What do you think?
Rate this book
Under the Lemon Moon
When Rosalinda discovers a man has been stealing lemons from her beautiful lemon tree, she turns to La Anciana, the town's wise old woman, for advice on how to handle the situation, but the answer she gets is very different from what she had expected.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 17, 2020
The illustrations and the moral are lovely. But the story itself was kind of boring :(
September 18, 2015
A weak message.
September 22, 2016
* Book Summary
This is a story about a Latina girl who learns about compassion in an unexpected way when someone steals her lemons.
Awards
Parents Choice honer silver medal
* Grade Level/ Interest level
2-4th grade
This book might be difficult for some students since some words are in Spanish.
* Appropriate Classroom Use
This could be a good book to read if learning about other cultures and it might be appropriate to translate the words that are in Spanish.
*Student Who Might Benefit From Reading
Students who have bilingual parents. This could be a great book to send home with students to be read to them.
* Small Group Use
I would use this book if we are learning about different cultures and have the students translate the words that are in Spanish, and share a summary of the book with the class
* Whole Class Use
This could be a good book to read if learning about other cultures and trying to introduce how some principles are the same no matter where we come from.
*Related Book In Genre
Armando and the Blue Tarp School
*Multimedia Connections
N/A
This is a story about a Latina girl who learns about compassion in an unexpected way when someone steals her lemons.
Awards
Parents Choice honer silver medal
* Grade Level/ Interest level
2-4th grade
This book might be difficult for some students since some words are in Spanish.
* Appropriate Classroom Use
This could be a good book to read if learning about other cultures and it might be appropriate to translate the words that are in Spanish.
*Student Who Might Benefit From Reading
Students who have bilingual parents. This could be a great book to send home with students to be read to them.
* Small Group Use
I would use this book if we are learning about different cultures and have the students translate the words that are in Spanish, and share a summary of the book with the class
* Whole Class Use
This could be a good book to read if learning about other cultures and trying to introduce how some principles are the same no matter where we come from.
*Related Book In Genre
Armando and the Blue Tarp School
*Multimedia Connections
N/A
June 12, 2017
This was a tender and highly satisfying book. If I had liked the illustrations better, it might even have earned 5 stars! As it is, I appreciate the emphasis on family and community and the hope and optimism it presents. It doesn't ignore poverty or say that crime is okay, but it does show that there can be forgiveness and that sometimes people really do just need a helping hand to get them back on their feet. With a rich culture backdrop and use of simple Spanish words and phrases interspersed in the text, it's a wonderful book to read with kids who are unfamiliar with both. It was one of the few books on lemons I could find for my unit on that fruit, but it was by far the best. Highly recommended.
August 2, 2021
A young Mexican girl sees a man steal the lemons from her lemon tree. She goes on a brief journey to Finns him and figure out what to do. Not sure I liked the message. It has to do with forgiveness but I’m not sure I feel the forgiveness was warranted without an apology, even if the man did have a good (desperate) reason to want to steal. I felt like the young girl was a little bit of a doormat. I’m conflicted I guess, which probably isn’t what the author intended .
March 17, 2023
This is a sweet book with good Mexican representation. The main character learns a lesson about compassion. The illustrations are pretty but a too muted for a group setting. The story includes some magical elements and a visit from "La Anciana". This works fine in the book but doesn't really work for our setting.
October 28, 2023
A story written in English with some Spanish vocab thrown in. I personally could have either used more Spanish vocab or more Mexican history, but I'm not the target audience. I like the base story in that we're trying to save our tree and forgive our neighbors - but this story was a little more boring and basic than it had to be. Again though, I'm not the target audience.
April 15, 2019
“Some parts of the pictures made me see what would happen, the pictures made me feel warm. The guy who took the lemons ended up trying to help his family and I liked speaking chicken” - G and Miss Sam
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2019
3.5 stars
A charming tale about a young girl learning empathy and experiencing a little ancient magic. The story is best suited to younger elementary students, though they'll need help with some of the words in Spanish if they're not bilingual.
A charming tale about a young girl learning empathy and experiencing a little ancient magic. The story is best suited to younger elementary students, though they'll need help with some of the words in Spanish if they're not bilingual.
January 11, 2019
Picture Book
Great ties to Mexican culture with Spanish words and English translations; sweet story about giving
Great ties to Mexican culture with Spanish words and English translations; sweet story about giving
January 2, 2020
A beautiful and heartfelt story about generosity. Gorgeous illustrations.
