TWO REVIEWS!!
How the Moon Regained Her Shape
Janet Ruth Heller
Reviewed by Sabrina
Williams
Author Janet Ruth Heller and illustrator Ben Hodson have created an
exquisite teaching tool in the children's book How the Moon Regained
Her Shape. Part astronomy lesson, part history lesson, part fable, this
Native American folktale personifies the Moon as a victim of bullying
by the Sun. As the Moon progresses through her monthly phases, she
walks a path of self discovery and builds self confidence so that she
may shine brightly once more.
At the end of the story, there are pages explaining moon cycles in
depth and venturing further into Native American folklore. There are
also activities to enhance the reader's understanding of moon phases.
The information and activities are available for download at the publisher's website,
which also contains links to various websites related to the story that
can be very useful for educators. Children will enjoy the illustrations
and fun story while parents and teachers will appreciate the learning
opportunities provided.
I would have to say that this is a tale for all ages. My five-year-old
and eight-year-old both loved the story and plan to read it again and
again. I found myself gazing at the beautiful artwork as I read it
aloud. The pictures and the story complement each other perfectly,
fully conveying the personalities and emotions of the characters. The
publisher's website provides an incredible amount of resources and
teaching tools beneficial to home schoolers and teachers. The book
creators and publisher have produced an invaluable instrument in
children's education.
Reviewed by Diane Goettel
How the Moon Regained Her Shape,
written by Janet Ruth Heller and Illustrated by Ben Hodson, is a wonderful
book about nature, relationships,
and self confidence. The proud gentle moon is bullied by the brazen sun and loses her
confidence, her lustre. Instead of dancing through the cosmos, she simply
limps along. A passing comet (a helpful and somewhat puckish friend)
introduces the moon to a wise women
who lives in the desert. The woman, Round Arms, helps the moon to understand her importance within the
cosmos and to every living thing
on earth. Soon, the moon is dancing joyfully in the night sky
once again.
Filled with beautiful artwork and
beautifully written, How the Moon Regained Her Shape is a fantastic book
for children between four and ten
years of age. In addition to telling a vibrant tale which includes
important life lessons, the book
also includes wonderful educational materials in the back. The back pages of
the book include a glossary of
terms relating to the moon and its cycles, instructions for creating a lunar calendar, information on
the way that the moon is used
in Native American cultures, a map detailing the monthly trip that the moon takes around the moon, and
a short discussion about bullies.
If you are interested in teaching a
child in your life about the phases
of the moon, having a frank conversation about bullying with them, or a combination of the two, then
How the Moon Regained Her Shape
is an excellent book to purchase or check out from your local library.