this delightful picture book. A jealous Moon wants to commune with the human race like the Sun. She enlists the aid of her new friends and the festival planners. To honor her, the padrinos arrange all to create a colorful celebration, replete with lanterns and manigotes (giant papier-māché puppets). Even a mermaid joins the effort. After much food and dancing, the Moon and the villagers fall asleep when the Sun arrives. The illustrations by Oaxacan artist Leovigildo Martinínez remind me of the pottery of the region, shaded bright colors over sand and earth tones. His art lends a mythic quality to the real life festivities that this story describes. At the back of the book, you will find a few Spanish terms defined and a short historical note that invites discussion. My 4 and 8-year-old children and I have talked about the ways that different peoples seek to understand their world. "The Moon was at a Fiesta" has opened up an opportunity to explore a multi-cultural milieu of fable and legend. Mr. Gollub has, in fact, written another such story that I can recommend, "Uncle Snake," with pictures by the same artist. Both stories are wonderful additions to lend an international quality to your child's bookshelf. Both are also available in Spanish.

The Moon Was at a Fiesta

Uncle Snake

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT UNLIKE CINDERELLA , MS. MOON PARTIED TOO LATE AT FIESTA . . .., March 19, 2007

By 

mcHaiku "nmi" (Brown County INDIANA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Moon Was at a Fiesta (Library Binding)

This tale about the Moon first attracted me with its illustrations by Leovigildo Martinez (Torres). The flattened, angular faces seem to mirror the crescent moon of the story created by Matthew Gollub. The two artists fashioned a colorful Fiesta for the moon who feels diminished by the sumptuous celebrations held under the aegis of the Sun. There are cultural details to discover everywhere.

The crafts of the region are showcased: stilt-legged Monigotes dance around, cut paper decorations are festooned, lanterns, food & drink are plentiful. Then the mermaid and even the Moon 'party' to excess. Remorse follows, and in Oaxaca, if people rise when the sun and moon share the sky, it is said that "The moon was at a Fiesta!"

The tidbits of history are great fun on the page with a glossary. Reviewer mcHaiku only wishes that for elementary students a few patterns for cut paper garlands could be added. This is a truly colorful and inexpensive craft, as original as the collaboration by Gollub and Martinez. A wonderful book to share with children who will be caught up in the excitement of preparations in this orginal folk tale.