January 2, 2022
I really liked this story.
July 24, 2022
Beautiful teaching tool!
September 4, 2023
fantastic..... symbolism, themes, diversity, cultural lifestyles.... loved it!
November 4, 2024
Lovely illustrations and sweet story. Glossary of translations (Spanish to English) at the front of the book.
Themes: culture
Ages: 1-3rd grade
Pub year: 1999
Themes: culture
Ages: 1-3rd grade
Pub year: 1999
February 24, 2024
In this story Under the Lemon Moon, the author portrays the situation of a little girl when a stranger robbed lemons from her favorite lemon tree. At first, she was sad and wanted to find the culprit. Later with the help of an old woman, and moved with empathy and solidarity she was able to share a piece of fruit from her lemon tree with the man "the robber" and his family. This story shows the importance of forgiveness and understanding the struggles of others.
This book was listed on: We Need Diverse Books site. It received the Parent's Choice Silver Honor. It depicts rural areas of Mexico through its beautiful illustrations. Lee and Low Books labeled for grades 3-6. The book can be used in the classroom to teach a social-emotional unit about human values, empathy, and kindness.
This book was listed on: We Need Diverse Books site. It received the Parent's Choice Silver Honor. It depicts rural areas of Mexico through its beautiful illustrations. Lee and Low Books labeled for grades 3-6. The book can be used in the classroom to teach a social-emotional unit about human values, empathy, and kindness.
October 20, 2013
My almost-five-year-old son checked this book out from the library earlier this week. Interestingly, a few days before, he told a story about a lemon-yellow moon, so I think the artwork on the cover attracted him.
The artwork on the cover, and in the rest of this book, is attractive. Actually, I would go so far as to say it is soft and beautiful, too.
The story also is lovely, and well-told. This book did not hold my son's interest but that is because I think the story was a little "too old" for him; there was nothing wrong with the text. In another year, I'm sure my little boy will find this story as lovely as I did.
The artwork on the cover, and in the rest of this book, is attractive. Actually, I would go so far as to say it is soft and beautiful, too.
The story also is lovely, and well-told. This book did not hold my son's interest but that is because I think the story was a little "too old" for him; there was nothing wrong with the text. In another year, I'm sure my little boy will find this story as lovely as I did.
October 28, 2011
Someone is stealing lemons from Rosalinda's lemon tree. She seeks the help of a guardian angel to help and she eventually appears, after Rosalinda discovers a man at the market selling her lemons to help feed his family with little children. Rosalinda follows the advice of the angel under a full moon and the lemon tree bears lots of fruit. She gives all the lemons away to her neighbors, and one to the man who stole her fruit. She advises him to plant the seeds. He is grateful and she feels good that she has helped a family in need.
October 13, 2016
I thought this was a great book, but I also don't know if it would keep a child's attention very long. Although, it does send a great message. When someone is stealing lemons from her tree, she sets out to fix the problem. Rosalinda ends up fixing the problem and in the end gets all of her lemons back, but is very generous and gives them away to people. The story is unique and the illustrations are very attractive and colorful. I like how it contains a little bit of Spanish as well.
December 14, 2011
Beautiful story about sharing even when it is the last lemon
The theft of all the lemons from her lemon tree leads Rosalinda to an encounter with la Anciana, the Old One, who walks the Mexican countryside helping things grow, and to an understanding of generosity and forgiveness.
The theft of all the lemons from her lemon tree leads Rosalinda to an encounter with la Anciana, the Old One, who walks the Mexican countryside helping things grow, and to an understanding of generosity and forgiveness.
May 20, 2009
When by magic lemons return to her lemon tree, a little girl redeems her initial loss with generosity. The illustrations give a beautiful view of life in Mexico.
January 31, 2011
The story is unique. The illustrations are very attractive and colourful. It contains a little bit of Spanish as well.
February 5, 2013
Very cute story.
March 12, 2016
This story infuses Spanish vocabulary and culture with a story of kindness.
April 12, 2017
The illustration was soft and beautiful. Almost milky, in a way. The dark aesthetic was a welcome reprieve from the often brightly colored children's books.
I felt for her when her lemons got stolen, and the ending was cute.
I felt for her when her lemons got stolen, and the ending was cute.
May 1, 2017
This book takes place in the Mexican countryside and the English narration is interspersed with Spanish vocabulary words. Fine has provided an index at the beginning of the book to help non-Spanish speaking readers puzzle through the Spanish interjections. Not only will students learn lessons on patience, forgiveness, and compassion, but they‘ll also get exposure to new vocabulary, while practicing using an index as a tool for comprehension.
