The Sun Is a Golden Earring

by Natalia Maree Belting, Bernarda Bryson (Illustrator)

Presents a collection of folklore about the heavens, taken from the traditions of many countries.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Folklore, Nonfiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a story. Each page is a different myth from countries all over the world and tribal people’s too of how they thought of the sky and phenomena like rain or lightening and thunder. This is poetry and verse.

The art is minimal and there isn’t a whole lot too it. An image here or there. I really don’t understand why it won an award. There isn’t much too it. They went for minimalism this year.

It’s interesting to see how different people thought of the sun or moon or storms, but it doesn’t make a story either. It is just a bunch of ideas. That’s not the most entertaining for young kids I’m afraid. The nephew did enjoy seeing some of the dragons, but the book bored him and he gave this 2 stars. The niece was bored and kept asking if we could read something else. She gave this 1 star. It was not popular in our house.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1963, The Sun Is a Golden Earring presents a series of folk beliefs and sayings, concerning the sun, the moon, and the other celestial objects and forces. From the Hawaiian belief that the stars were once the beads on a woman's necklace, to the Malayan tradition that the rainbow is the fishing line of the king of the dragons, many cultures and beliefs are represented. The titular statement, that the sun is a golden earring, comes from India.

Although I was happy enough to learn of these various beliefs, almost all previously unknown to me, I found that on the whole this was as unsatisfying a book as Belting and Bryson's subsequent Calendar Moon , which also gave a summarized "listing" of various folk beliefs, in that case, concerning the lunar calendar. I think this would have been a much stronger title, if the author had taken one or two of the sayings listed, and explored the full story behind them. Perhaps an anthology of sky legends?

As it is, this was interesting - I learned that the moon is said in Hungary to be a white cat, hunting mice; that the sky is said to be a tent roof in Siberia; and that to the people of the Society Islands, the Milky Way is the sail of a great canoe, passing through the stars - but it felt incomplete. The illustrations by Bernarda Bryson, which look like detailed pencil drawings on paper of various colors, were not really to my taste. All in all, I'm glad to have read this little book, but not especially impressed by it.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book includes various interpretations of the natural world provided by different cultures. The text urges the reader to “match their thoughts to your own,” encouraging kids to consider their own beliefs about these phenomena and how they might be similar to or different from these other cultures. The descriptions are very poetic and some are hard to grasp, but the book makes an interesting study in the philosophies different groups have had about religion and nature over time.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

• 1963 Caldecott Honor Book •

This is the second book I’ve run across that my public library doesn’t have - I found it at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. I’m really not surprised I had trouble tracking this book down.

The first few pages start by telling a story that basically some people say the sun is like a golden earring. Then the text randomly - and for the rest of the book - tells short phrases of what some other groups of people think about the sun, clouds, wind and sky. I really like the concept of this - but they chose mostly ideas from Siberia, Mongolia and India. Couldn’t they find more examples from multiple groups of people or countries? They repeated Siberia, Mongolia and India several times. I would have preferred one example from more places. Or at least grouped all the countries together.

This almost reads like a poetry book for older kids or adults. I could see kids getting bored by this. Also the art is really lackluster.

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

The understated illustrations in a limited palette are a good match for this compilation of mythological interpretations of natural phenomena like wind, rain, the sun and more - such as from India: "When the gods are angry, they roll a stone across the floor of the heavens." The most magical illustrations are the deep blue with limited white; one printing error was in leaving the note on the national source in white rather than black on a yellow page. The book felt a little slow, but I'm glad to have found and read it.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok yes, this 1963 Caldecott Honor winning book was a bit random, but I enjoyed it. The book was a group of folktales, from countries all over the world, which were used to explain the sun, moon, stars, lightning and thunder. I particularly liked the pencil illustrations done by Bernarda Bryson, as I thought they were very whimsical and fun. For examples, check out this Goodreads reviewers blog: http://liblaura5.blogspot.com/2012/11.... Recommended for ages 4-7, 3 stars.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't like the format of this book. I can appreciate the thought behind it, but my adult brain had a hard time keeping up with all the different myths and folktales, and I'm left wondering about the appropriateness (or appropriation???) of the poetic summaries. The illustrations were lovely, though.

[Laura5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

What it's about:
Throughout history humans from around the world have had poetic explanations for why the sun, moon, stars, lightning, and thunder are the way they are.

http://liblaura5.blogspot.com/2012/11...

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of sayings about items in the sky - sun, moon, clouds, storms.
Caldecott honor

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very weird book.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presents a series of myths and legends about the heavens from around the world. There is no forward or author's note explaining this, it just jumps right in. I think an explanation would have benefitted this one. The artwork is simple yet very beautiful.

[MaryAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book needed a clearer introduction to the myths about nature from various cultures. Interesting choice for Caldecott Honor Book.

[Star Shining Forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little collection of worldwide folk tales and myths about celestial appearances and workings like the sun, moon, stars, thunder, lightning, and clouds.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of various myths about sun, sky, moon, thunder, lightning. They are kind of smashed together and don't flow well. The illustrations are nice but colorless. I like that she tells you where the myths are from.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

1963 Caldecott Honor

[Colby Sharp · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

1963 Caldecott honor

a very creative way to tell a story using various folklore; however the illustrations weren't that great and the text on some of the pages was cut off :/

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neat idea but it falls flat with plain pictures.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snippets and snatches and phrases of folk tales from around the world of where things in nature came from. This was just so disjointed, and I was not impressed with the pictures.