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The Angry Moon
An Indian girl insults the moon and is held prisoner by him until her friend reaches the sky country to rescue her.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
1 person is currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
William Sleator
49 books323 followersWilliam Warner Sleator III was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland on February 13, 1945, and moved to St. Louis, MO when he was three. He graduated from University City High School in 1963, from Harvard in 1967 with BAs in music and English.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 18, 2019
A very unique book. It’s a myth that feels like a very native culture somewhere created this possibly. I have a hard time with it while admiring the story. The moon is gorgeous and what starts our story off is the girl of the story calls the moon ugly. Who thinks the moon is ugly? Most cultures over the world honored the moon.
The girl is taken from Earth, poof, she is gone and the boy shoots arrows at the moon and builds a ladder where he ascends into heaven and meets grandmother who is helping him get back his sister.
It’s a wonderful legend, but making the moon angry and vengeful is strange to me. I don’t see that, but the story, despite that, is very interesting.
The nephew thought this book was weird. Grandmother looks like some sort of masked monster and he liked her. He also thought the boy shooting arrows to make a ladder was amazing. He gave this 4 stars. My niece didn’t like to think that the moon would chase after children. That didn’t make her feel safe. Something about the story made her feel uneasy. She gave this 2 stars.
The girl is taken from Earth, poof, she is gone and the boy shoots arrows at the moon and builds a ladder where he ascends into heaven and meets grandmother who is helping him get back his sister.
It’s a wonderful legend, but making the moon angry and vengeful is strange to me. I don’t see that, but the story, despite that, is very interesting.
The nephew thought this book was weird. Grandmother looks like some sort of masked monster and he liked her. He also thought the boy shooting arrows to make a ladder was amazing. He gave this 4 stars. My niece didn’t like to think that the moon would chase after children. That didn’t make her feel safe. Something about the story made her feel uneasy. She gave this 2 stars.
December 18, 2017
Don't go around gratuitously disrespecting celestial bodies, kids. Not if you know what's good for you.
January 4, 2014
Part of my goal to read all the Caldecott Medal Winners. This book is actually super clever and rather enjoyable. I would for sure read it to my non-existent kids, though it does fall into that weird category of a picture book with a ton of words.
April 18, 2019
Caldecott Honor story book. Lots of words for a Caldecott. I liked the idea of the story and it read okay. But neither the art or text did all that much for me. The art was muddy and cartoony in a non-funny way. The characters never felt real. I could imagine a better version of this particular folktale.
January 29, 2020
Based on a Tlingit legend.
March 20, 2012
From the information given in a note at the beginning, this story is based on a legend first published in Tlingit Myths and Texts by Dr. John R. Swanton. The illustrations are also based on original Tlingit motifs, although are not meant to be authentic.
This felt like a fairly lengthy story of a boy who climbs a ladder made of his arrows into the Moon's country to save his friend who has been taken by the Moon. This reminded me a little of Jack and the Beanstalk, although less and less as the story progressed.
Blair Lent won a Caldecott Honor for this one in 1971. I thought the illustrations were quite spectacular - particularly his use of color and the vivid angriness of the angry moon. I liked them even more than his Caldecott Medal illustrations for The Funny Little Woman and another of his Caldecott Honor books which I recently read, Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky. The story went on a bit longer than I would have liked, but the illustrations were worth the extra pages.
This felt like a fairly lengthy story of a boy who climbs a ladder made of his arrows into the Moon's country to save his friend who has been taken by the Moon. This reminded me a little of Jack and the Beanstalk, although less and less as the story progressed.
Blair Lent won a Caldecott Honor for this one in 1971. I thought the illustrations were quite spectacular - particularly his use of color and the vivid angriness of the angry moon. I liked them even more than his Caldecott Medal illustrations for The Funny Little Woman and another of his Caldecott Honor books which I recently read, Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky. The story went on a bit longer than I would have liked, but the illustrations were worth the extra pages.
February 19, 2013
Week 5: Myth
Adapted from a legend of the Tlingit Indians of Alaska, this book follows Lupan and Lapowinsa and their adventure to the sky country. Lupowinsa laughs at the moon and is taken as prisoner by the Moon as punishment. Fearing his friends welfare, Lupan makes a ladder of arrows up to sky country. With the help of old grandmother, Lupan is given four gifts to help defeat the Moon and save his friend.
"The Angry Moon" is appropriate for ages 5+ (Grades K+).
As much as I like this story, I don't think that this book would be popular with young readers. Although the illustrations depict Alaskan Indian myths and legends and consist of bright colors, the illustrations are dated. In my experience, children pick new books with bright, animation looking illustrations. There are a lot of text in this book so this book may be good for one-on-one or small group readings. It would not be suitable to read to large groups as the illustrations contain a lot of detail and may be lost if listeners sit far away. I think this book would make a great starting point for students/children having to recreate a myth. "The Angry Moon" is imaginative and teaches a lesson about labeling someone as "ugly."
Adapted from a legend of the Tlingit Indians of Alaska, this book follows Lupan and Lapowinsa and their adventure to the sky country. Lupowinsa laughs at the moon and is taken as prisoner by the Moon as punishment. Fearing his friends welfare, Lupan makes a ladder of arrows up to sky country. With the help of old grandmother, Lupan is given four gifts to help defeat the Moon and save his friend.
"The Angry Moon" is appropriate for ages 5+ (Grades K+).
As much as I like this story, I don't think that this book would be popular with young readers. Although the illustrations depict Alaskan Indian myths and legends and consist of bright colors, the illustrations are dated. In my experience, children pick new books with bright, animation looking illustrations. There are a lot of text in this book so this book may be good for one-on-one or small group readings. It would not be suitable to read to large groups as the illustrations contain a lot of detail and may be lost if listeners sit far away. I think this book would make a great starting point for students/children having to recreate a myth. "The Angry Moon" is imaginative and teaches a lesson about labeling someone as "ugly."
November 20, 2013
I rather enjoyed this story, though it did take awhile to get into it and it was way too wordy for my son. The book won a 1971 Caldecott Honor. The story is based off a Tlingit Indian legend from the Pacific Northwest, and tells the story of a young girl named Lapowinsa who makes fun of the moon and soon kidnapped into the sky. Her friend Lupan goes to rescue her by shooting arrows into the sky, which form a ladder. He is helped along by a grandmother figure, the sun. It’s the illustrations which really bring this story alive. Blair Lent, who did the awesome illustrations for “The Funny Little Woman” and “Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky: An African Folktale”. It’s cool details like Lupan needs food for his long journey up the arrow ladder, so he puts a branch on his head and it grows and produces bush full of berries. Recommended for ages 9-12, 3 ½ stars.
August 5, 2018
This is a beautiful Tlingit myth retold by William Sleator with pictures by Blair Lent. The illustrations are elaborations of original Tlingit illustrations and add so much detail to the story and really help the reader gain a visual understanding of the story. The story itself is of 2 children, one of them insults the moon and is taken hostage; the other child must rescue the first. This is the tale of the rescue and how they come back to earth.
This would be wonderful for a multicultural unit, a unit on indigenous peoples and their stories. It is a good example of an origin story, but it could also be used in a unit on bullying, empathy, loyalty and friendship. This story truly has lots of wonderful elements that could be used in so many different lesson. I would use the story at every level in school, I feel that a teacher could adapt exercises around the age group.
This would be wonderful for a multicultural unit, a unit on indigenous peoples and their stories. It is a good example of an origin story, but it could also be used in a unit on bullying, empathy, loyalty and friendship. This story truly has lots of wonderful elements that could be used in so many different lesson. I would use the story at every level in school, I feel that a teacher could adapt exercises around the age group.
June 14, 2019
I read this on loan from the Internet Archive, a digital database with free membership.