The story starts by introducing the female protagonist, Rosalinda, who has started to grow her very own lemon tree in the backyard. One night she hears something rustling outside. When she goes with her pet hen, Blanca, to investigate, she sees a “man with hunched shoulders” picking all the lemons off her tree and stuffing them into a sack before scurrying away into the night. Rosalinda is furious: “Her lemons. From her tree.” As Rosalinda is learning to take care of her plants and her pets, reinforcing feelings of pride, care and responsibility, her sense of possession also starts to get the best of her. In portraying this delicate balance, Fine shows how important it is for children to have things that they can take care of on their own, that they can be proud of and responsible for, while also showing how this is in itself a learning experience and an opportunity for growth: Rosalinda asks herself, “Who is the Night Man? Why does he take my lemons?”
The next morning Rosalinda finds that not a single lemon is left on her tree. The branches are bare and the leaves have a yellow, sickly tinge to them: “Rosalinda crooned a sad song as Blanca brawked along. She loved her lemon tree almost as much as she loved Bianca.” As the week goes by Rosalinda notices that the leaves on her precious lemon tree are turning more yellow, and starting to fall off, and she begins to worry that the tree is dying. When she goes to her parents for comfort they suggest that maybe a friend or a neighbor could help, or her dear abuela. Rosalinda’s parents are kind and compassionate and try their best to soothe her worries, while also encouraging her to find a creative solution on her own.Throughout the story, Rosalinda’s agency and independence are consistently reinforced: “Rosalinda set out.” Ultimately, the story culminates in Rosalinda resolving her own predicament in a way that is both gratifying for herself and compassionate towards others.
As Rosalinda talks to various people in her neighborhood they each give her tips on how to care for a tree, watering it and even talking to it to make it feel better. But Rosalinda has already done all of these things and nothing has worked. Rosalinda takes good care of her plants and has already tried everything that she can think of. Finally, though, she goes to speak to her wise abuelita. Her abuela tells her that she’ll light a candle for her tree, something Rosalinda has not tried yet, and that maybe the candle will summon La Anciana, a wise old spirit known for making things grow. Abuela “eased the worries from Rosalinda’s forehead with her warm palm,” and proceeds to lovingly tell her the legend of La Anciana. Little does Rosalinda know, as she awaits La Anciana and her powers to make her tree grow, she also awaits her wise words and her powers to make her, Rosalinda, grow and mature.
As Rosalinda makes her way back home she stops by the local market. As she walks by all of the stands she notices the Night Man. He’s sitting in front of a stand selling lemons, her lemons! Just as Rosalinda begins shivering with rage and fear, La Anciana appears, “her wrinkles deep, her eyes gentle.” After listening to Rosalinda’s predicament, La Anciana agrees, “to take your lemons was wrong,” but then adds, “Perhaps he had a need.” Indeed, when Rosalinda goes back to the market the next day she notices that the Night Man’s hands are rough and hardened by tough work, and his family beside him looks hungry and disheveled.
Before leaving, La Anciana tells Rosalinda how to cure her tree, and, after following her instructions, Rosalinda wakes up the next day to find her tree overflowing with big, juicy lemons. She loads them up in a crate and takes them to the market, generously handing them out to everyone she sees, her neighbors, her friends, and even complete strangers. Finally, she stops by the Night Man’s stand. Rosalinda hands him her last lemon. She tells the night man to “siembra las semillas,” or “plant the seeds,” so that he can grow a lemon tree of his own. The Night Man thanks her and when Rosalinda leaves, her feelings of anger and worry from a week prior are now replaced by feelings of love and joy: “Rosalinda felt content, too. Except for one fat hen, Rosalinda’s cart was empty, but her heart was as full as a lemon moon.”
This beautiful story shows readers the power of forgiveness and generosity, and how sometimes, by taking care of others, we ultimately take care of ourselves. With Moreno’s stunning illustrations, this book exudes a calming tone that encourages readers and young children to reflect upon their feelings and the feelings of others. Moreno’s illustrations have also appeared on our blog before with my book review of Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead, which is also a lovely, calming story about the flourishing wisdom of young children. In Under the Lemon Moon, the protagonist embarks on a journey of personal growth and maturity that ultimately teaches her to care not only for her own plants and pets, but also for her neighbors and for the people around her. In the end, the best way to feel as round and full as a lemon moon or a shimmering lemon tree is to spread kindness and generosity to the people around us.
The story starts by introducing the female protagonist, Rosalinda, who has started to grow her very own lemon tree in the backyard. One night she hears something rustling outside. When she goes with her pet hen, Blanca, to investigate, she sees a “man with hunched shoulders” picking all the lemons off her tree and stuffing them into a sack before scurrying away into the night. Rosalinda is furious: “Her lemons. From her tree.” As Rosalinda is learning to take care of her plants and her pets, reinforcing feelings of pride, care and responsibility, her sense of possession also starts to get the best of her. In portraying this delicate balance, Fine shows how important it is for children to have things that they can take care of on their own, that they can be proud of and responsible for, while also showing how this is in itself a learning experience and an opportunity for growth: Rosalinda asks herself, “Who is the Night Man? Why does he take my lemons?”
The next morning Rosalinda finds that not a single lemon is left on her tree. The branches are bare and the leaves have a yellow, sickly tinge to them: “Rosalinda crooned a sad song as Blanca brawked along. She loved her lemon tree almost as much as she loved Bianca.” As the week goes by Rosalinda notices that the leaves on her precious lemon tree are turning more yellow, and starting to fall off, and she begins to worry that the tree is dying. When she goes to her parents for comfort they suggest that maybe a friend or a neighbor could help, or her dear abuela. Rosalinda’s parents are kind and compassionate and try their best to soothe her worries, while also encouraging her to find a creative solution on her own.Throughout the story, Rosalinda’s agency and independence are consistently reinforced: “Rosalinda set out.” Ultimately, the story culminates in Rosalinda resolving her own predicament in a way that is both gratifying for herself and compassionate towards others.
As Rosalinda talks to various people in her neighborhood they each give her tips on how to care for a tree, watering it and even talking to it to make it feel better. But Rosalinda has already done all of these things and nothing has worked. Rosalinda takes good care of her plants and has already tried everything that she can think of. Finally, though, she goes to speak to her wise abuelita. Her abuela tells her that she’ll light a candle for her tree, something Rosalinda has not tried yet, and that maybe the candle will summon La Anciana, a wise old spirit known for making things grow. Abuela “eased the worries from Rosalinda’s forehead with her warm palm,” and proceeds to lovingly tell her the legend of La Anciana. Little does Rosalinda know, as she awaits La Anciana and her powers to make her tree grow, she also awaits her wise words and her powers to make her, Rosalinda, grow and mature.
As Rosalinda makes her way back home she stops by the local market. As she walks by all of the stands she notices the Night Man. He’s sitting in front of a stand selling lemons, her lemons! Just as Rosalinda begins shivering with rage and fear, La Anciana appears, “her wrinkles deep, her eyes gentle.” After listening to Rosalinda’s predicament, La Anciana agrees, “to take your lemons was wrong,” but then adds, “Perhaps he had a need.” Indeed, when Rosalinda goes back to the market the next day she notices that the Night Man’s hands are rough and hardened by tough work, and his family beside him looks hungry and disheveled.
Before leaving, La Anciana tells Rosalinda how to cure her tree, and, after following her instructions, Rosalinda wakes up the next day to find her tree overflowing with big, juicy lemons. She loads them up in a crate and takes them to the market, generously handing them out to everyone she sees, her neighbors, her friends, and even complete strangers. Finally, she stops by the Night Man’s stand. Rosalinda hands him her last lemon. She tells the night man to “siembra las semillas,” or “plant the seeds,” so that he can grow a lemon tree of his own. The Night Man thanks her and when Rosalinda leaves, her feelings of anger and worry from a week prior are now replaced by feelings of love and joy: “Rosalinda felt content, too. Except for one fat hen, Rosalinda’s cart was empty, but her heart was as full as a lemon moon.”
This beautiful story shows readers the power of forgiveness and generosity, and how sometimes, by taking care of others, we ultimately take care of ourselves. With Moreno’s stunning illustrations, this book exudes a calming tone that encourages readers and young children to reflect upon their feelings and the feelings of others. Moreno’s illustrations have also appeared on our blog before with my book review of Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead, which is also a lovely, calming story about the flourishing wisdom of young children. In Under the Lemon Moon, the protagonist embarks on a journey of personal growth and maturity that ultimately teaches her to care not only for her own plants and pets, but also for her neighbors and for the people around her. In the end, the best way to feel as round and full as a lemon moon or a shimmering lemon tree is to spread kindness and generosity to the people around us.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews