Moon Lake

by Ivan Gantschev, Ivan Gantshev, Marianne Martens (Translator)

Kind Peter protects the secret of Moon Lake from greedy people and is duly rewarded.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 1981

About the author

Ivan Gantschev (1925 – 2014) was a Bulgarian-German illustrator and author of children's books.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a beautiful secret lake where the moon comes to bathe. When the humble shepherd who knows the way dies unexpectedly, before he can pass on the secret to his nephew, the lake seems lost forever.

The lovely hidden lake of the moon sounds so beautiful and gentle, and the pale, watery illustrations are gentle too. There are even sparkly silver details! For all that, it is unexpectedly on the dark side. There is snow and poverty and hard work and oppressive unjust rule. There is unexpected death, threats of dire fates, people being struck blind, more deaths. These aren't dwelt on excessively, but aren't the sweetness-and-light I was expecting and maybe not be for all kids, especially the scene illustrating how the men who have been blinded fall from the cliffs to their deaths.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original fairy tale with beautiful watercolor illustrations.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautifully attractive with the silver additions that catch the eye. The more you catch the light the more it shines back.

As for the actual story it was quite lengthy and bland. I read the book to my 5-year-old niece who liked the pretty shinies or the chance to count sheep before making off with it to add to her collection.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something I love about German picture books. The stories are great, and yet seem like they have clear messages, and the artwork is different from the artwork you would see in English language picture books.
This book fit my expectations. The format, the pictures, everything I loved.
I really liked that the shiny silver moon and gemstones were shiny throughout the book.
I guess the reason I dropped it down to 4 stars is simply because I found some of the words difficult. I know that my German needs some work, but I feel as if being rather fluent, I should at least be able to understand everything. Perhaps it is simply story specific words that don't come up in general daily conversation that I didn't understand.
Still a good book.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, a formative book in my love of visual arts and one I can still hear my mother's voice reading aloud.

Although I do really enjoy the little story, what is truly outstanding is the salt technique water color paintings. When I was little I hadn't seen anything quite like it; the landscapes are extraordinary and the character designs recall Russian Orthodox icons.

Although this may not be the feast for YOUR eyes I hope it is, I still find it pretty incredible 35+ years after my first encounter.

[Carfig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moonstones shine off a lake deep in ravines, and only a shepherd knows where they are. He dies without telling his grandson Peter, but Peter finds them while looking for a lost sheep. A fox comes along and offers sound advice, which Peter follows, but, of course, the greedy minister won't follow it. Lots of nice sparkly color in here for the moonstones.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous book about the difference between greed and using what you need. I remembered this book from my childhood and read it to my students; they loved it now as much as I did then. It is an elegant book with beautiful art and a charming story.

[Daiana]

Beautifully illustrated!
I would have liked to use the book to tell a different story to a child (who doesn't read on his own), but the scene with the falling men in the precipice looks too disturbing. Why would you tell / show a child such brutality?

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful shiny art work in it.
Folk tale about the moon who leaves jewels behind on the lake when she bathes. Moral of the story, there are good, nice kind people and nasty greedy ones.

[Laís Arjona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child, I still love it.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and great story! My daughter brought this home from the school library for me to read her.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustration are beautiful, very sweet ending for Peter and his sheep. 🐑

[Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was always one of my favorite books when I read it. I'm not sure it was actually published in 1996, therefore, but since I'm somewhat young, perhaps it was. The illustrations were the thing that caught my attention best at first: each page is beautiful with moons and silver shimmerings of rocks. The story is about a boy who learns of kindness and many other good lessons. I'm surprised more people on here haven't read this one. I always thought it had been around forever, I guess.

[Alyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book when I was little. I loved how the art was made to shimmer when the light caught it! It teaches a grisly moral but one that kids should learn. Read this to your little ones as a bed time story--I would.