The artwork in this book is stunning, and the story is afun adventure with a traditional folktale format. It is based on a Tlingit story, and the artwork is based on Tlingit motifs; however, I wish I knew more about the original to know how much is authentic and how much is original to Sleator's book. It's a fine line between honoring and appropriating, and I'm not sure where this falls. But I am glad to have read the book.
The artwork in this book is stunning, and the story is afun adventure with a traditional folktale format. It is based on a Tlingit story, and the artwork is based on Tlingit motifs; however, I wish I knew more about the original to know how much is authentic and how much is original to Sleator's book. It's a fine line between honoring and appropriating, and I'm not sure where this falls. But I am glad to have read the book.
February 5, 2014
I can see how this story received a Caldecott honor. The illustrations are beautifully made. The colors are so vibrant and the artwork is so detailed. I think it is great that this legend has been passed on for so long. It makes a great story for children both young and old. My only criticism of this story is that it seemed to end rather abruptly with not much resolution.
September 28, 2014
Weird and... not what I would guess a kid would like but the munchkin-faces (ages 8, 5 and 4 years old) had to debate whether it was worth 4 or 5 stars. ??? We settled for 4 stars. Their taste surprises me sometimes but, there ya go.
September 20, 2009
I kept puzzling over it, I guess because it was different, mysterious, and read it over and over.
July 31, 2015
The story is interesting, but the illustrations are terrifying.
March 3, 2018
One of my favorite books from when I was a child.
February 4, 2021
Yes, I read a picture book today. I was looking up one of my favorite authors from middle and high school, William Sleator, to see how many of his books I had read. There was one novel I couldn't find anywhere, because it wasn't a novel at all, but a picture book based on an indigenous American folktale. I read it quickly on the Internet Archive; I remember a variation on this story playing a role in a folk novel "Anpao" I read many years ago. Even writing for little kids, Sleator has his sense of the uncanny below the surface.
March 11, 2021
The illustrations were nice and attractive and appropriate.
I thought the illustrations did match the story. I don't
think really cute illustrations would have been appropriate
here.
I thought the book was good not absolutely great. Maybe
having read a lot of other fairy tales and even other native American
fairy tales it didn't appeal to me as much.
Anybody who was interested in American Indian mythology or American
Indian fairy tales would probably enjoy it. Some children
might enjoy it.
I thought the illustrations did match the story. I don't
think really cute illustrations would have been appropriate
here.
I thought the book was good not absolutely great. Maybe
having read a lot of other fairy tales and even other native American
fairy tales it didn't appeal to me as much.
Anybody who was interested in American Indian mythology or American
Indian fairy tales would probably enjoy it. Some children
might enjoy it.
November 10, 2017
• 1971 Caldecott Honor Book •
This is… a very strange book! It’s a little wordy and takes a while to get in to. The story is based on a Tlingit folktale and the drawings are inspired by Tlingit motifs.
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
This is… a very strange book! It’s a little wordy and takes a while to get in to. The story is based on a Tlingit folktale and the drawings are inspired by Tlingit motifs.
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
May 20, 2023
Based on a Tlingit legend, a young boy builds a ladder of arrows to the heavens in order to save his friend from the moon who is angry because she disrespected him. The story is pretty interesting and the illustrations are well done and very colorful.
June 23, 2023
Caldecott Honor book - 1971
Art medium used - Pen and Ink, Acrylic Glazes
Art medium used - Pen and Ink, Acrylic Glazes
August 9, 2024
I love the colors of the illustrations. Interesting folktale.
October 17, 2016
A weird legend without a point.
This is a weird book. It's based on a Native American legend from the Tlingit people in Alaska. Some of the designs have been adopted into the paintings used for illustration. Basically, there's a girl and a boy, and the girl makes fun of the moon for looking ugly. Then the moon takes her away and the boy follows her up to the sky country, taking some branches in his hair. On the way, the branches grow into bushes, so he starts eating the berries that are growing out of his own head, which is really weird. This random old woman who lives in the sky country sends her grandson to go get the boy and she gives him four random items and he goes and rescues the girl from a house where she is on fire or something. He uses all four of the random items to stop the moon from rolling after them. I guess the last one seems more permanent, because it's a stone that grows into a mountain, and the moon could not climb it, but kept rolling helplessly up and down, again and again, which I guess sticks it there forever. Because at that point they're fine, and they go back down to earth, and then people come from miles around to hear their weird story.
