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Moon Over the Mountain / Luna sobre la montana
A fun-filled retelling of a traditional Asian tale in which a discontented stonecutter is never satisfied with each wish that is granted him. In this variation, master storyteller Keith Polette creates a vivid Southwestern landscape in which to set the story.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 21, 2017
Moon Over the Mountain/ Luna Sobre la Montaña by Keith Polette is the retelling of a classic Asian tale in which the stonecutter is never happy with his life, no matter how many of his wishes come true. He is transformed from the stonecutter, to a rich merchant, to the sun, to the wind, to the large mountain, and finally to a coyote. What makes this book so interesting is that it is traditionally an Asian tale but it has been retold in a southwestern setting with Spanish influence, including some Spanish vocabulary sprinkled into the text. It is a great way to introduce many different cultures in one book. I think that the premise of the story itself is a great one; you may not ever be satisfied even if all of your wishes come true. It is about being content with your life as it is and making it the greatest you can. Michael Kress-Russick’s illustrations do a great job in transforming Agipito into his different personas throughout the text. The illustrations are easily identifiable and look like something that a child may see in a cartoon. I would recommend this book for grades three and below. It is an excellent book to teach students the lesson of those who are greedy will never been satisfied. Plus, having the Spanish vocabulary sprinkled throughout the text and having the vocabulary list at the end of the book is a great way to get younger children engaged with learning a second language.
November 11, 2020
Agipito is a poor stone cutter that wishes to be more than what he is. So one night the spirit of the Desert grants him 5 wishes. Contains some Spanish words.
December 11, 2009
You’ve heard this tale before, no doubt you’ll hear it again, but that’s the beauty of it—the story’s got good bones. And it’s got legs too, as the original came from Asia, and the version here takes place in a desert, like the US southwest or northern Mexico.
A poor stonecutter with the rather giggle-producing name of Agipito wishes for a life of less chipping and hacking, less trudge and toil. One night, before he goes to sleep, he says, “Oh, how I wish I was a comerciante rico!” Low and behold, the Spirit of the Desert grants his wish and he wakes up the rich owner of a gigantic market. Soon, Agipito realizes, however, that being a comerciante rico doesn’t stop the sun from spoiling his wares. One night, before he goes to sleep, he says, “Oh, how I wish I was el sol.”
Author Polette is a specialist in children’s literacy, and the idea of Moon Over the Mountain / Luna sobre la montaña is that by mixing in Spanish nouns throughout the story (and highlighting them in red), both Spanish and English native speakers will not only be able to follow the narrative, but they’ll learn each other’s vocabulary. This reviewer, who is also the parent of bilingual children, thinks it’s a great idea.
Powerfully illustrated by first-timer Michael Kress, Moon Over the Mountain/ Luna sobre la montaña ingeniously translates this ancient cautionary tale for American audiences—just when you think you know where the story’s going next, it surprises you and trots away on its long, long legs.
Review appeared originally in ForeWord magazine
A poor stonecutter with the rather giggle-producing name of Agipito wishes for a life of less chipping and hacking, less trudge and toil. One night, before he goes to sleep, he says, “Oh, how I wish I was a comerciante rico!” Low and behold, the Spirit of the Desert grants his wish and he wakes up the rich owner of a gigantic market. Soon, Agipito realizes, however, that being a comerciante rico doesn’t stop the sun from spoiling his wares. One night, before he goes to sleep, he says, “Oh, how I wish I was el sol.”
Author Polette is a specialist in children’s literacy, and the idea of Moon Over the Mountain / Luna sobre la montaña is that by mixing in Spanish nouns throughout the story (and highlighting them in red), both Spanish and English native speakers will not only be able to follow the narrative, but they’ll learn each other’s vocabulary. This reviewer, who is also the parent of bilingual children, thinks it’s a great idea.
Powerfully illustrated by first-timer Michael Kress, Moon Over the Mountain/ Luna sobre la montaña ingeniously translates this ancient cautionary tale for American audiences—just when you think you know where the story’s going next, it surprises you and trots away on its long, long legs.
Review appeared originally in ForeWord magazine
February 4, 2016
This story is about repeated discontent, it opens with a brief explanation of Agipito, a poor stonecutter. Every day he travels to the mountain and with his hammer and chisel carves off sections and then shapes them into items that he can sell in his small shop.
One day, Agipito spots a rich merchant eating a juicy piece of fruit and wearing fine clothes with expensive rings on his fingers. Right then, Agipito wishes that he too were a rich merchant, for he is a very unhappy man. That night, the Spirit of the Desert grants his request.
However, as is the case with so many wishes, Agipito concentrates on the problems that this creates and when he watches his fruit quickly spoil in the hot sun, he wishes that he were the sun. Once again, the Spirit of the Desert grants his wish. When Agipito is again frustrated by what he cannot do as the sun, he makes yet another wish. This process continues until he finally finds a form that he is contented with, although it is not one that would satisfy most people.
The theme of this story is that it is fine to wish for things to be better in your life, but when it happens you should not concentrate on the things that are not quite right and live a discontented life. No matter what you are, there will be some things that you cannot do.
The illustrations are very colorful and expressive, sure to attract and retain the eyes of young readers. The level of the text is approximately that of the second grade reader, although children will enjoy having it read to them.
One day, Agipito spots a rich merchant eating a juicy piece of fruit and wearing fine clothes with expensive rings on his fingers. Right then, Agipito wishes that he too were a rich merchant, for he is a very unhappy man. That night, the Spirit of the Desert grants his request.
However, as is the case with so many wishes, Agipito concentrates on the problems that this creates and when he watches his fruit quickly spoil in the hot sun, he wishes that he were the sun. Once again, the Spirit of the Desert grants his wish. When Agipito is again frustrated by what he cannot do as the sun, he makes yet another wish. This process continues until he finally finds a form that he is contented with, although it is not one that would satisfy most people.
The theme of this story is that it is fine to wish for things to be better in your life, but when it happens you should not concentrate on the things that are not quite right and live a discontented life. No matter what you are, there will be some things that you cannot do.
The illustrations are very colorful and expressive, sure to attract and retain the eyes of young readers. The level of the text is approximately that of the second grade reader, although children will enjoy having it read to them.
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May 12, 2019Read. Not reviewed.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews