What do you think?
Rate this book
Sun Moon Star
When the Creator of the universe came to Earth, It resolved to be born a male human infant, and this is what It saw when It opened Its eyes.
62 pages, cloth
First published January 1, 1980
8 people are currently reading
1366 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
710 books37k followersKurt Vonnegut, Junior was an American novelist, satirist, and most recently, graphic artist. He was recognized as New York State Author for 2001-2003.
He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journalist before joining the U.S. Army and serving in World War II.
After the war, he attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and also worked as a police reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago. He left Chicago to work in Schenectady, New York in public relations for General Electric. He attributed his unadorned writing style to his reporting work.
His experiences as an advance scout in the Battle of the Bulge, and in particular his witnessing of the bombing of Dresden, Germany whilst a prisoner of war, would inform much of his work. This event would also form the core of his most famous work, Slaughterhouse-Five, the book which would make him a millionaire. This acerbic 200-page book is what most people mean when they describe a work as "Vonnegutian" in scope.
Vonnegut was a self-proclaimed humanist and socialist (influenced by the style of Indiana's own Eugene V. Debs) and a lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
The novelist is known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973)
He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journalist before joining the U.S. Army and serving in World War II.
After the war, he attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and also worked as a police reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago. He left Chicago to work in Schenectady, New York in public relations for General Electric. He attributed his unadorned writing style to his reporting work.
His experiences as an advance scout in the Battle of the Bulge, and in particular his witnessing of the bombing of Dresden, Germany whilst a prisoner of war, would inform much of his work. This event would also form the core of his most famous work, Slaughterhouse-Five, the book which would make him a millionaire. This acerbic 200-page book is what most people mean when they describe a work as "Vonnegutian" in scope.
Vonnegut was a self-proclaimed humanist and socialist (influenced by the style of Indiana's own Eugene V. Debs) and a lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
The novelist is known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 1, 2017
While I'm a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut's novels, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered he had written a children's book, and one about the Nativity, no less. And it is exactly what you would expect from Vonnegut. He tells the story of that first Christmas by looking at what the Creator of the universe, who was all knowing in heaven, sees and (mis)interprets the night of Its birth as It transitions from God to human. He never uses the name Jesus, always referring to Him as the Creator, which makes sense if you read the Epigraph Vonnegut included from the Book of Matthew in the Bible: Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." And while this version of the incarnation sounds like a rather highbrow, overly intellectualized rendering of the Nativity story, it is actually very child friendly, told without overly simplifying or condescending to the reader. Sun Moon Star is an oversized book, its pages made of heavy colored paper with cutouts that have both clarity and simplicity to the story being told. According to Seven Stories Press, the illustrations were done before the story was written, and Vonnegut wrote Sun Moon Star around the them.
December 7, 2018
Celebrated adult novelist Kurt Vonnegut turns to the story of the Nativity in this single children's story in his body of work, chronicling the experiences of the Creator of the Universe on the first day of its existence as a human being. Although Vonnegut never uses the names Jesus or Christ, he does use the names Joseph and Mary, and sets his story in the traditional stable, making it absolutely clear which narrative he is seeking to tell.
An extended meditation on the changing perceptions of the Creator, now that it is in human form, and must rely on the limited eyes of a newborn baby, Sun Moon Star was originally published in 1980, was out of print for many years, and then was reprinted in this new edition by Seven Stories Press in 2016. I am amused to see that some online reviews have criticized Ivan Chermayeff's illustrations, finding them ill-suited to Vonnegut's story, as the story was originally written by Vonnegut as a response to the artwork, which came first. Obviously, Vonnegut thought that this was just the story to pair with these visuals! Leaving that aside, I found the story itself quite thought-provoking, and really enjoyed this non-traditional take on the idea of a divine being coming into the world as a mortal one. Recommended to Kurt Vonnegut fans, and to anyone looking for a different take on the Nativity story.