Yeah, this is a weird book. Wow. The illustrations are strangely dark in color. They're not very bright, for having taken place in the sky country. Maybe it takes place at night? There's a lot of purples, and even when there's yellows and oranges, they're very dark.
It's a very surreal story. It doesn't really mean anything. It's almost like this legend came from somebody having a really bizarre dream and thinking, Wow, that was the most interesting thing ever, now I have to tell everybody about it. The four objects he uses is more traditional from fairy tales and legends, but the rest seems out of nowhere. Many myths talk about the origins of things, but this doesn't. Nothing happens at the end. Nothing changes. They don't get anything from their experience except a story to tell. Nothing changes about the moon, as far as I can tell. I don't even know. It's weird. A lot of things happen but nothing really results from it.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
This is a weird book. It's based on a Native American legend from the Tlingit people in Alaska. Some of the designs have been adopted into the paintings used for illustration. Basically, there's a girl and a boy, and the girl makes fun of the moon for looking ugly. Then the moon takes her away and the boy follows her up to the sky country, taking some branches in his hair. On the way, the branches grow into bushes, so he starts eating the berries that are growing out of his own head, which is really weird. This random old woman who lives in the sky country sends her grandson to go get the boy and she gives him four random items and he goes and rescues the girl from a house where she is on fire or something. He uses all four of the random items to stop the moon from rolling after them. I guess the last one seems more permanent, because it's a stone that grows into a mountain, and the moon could not climb it, but kept rolling helplessly up and down, again and again, which I guess sticks it there forever. Because at that point they're fine, and they go back down to earth, and then people come from miles around to hear their weird story.
Yeah, this is a weird book. Wow. The illustrations are strangely dark in color. They're not very bright, for having taken place in the sky country. Maybe it takes place at night? There's a lot of purples, and even when there's yellows and oranges, they're very dark.
It's a very surreal story. It doesn't really mean anything. It's almost like this legend came from somebody having a really bizarre dream and thinking, Wow, that was the most interesting thing ever, now I have to tell everybody about it. The four objects he uses is more traditional from fairy tales and legends, but the rest seems out of nowhere. Many myths talk about the origins of things, but this doesn't. Nothing happens at the end. Nothing changes. They don't get anything from their experience except a story to tell. Nothing changes about the moon, as far as I can tell. I don't even know. It's weird. A lot of things happen but nothing really results from it.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
October 5, 2017
There is no doubt from the image on the front cover that the moon is angry. I’m not crazy about this book as a whole, but that is a great illustration, especially for the front cover. I returned this book to the library before I had a chance to take notes, so for this one, I’m going to have to leave it at that.
May 18, 2012
A girl insults the moon and it takes her prisoner. A boy ventures into Sky Country to save her. A note before the story says this is a Tlingit myth and that the artwork is meant to be elaborations on Tlingit motifs.
November 6, 2023
An interesting story about how the moon took a boy's friend and an old woman gave the boy odd objects to aid him in rescuing her. I don't always like this kind of folk tale, but this one was all right.
July 11, 2011
Fun story. Wonder about it's origins.
March 2, 2013
Note on verso:
"The illustrations are elaborations on original Tlingit motifs, and are not meant to be authentic."
"The illustrations are elaborations on original Tlingit motifs, and are not meant to be authentic."
December 22, 2012
Interesting legend from an Alaskan people about the sun's assistance to two children in conflict with the moon. A bit long, but the drawings' reference to native imagery is a plus.
July 11, 2013
1971 Caldecott honor
some of the illustrations are quite beautiful
some of the illustrations are quite beautiful
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December 31, 2015Terrified and fascinated me as a child, particularly the scenes where the giant moon is chasing the characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews