Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies [Hardcover]

Ann Warren Turner (Author), James Graham Hale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A little boy is scared as he journeys on a plane to the land of his adoptive parents. What will his new life be like? The mother and father he's known only through pictures greet him at the airport and take him to be with them forever, in this tender story of adoption and love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Let me tell the story this time, Momma," says a small Oriental boy. "Once I was a picture you held in your hand," he begins, and tells how he "flew through night and moon and stars" to his new home. Though frightened, the plucky boy clutches a photograph of his new parents like a talisman throughout the long flight. Finally "the earth rushed up below. / The plane bounced," and the boy sees his new parents holding out their arms. With patience and love, they introduce him to the things he has seen only in pictures--their house, the teddy-bear quilt, the red dog. This touching story is filled with a quiet charm, thanks to newcomer Hale's gentle watercolors and Turner's ( Dakota Dugout ) lyrical, thoughtful text. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- A simple story narrated by a young Southeast Asian boy about his adoption by an American couple ("Let me tell the story this time, Momma. Let me tell how I came to you.") He tells of receiving photographs of his new parents, a white house, and a red dog. He carries them on the long and frightening journey by plane to his new family. At the airport, his new parents hold out their arms to him and take him home. That night, tucked into his quilt with his teddy bear, he sleeps and dreams "of moon and stars and night skies and coming to a room where your arms were always held out to me." This touching, memorable tale is illustrated in warm watercolor-and-ink pictures that gently contrast the narrator's Asian home with his new life in America. It will serve as a meaningful introduction to adoption as well as a starting point for a discussion on cultural transitions. --Pearl Herscovitch, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 31 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; 1st edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060261897
• ISBN-13: 978-0060261894
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,107,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in a small town in Western Massachusetts to creative parents who always encouraged my writing and painting. I went to Bates College, majored in English, and spent a wonderful year abroad in Oxford, England, giving me a taste for neat Scotch, Evensong, and very old churches and buildings. I've been married long enough to break all records and have two grown children. I am especially drawn to telling stories about outsiders, rebellious girls, and people who don't fit in--as I didn't growing up. I was always a bit too loud, too passionate, moved too fast, made up too many stories, and thought that life moved just a tad too slowly for me. I love to cook, garden, swim, pet my wild Jack Russell terrier, talk to friends and my "kids," and laugh at my husband's wild, original stories. I also actually answer letters and emails sent to me by fans, and when I do school visits, I tell people--"Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do it!"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story of one family's union through adoption, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

Although the specifics in this story didn't relate to my son's adoption regarding race, age or escorting vs. traveling to bring him home, this is still one of our favorite adoption books!

The wording is simple, but catchy. We contrast and compare the differences and similarities between the book and my son's own special adoption story. I think the author does a wonderful job of conveying the emotions of both parents and the child and although it isn't mushy, it's a very loving story.

The only caution I have is to make sure you (the parent) read this book alone several times before reading aloud to your child. It's a tear jerker and after two years, it's still pretty rough for me to get through dry-eyed!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book on adoption, March 8, 2000

By 

David R. Ewoldsen "David Ewoldsen" (Columbus Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

As a parent of two wonderful Korean boys, this book is a fantastic story of a child's travel to be with his forever family. I read this book for the children's story at my church on my son's first Coming to America Day (the anniversary of his arrival) and the response was wonderful. My sons really enjoy listening to this story and it has provided an avenue for us to talk about their adoption adventure and the plane ride from Korea to the United States. I high recommend this book. It is a must own book for parents of international adoptees.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "One of the Best Adoption Books I've Found", November 19, 2000

By 

"darrigrand" (Worcester, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

I have an adopted daughter from Korea and we have many, many books on adoption. This is the best one I've found - it describes so well the experience my daughter, and we had, and makes me cry every time I read it. I've found it helpful not only for her but for her friends and classmates to understand her experience.