An extended meditation on the changing perceptions of the Creator, now that it is in human form, and must rely on the limited eyes of a newborn baby, Sun Moon Star was originally published in 1980, was out of print for many years, and then was reprinted in this new edition by Seven Stories Press in 2016. I am amused to see that some online reviews have criticized Ivan Chermayeff's illustrations, finding them ill-suited to Vonnegut's story, as the story was originally written by Vonnegut as a response to the artwork, which came first. Obviously, Vonnegut thought that this was just the story to pair with these visuals! Leaving that aside, I found the story itself quite thought-provoking, and really enjoyed this non-traditional take on the idea of a divine being coming into the world as a mortal one. Recommended to Kurt Vonnegut fans, and to anyone looking for a different take on the Nativity story.
December 10, 2023
This was one of my absolute favorite "Christmas" books as a child, long before any of it made any sense to me at all, and continued to be even as I was able to grasp a bit of what it was all about as an older kid. I recently rediscovered my (dusty, drawn-on) copy and was so thrilled to share it with MY kids, and surprised to find within myself an almost pre-verbal memory of each page, each color.
Anyway! Just an anecdotal counterpoint to the many reviews suggesting it is neither appropriate for or interesting to children. Though to be fair my kids are not particularly or especially enamored (YET?)... but neither do they dislike it or find it dull.
I loved and love this book.
Anyway! Just an anecdotal counterpoint to the many reviews suggesting it is neither appropriate for or interesting to children. Though to be fair my kids are not particularly or especially enamored (YET?)... but neither do they dislike it or find it dull.
I loved and love this book.
December 15, 2022
nauczyłam się dzisiaj, że czytam dobre książki, ale totalnie nie umiem kupować dzieciom prezentów
December 26, 2024
Un cuento sobre la Natividad, específicamente sobre lo primero que ven los ojitos del bebé que acaba de nacer. Las imágenes son sencillas y todo gira alrededor de una estrella, luna y sol. Parece ser que las imágenes fueron primero y que Kurt escribió la historia con base a eso y le quedó bastante bien. Es tierna, simple y muy humana.
November 17, 2014
I had no idea Kurt Vonnegut, my all time favorite author, wrote a children's book until I spotted it on Amazon. Of course, I had to get it immediately, and thanks to my Kindle Unlimited I was reading it like thirty seconds later. This is a lovely little telling of the birth of Jesus, using the fact that newborns can't see clearly after birth to awesome effect.
Even more nifty is when you read the backstory and learn that the illustrator did the pictures first, simple pictures of colors moons suns and stars, and then Vonnegut filled in the story around the pictures.
I read a few reviews where people complain that Jesus is referred to as 'it', but the way this is done is that the Creator of the universe takes human form. The It is used to show that the Creator is neither/either male or female and something different than human in true form.
I really enjoyed it. Had I a small child, I would use this to introduce them to my favorite author in a My First Vonnegut kinda way.
Even more nifty is when you read the backstory and learn that the illustrator did the pictures first, simple pictures of colors moons suns and stars, and then Vonnegut filled in the story around the pictures.
I read a few reviews where people complain that Jesus is referred to as 'it', but the way this is done is that the Creator of the universe takes human form. The It is used to show that the Creator is neither/either male or female and something different than human in true form.
I really enjoyed it. Had I a small child, I would use this to introduce them to my favorite author in a My First Vonnegut kinda way.
November 8, 2018
Evitabile, solo per veri appassionati (patologici) di Vonnegut.
October 16, 2024
i liked this one it was very cute and simple
December 13, 2022
Nie tylko dla fanów Vonneguta, ale przede wszystkim dla nich dzisiaj kilka słów o… Kurcie i Jezusie.
“Z narodzenia Pana dzień dziś…” No dobrze, to już za chwilę i nie u każdego. Osobiście bojkotuję ideę Świąt, z wyłączeniem prezentów i sympatii dla Mariah Carey. Popkultura świąteczna jest pełna wspaniałych momentów i myślę, że nawet jak cały świat uznałby, że jednak Boga nie ma i żadne raje nas nie czekają, to dalej byśmy czekali na pierwszą gwiazdkę.
Niezależnie od tego, jakie mamy poglądy na rzeczywistość, tzw. “Świąt” z kalendarza nie wymażemy, a historyjka o narodzinach chłopca w betlejemskim żłóbku ma w sobie coś jednak sympatycznego. Co innego wiele spraw do niej dopisanych i ich efektów w naszym życiu codziennym, ale nie o tym jest ten wpis.
Fascynację Chrystusem jako postacią literacką podzielał jeden z najbardziej znanych ateistów XX wieku, Kurt Vonnegut. W efekcie, w 1980 roku napisał jedną z najpiękniejszych historii narodzenia Jezusa. Na scenę boskich narodzin nie patrzymy tu z perspektywy dorosłych, czy zwierzątek, a samego niemowlaka, który do tej pory nie potrzebował oczu, by patrzyć na świat.
Historyjka ukazała się w Stanach Zjednoczonych w 1980 roku, a wydawnictwo Mamania wydało ją już jakiś czas temu w świetnym przekładzie Rafała Lisowskiego.
Vonnegut, zadeklarowany ateista, wielokrotnie sięgał po motywy biblijne, postać Chrystusa, a także - kolędy. Pamiętacie może z lektury “Rzeźni numer 5” (tłum. Lech Jęczmyk), jak - nagle - pojawia się w niej motto?
“Właśnie dlatego motto tej książki stanowi czterowiersz z popularnej kolędy. Billy płakał bardzo rzadko, choć często widywał rzeczy, nad którymi należałoby płakać, i przynajmniej pod tym względem przypominał Chrystusa z kolędy.
Bydło ryczy, ptactwo gdacze,
Dzieciątko się budzi,
Ale Jezus nasz nie płacze
Ani nie marudzi”
Chrystologicznych motywów w księżce jest więcej (w końcu Pilgrim czyta “Ewangelia z Kosmosu” Trouta), ale my wróćmy do “Słońca, Księżyca, Gwiazd”.
Pięć lat po ukazaniu się książki, w "New York Times" Dan Wakefield, poeta, pisarz, scenarzysta filmowy i przyjaciel Vonneguta, napisał artykuł zatytułowany "Powrót do kościoła" o swoim powrocie do wiary. Akurat wrócił z kościoła, gdy na automatycznej sekretarce zastał wiadomość.
- Tu Kurt. Wybaczam Ci.
Wiele lat później, gdy Vonnegut opublikował swoje poezje, Wakefield zrewanżował mu się wysyłając wiadomość: - Tu Dan. Wybaczam Ci.
Pradziadek Vonneguta, Clemens był założycielem Towarzystwa Wolnomyślicieli w Indianapolis, a sam autor "Rzeźni numer 5" był prezesem Stowarzyszenia Humanistów. Pisał: "Służymy, najlepiej jak potrafimy, najwyższej abstrakcji, którą rozumiemy, czyli naszej społeczności”.
Do religii miał podejście niezbyt przychylne, choć sam wiele razy opowiadał anegdotę o tym, jak podczas mowy pogrzebowej dla swojego poprzednika na stanowisku prezesa Tow. Humanistycznego zapomniał się i powiedział, że jest pewien, że "Izaak musi być teraz w niebie". W swojej na wpół autobiograficznej powieści, "Trzęsienie czasu" Vonnegut uznał, że było to najzabawniejsze, co mógł powiedzieć humanistom.
Sam siebie określał mianem "miłującego Chrystusa ateisty". Wygłosił nawet wielkanocne kazanie w kościele episkopalnym w Nowym Jorku, bo są takie kościoły, które pozwalają mądrym ludziom mówić mądre rzeczy niezależnie od tego, czy podpisują te same listy obecności. Fascynacja Jezusem u Vonneguta jest wyjątkowa. Niewielu amerykańskich twórców współczesnych tak często odwoływało się do tej postaci. Szczególnym uczuciem darzył "Kazanie na Górze". Pisał: - Bycie miłosiernym to jedyna dobra idea, jaka istnieje. Narzekał w esejach, że chrześcijanie dużo więcej uwagi poświęcają Mojżeszowi i jego dziesięciu przykazaniom, niż błogosławieństwom wygłoszonym na wzgórzu.
W wykładzie wygłoszonym pod koniec XX wieku Vonnegut powiedział:
“Niektórzy wiedzą, że jestem humanistą lub wolnomyślicielem, podobnie jak moi rodzice, dziadkowie, pradziadkowie i przodkowie – a więc nie jestem chrześcijaninem. Będąc humanistą, oddaję cześć mojej matce i ojcu, co według Biblii jest dobrą rzeczą. Ale powtarzam wraz ze wszystkimi moimi amerykańskimi przodkami: „Jeżeli to, co Jezus powiedział, było dobre i tak wiele z tego było piękne, jakie ma znaczenie to, czy był Bogiem, czy nie? Gdyby Chrystus nie wygłosił Kazania na Górze z przesłaniem miłosierdzia i litości, nie chciałbym być człowiekiem. Najchętniej zostałbym grzechotnikiem”.
Jezus był dla niego "najbardziej ludzką istotą".
W "Człowieku bez ojczyzny" zaproponował epitafium dla swojego bohatera: "jedynym dowodem, którego potrzebował na istnienie Boga, była muzyka"
W 1985 roku Kurt Vonnegut pojawił się na premierze “Requiem” Andrew Lloyda Webbera. Angielski przekład uroczystej łaciny, którą słyszał w filharmonii, zszokował go tak, że całą noc spędził na… pisaniu własnego “Requiem”. Zmienił m.in. frazę “światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci” na “niech światłość wiekuista nie zakłóca ich snu”. Później wyjaśniał, że bardzo nie chciał, by jego ukochana siostra i inni zmarli musieli spać przy włączonym świetle. Angielski tekst Vonneguta przełożono na łacinę, dołożono muzykę i podjęto prób wykonania utworu w kościele. Kilka miejsc odmówiło.
Jak komentuje przyjaciel Vonneguta: - “To była ciężka praca dla niewierzącego humanisty”.
Powodów do lektury “Słońca, Księżyca, Gwiazdy” Vonneguta z ilustracjami Ivana Chermayeffa jest dużo więcej, ale mam nadzieję, że ten krótki esej biograficzny również będzie jednym z nich. Bo to jest jednak ładne, gdy pisze autor “Rzeźni numer 5”:
Istota która stworzyła świat,
zamknęła oczy po raz drugi
i ssała
ciepłe mleko
swojej
matki
“Z narodzenia Pana dzień dziś…” No dobrze, to już za chwilę i nie u każdego. Osobiście bojkotuję ideę Świąt, z wyłączeniem prezentów i sympatii dla Mariah Carey. Popkultura świąteczna jest pełna wspaniałych momentów i myślę, że nawet jak cały świat uznałby, że jednak Boga nie ma i żadne raje nas nie czekają, to dalej byśmy czekali na pierwszą gwiazdkę.
Niezależnie od tego, jakie mamy poglądy na rzeczywistość, tzw. “Świąt” z kalendarza nie wymażemy, a historyjka o narodzinach chłopca w betlejemskim żłóbku ma w sobie coś jednak sympatycznego. Co innego wiele spraw do niej dopisanych i ich efektów w naszym życiu codziennym, ale nie o tym jest ten wpis.
Fascynację Chrystusem jako postacią literacką podzielał jeden z najbardziej znanych ateistów XX wieku, Kurt Vonnegut. W efekcie, w 1980 roku napisał jedną z najpiękniejszych historii narodzenia Jezusa. Na scenę boskich narodzin nie patrzymy tu z perspektywy dorosłych, czy zwierzątek, a samego niemowlaka, który do tej pory nie potrzebował oczu, by patrzyć na świat.
