Sun-Day, Moon-Day: How the Week Was Made

by Cherry Gilchrist, Amanda Hall (Illustrator)

A collection of folk stories related to the days of the week. A variety of cultures have contributed to the calendar we use today: they used the sun, the moon and the planets to measure time and the seasons, and the stories they invented about their gods and goddesses give each day of the week a special quality.

Genres: Picture Books, History

80 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Cherry Gilchrist is a lover of all things ancient and mysterious. Field research for her books has taken her into Russian forests, Silk Road Yurts and to meet stone heads on Easter Island. She has written books on alchemy, mythology, family history and personal relationships. Her latest book, The Circle of Nine relates nine feminine archetypes to everyday lives of women. Cherry has also run a vintage clothes shop, a Russian crafts gallery, taught creative writing and performed as an early music singer. She is a graduate of Cambridge University, and holds a post-graduate diploma from the University of Bath Spa. As a lecturer, she has given many talks at venues ranging from the Temenos Academy to the British Council, the Royal Academy, and the Queen Elizabeth II cruise liner. At present she lives near Stroud, with her husband, artist Robert Lee-Wade and two black cats for luck. She has two grown-up children and two granddaughters. Find her at www.cherrygilchrist.co.uk and www.circleofnine.org

Reviews

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 4 out of 5]

My three year old is obsessed with the days of the week and loved this book all the way through. I found it well-written and interesting, with great tales chosen which came from all over the world. This book made me wish that it were written for a younger audience, however. This would be best enjoyed by an older child, as the stories were dense and long with mature themes. Please, author, come out with a version for the little smalls who are just discovering the joy of the different days of the week!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book - the illustrations, the stories, and the lovely way the author explains the various histories underlying the stories. That's why it gets 4 stars. Why not 5? Because i cannot connect the stories that are told with the name of the day of the week to which it is attributed. Maybe I need more coffee, but, for example, Thursday comes from Thor's Day. Thor was the Norse equivalent of Jupiter - Jupiter was the Roman equivalent of Zeus -- Zeus was the king of the gods as was Marduk, a Babylonian god. So this is why the story of Marduk's battle with Tiamat is told for Thursday? If I find it hard to follow, would a child find it easier? So rather than get hung up on the second half of the title "How the Week Was Made", I am just going to enjoy this book as a good book, pure and simple. And I did love all the information at the end of the book.

[Magila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly one of the most disappointing books I have read in quite some time. The organization left quite a bit to be desired. The art was ok.

I was under the impression it would be talking about the English derivation of the days of the week. Instead the book spent about 85%+ of the time focused on days of the week in Italian and French, and the Greek, Roman, and Babylonian myths. The piece which suggested Odin was a trickster by nature led me to almost give it one star. It was quite an extrapolation.

What's worse is how dense this book is. You have to invest quite a bit into it, particularly as a youngster, and you don't get back what it promises you. You will end up with a decent survey of ancient mythology. It's just too bad that's not at all what you think you are signing on for when you grab it.

Not recommended.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom: I am really enjoying the illustrations so far.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a jump off point for understanding the days of the week and their history of being named and how they relate to the gods and such, but I would hold off until eight years old.

[Victoria Emslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully illustrated and has fantastic information that provides a basis for understanding where the days of the weeks come from, historically and mythologically speaking. We used it for one of our Waldorf Inspired math units in our homeschool, and it drove home the concepts with mythology and facts. At the end of the book, there are a few lists that show different cultures and the deities they used to name the days. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone with children between the ages of 4 and 10.