Moonlight Kite [Hardcover]

Helen E. Buckley (Author), Elise Primavera (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Magic in the moonlight

Illustrated in glowing paintings that seem lit by the moon themselves, this magical tale of a kite -- flown during the day by children, and mysteriously flown again by three monks in the moonlight -- will speak to the child's spirit in everyone.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. A charming story about the last three lonely monks living in a nearly deserted monastery by the sea. Their lives are rejuvenated when they discover a kite caught in a tree outside their tower window. After retrieving it, they spend a magical night flying the kite and remembering carefree childhoods long ago. When two children return the next afternoon and find their kite in a different tree, they suspect the monastery might not be deserted after all. The following day they find a second kite and know for sure that there are still monks within. Gradually, more and more children come to the hilltop to fly their kites, brightening the lives of the kind old men. Whimsical paintings in glowing colored chalk capture the lighthearted spirit of the well-told story.?Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Scientific American

A thoroughly captivating story from Buckley ("Take Care of Things," Edward Said, 1991, etc.) about three monks, the last of their order, who labor in lonely silence in a crumbling monastery on a hilltop, forgotten by the villagers below....

With this sweet tale of people from different worlds sharing a love of an exhilarating, innocent pastime come paintings in a deep blue and gold palette. Primavera captures the magic of moonlight on the sea, candlelight on ancient stone, and kite tails snapping against a backdrop of stars. --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
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (March 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688109314
• ISBN-13: 978-0688109318
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,351,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of Childhood's Pleasures Need Never End, July 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Moonlight Kite (Hardcover)

This is an absolutely enchanting book! Ms. Primavera's rich, glowing illustrations are the perfect compliment to the warm tale woven by Ms. Buckley. The story centers around three monks who have taken a vow of silence and who live together in an old monastery by the sea. One night they find a kite a local child has left in their tree. The three monks fly the kite in the moonlight, and each man silently reminisces about his own happy childhood, long since past. This is a sweet, simple story, one that sparks the imagination and offers the comforting notion that some of childhood's pleasures need never end

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and exciting childrens book, February 8, 2008

By 

Helen Ford "Helen Ford Allan" (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moonlight Kite (Hardcover)

Excellent story for children. Just enough excitement, great storyline, lots of laughter and all round a good buy. Worth all of the 5 star rating I gave it.