Beneath the Ghost Moon

by Jane Yolen, Laurel Molk (Illustrator)

The farmyard mice are slumbering; beside each bed lies a tiny costume specially designed for the upcoming Ghost Eve Ball. Meanwhile the dreaded creepy-crawlies are preparing to attack! It takes the courage of one small mouse to rally the others to fight for their home, and then remind them of the importance of forgiveness. Full-color illustrations.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Animals, Fantasy, Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, poetic rhythmic rhyming book about mice who are excited for the Halloween dance. However, in the night as they slept, a creepy crawlie crew entered, destroying their costumes and taking over their lair. The small mice decide to stand up for themselves taking on the creepy crawlies with music, banners and battle cries. It ends with a creepy crawlie and a mouse forging a friendship beneath the ghost moon, dancing into the night. Beautiful poetry and illustrations, lovely lessons taught, and highly entertaining… a perfect book for fall!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Halloween-time war between the mice and the creepy-crawlies (which look to be some kind of miniature alligators) unfolds in this lovely seasonal picture book from author Jane Yolen and illustrator Laurel Molk. As the mice dream of their great Ghost Eve ball, for which they have made great preparations, the creepy-crawlies emerge from their lairs all of the costumes and accoutrements prepared by the murine throng. Awakening to this catastrophe, the mice are prepared to be driven from their home, until rallied by a little white mouse who convinces them to stay and fight, and eventually, to forgive one little repentant creepy-crawly...

Although I have read many other books by Jane Yolen, I was unaware of Beneath the Ghost Moon until I happened upon it this year on the Halloween display in the children's book room of my public library. Charmed by the cover, and happy to discover a Halloween story from Yolen, who has written many wonderful fairy-tales and works of fantasy, I immediately snatched it up. I am so glad I did, as I thought it paired a delightful story, nimbly told in rhyming verse, with lovely illustrations. I appreciated both the theme of fighting for your home rather than running away, and that of forgiving an erstwhile enemy, if they are sincerely repentant. The visuals were beautiful, and I thought Molk's murine cast were adorable! All in all, a definite win, and one I would recommend to picture book audiences looking for fun original fairy-tales for Halloween.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spooky, eerie tale of creepy-crawlies who for no other reason but mischief destroys the mice costumes, and masks for the upcoming ghost moon ball. Disheartened the mice decide to give up, but one brave mouse inspires them to fight for what is theirs, and collectively they defeat the crawlies, and attend the ball.

[Maritza Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rhyming picture book by Jane Yolen deals with being bullied by vandalism and standing up as a community to work together to help bring joy and harmony again. The colorful illustrations by Laurel Molk make a great addition to the narrative.

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Eloise's Favorites. She loves the pictures and the way the book is written in poem form.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one quite a few times although I wpuldn't consider it a favorite.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alissa was happy that one crawlie remained.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite interesting because it also doesn’t have a stereotypical Halloween plot.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute story in verse is obviously patterned after A Visit from St. Nicholas, as it starts, "'Twas the night before Ghost Eve,..." The pictures are quite nice.

[Brandy T · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the mice dream and envision a lovely time on Ghost Eve, they envision music, merriment and lovely fluffy costumes.

Alas, enter the creepers slithering out of their dank cellar halls. With nothing but nastiness and foolery planned, they blatantly with evil in their hearts and minds, steal the masks, destroy the lovely costumes and make an end to the intended merriment.

Waking to find quite a sorry mess they cave in and vow to leave and never return. Except for one hero mouse who preaches the power of taking back the night and not leaving without a good fight.

When confronted with the brave group, the creepies do what most creepies do -- they flee by night.

Save for one creepy who asks for forgiveness, admits the wrongness of his actions and, smiling dances to the light of the bright wonderful ghost moon!

What a charming, delightful tale. Illustrated by Laurel Molk, there is much merriment, hope and a message to persevere.

Highly recommended.

[Tina Harden · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rhyming story, and if you aren't accustomed to reading such, you could become lost. I'm not so much into rhyming stories but this was entertaining (illustrations) as it played out gang violence and vandalism. Well, that makes it sound like a violent read but it deals with being bullied and then standing up for yourself and community.

A "gang' destroys property. The community members come together with weapons to "avenge" the vandalism. In the end a young "gang" member was accepted into the community after asking for forgiveness. The celebration of dance and music continued as planned.

I enjoyed the illustrations and that may be what kept me drawn into the rhyming. I've read a range of stories by Jane Yolen and find that she has an ability to reach readers on multiple levels. As I said earlier, I do not enjoy rhyming stories, yet I read the book and enjoyed it. I had a warm fuzzy feeling afterward.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I would begin to read some of the Halloween books in our school library, and found this one by Jane Yolen. It is an imaginative story of adventure of a group of 'crawlies' (lizards) who do some damage to the delightful costumes and masks that belong to some gleeful mice who live in the same house. The mice almost run away, but decide to fight back and win the day. This is all in rhyme and a bit silly, but the illustrations by Laurel Mok are delightfully Halloween-ish even to the weather vane which is a witch on her broomstick. Whimsical touches like this plus Yolen's rhymes make a fun read.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors of all time. Definitely in the top two or three. As in right up there with Shakespeare. I love her work, but I find I prefer her work for middle readers and older to her work for very young readers.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange, but entertaining story with a Halloween theme. It has a message of sticking together and standing up against bullies. The poetic, rhyming narrative and colorful illustrations are fun we enjoyed reading this story together.

[Lorraine Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an interesting twist on the well known "night before christmas" poem. Good to read before Halloween. Fashioned text in creative way to fit the flow of the poem. Show kids how to use the same flow of a popular poem and change the theme. Great writing activity.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated against the backdrop of a large Harvest Moon a group of mice must rescue their Halloween party by fighting off some creepy crawlies. Told in rhyme with a strong element of poetic verse this tale will strike a chord with pre-schoolers.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not overtly Halloween which I rather like.

[Jenn Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was adorable and my daughter enjoyed it. The illustrations though is what she fell in love with. This is a book that will probably end up in our personal collection. Would recommend.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good moral of repentance and forgiveness at the end.