Historyjka ukazała się w Stanach Zjednoczonych w 1980 roku, a wydawnictwo Mamania wydało ją już jakiś czas temu w świetnym przekładzie Rafała Lisowskiego.
Vonnegut, zadeklarowany ateista, wielokrotnie sięgał po motywy biblijne, postać Chrystusa, a także - kolędy. Pamiętacie może z lektury “Rzeźni numer 5” (tłum. Lech Jęczmyk), jak - nagle - pojawia się w niej motto?
“Właśnie dlatego motto tej książki stanowi czterowiersz z popularnej kolędy. Billy płakał bardzo rzadko, choć często widywał rzeczy, nad którymi należałoby płakać, i przynajmniej pod tym względem przypominał Chrystusa z kolędy.
Bydło ryczy, ptactwo gdacze,
Dzieciątko się budzi,
Ale Jezus nasz nie płacze
Ani nie marudzi”
Chrystologicznych motywów w księżce jest więcej (w końcu Pilgrim czyta “Ewangelia z Kosmosu” Trouta), ale my wróćmy do “Słońca, Księżyca, Gwiazd”.
Pięć lat po ukazaniu się książki, w "New York Times" Dan Wakefield, poeta, pisarz, scenarzysta filmowy i przyjaciel Vonneguta, napisał artykuł zatytułowany "Powrót do kościoła" o swoim powrocie do wiary. Akurat wrócił z kościoła, gdy na automatycznej sekretarce zastał wiadomość.
- Tu Kurt. Wybaczam Ci.
Wiele lat później, gdy Vonnegut opublikował swoje poezje, Wakefield zrewanżował mu się wysyłając wiadomość: - Tu Dan. Wybaczam Ci.
Pradziadek Vonneguta, Clemens był założycielem Towarzystwa Wolnomyślicieli w Indianapolis, a sam autor "Rzeźni numer 5" był prezesem Stowarzyszenia Humanistów. Pisał: "Służymy, najlepiej jak potrafimy, najwyższej abstrakcji, którą rozumiemy, czyli naszej społeczności”.
Do religii miał podejście niezbyt przychylne, choć sam wiele razy opowiadał anegdotę o tym, jak podczas mowy pogrzebowej dla swojego poprzednika na stanowisku prezesa Tow. Humanistycznego zapomniał się i powiedział, że jest pewien, że "Izaak musi być teraz w niebie". W swojej na wpół autobiograficznej powieści, "Trzęsienie czasu" Vonnegut uznał, że było to najzabawniejsze, co mógł powiedzieć humanistom.
Sam siebie określał mianem "miłującego Chrystusa ateisty". Wygłosił nawet wielkanocne kazanie w kościele episkopalnym w Nowym Jorku, bo są takie kościoły, które pozwalają mądrym ludziom mówić mądre rzeczy niezależnie od tego, czy podpisują te same listy obecności. Fascynacja Jezusem u Vonneguta jest wyjątkowa. Niewielu amerykańskich twórców współczesnych tak często odwoływało się do tej postaci. Szczególnym uczuciem darzył "Kazanie na Górze". Pisał: - Bycie miłosiernym to jedyna dobra idea, jaka istnieje. Narzekał w esejach, że chrześcijanie dużo więcej uwagi poświęcają Mojżeszowi i jego dziesięciu przykazaniom, niż błogosławieństwom wygłoszonym na wzgórzu.
W wykładzie wygłoszonym pod koniec XX wieku Vonnegut powiedział:
“Niektórzy wiedzą, że jestem humanistą lub wolnomyślicielem, podobnie jak moi rodzice, dziadkowie, pradziadkowie i przodkowie – a więc nie jestem chrześcijaninem. Będąc humanistą, oddaję cześć mojej matce i ojcu, co według Biblii jest dobrą rzeczą. Ale powtarzam wraz ze wszystkimi moimi amerykańskimi przodkami: „Jeżeli to, co Jezus powiedział, było dobre i tak wiele z tego było piękne, jakie ma znaczenie to, czy był Bogiem, czy nie? Gdyby Chrystus nie wygłosił Kazania na Górze z przesłaniem miłosierdzia i litości, nie chciałbym być człowiekiem. Najchętniej zostałbym grzechotnikiem”.
Jezus był dla niego "najbardziej ludzką istotą".
W "Człowieku bez ojczyzny" zaproponował epitafium dla swojego bohatera: "jedynym dowodem, którego potrzebował na istnienie Boga, była muzyka"
W 1985 roku Kurt Vonnegut pojawił się na premierze “Requiem” Andrew Lloyda Webbera. Angielski przekład uroczystej łaciny, którą słyszał w filharmonii, zszokował go tak, że całą noc spędził na… pisaniu własnego “Requiem”. Zmienił m.in. frazę “światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci” na “niech światłość wiekuista nie zakłóca ich snu”. Później wyjaśniał, że bardzo nie chciał, by jego ukochana siostra i inni zmarli musieli spać przy włączonym świetle. Angielski tekst Vonneguta przełożono na łacinę, dołożono muzykę i podjęto prób wykonania utworu w kościele. Kilka miejsc odmówiło.
Jak komentuje przyjaciel Vonneguta: - “To była ciężka praca dla niewierzącego humanisty”.
Powodów do lektury “Słońca, Księżyca, Gwiazdy” Vonneguta z ilustracjami Ivana Chermayeffa jest dużo więcej, ale mam nadzieję, że ten krótki esej biograficzny również będzie jednym z nich. Bo to jest jednak ładne, gdy pisze autor “Rzeźni numer 5”:
Istota która stworzyła świat,
zamknęła oczy po raz drugi
i ssała
ciepłe mleko
swojej
matki
June 20, 2017
Ugh. The story is a miracle (the birth of Christ) but this picture book rendering is very odd. If it wasn't Vonnegut and Chermayeff, I don't think it would have been published. The flap explains that the illustrations were completed and then they asked Vonnegut to create a story, and this backward experiment does not work. Not sure who the audience for this book would be as it has no kid appeal, doesn't really share the beauty of the Nativity, and offers nothing new to an ancient story.
April 26, 2022
Vonnegut my beloved. This was actually really interesting in my opinion. I enjoyed getting to read a children’s book written by one of my favorite authors
Also the fact that it was based in religion made this a really interesting read for me as someone who is not really religious!
Also the fact that it was based in religion made this a really interesting read for me as someone who is not really religious!
December 28, 2016
This is an extremely beautiful and poetic picture book that is in no way, shape, or form even remotely age appropriate for children.
June 27, 2021
A children's book with Jesus Christ and no illustrations. Just blank pages with a star or two and complicated explanations. Useless book for a child. Too complex and ambiguous 。
November 26, 2021
My guy Kurt was real weird for this one
November 9, 2024
Highly Recommended
Originally published in 1980.
A mutual friend in publishing approached artist/graphic designer Ivan Chermayeff and author Kurt Vonnegut with a proposal. He wanted them to work together on a book. His proposal was that Chermayeff work up some illustrations and present them to Vonnegut and then Vonnegut would write a book based on those illustrations.
Vonnegut, even then, was an internationally celebrated author. Chermayeff created many of the images Americans see every day - the corporate logos for such companies as Chase Bank, National Geographic, Scholastic Books, Univision, NBC, PBS, and more.
Chermayeff presented Vonnegut with a series of simple, childlike paintings of the moon, star, and the sun. They came with no explanation. There is also a diagram of an eyeball. I do not know if that was part of Chermayeff's art or if Vonnegut added it, but I would imagine that Vonnegut added it.
Vonnegut took the drawings and made Sun Moon Star, a beautiful children's story about Jesus on the day of his birth.
When I say that this is a children's story, I really mean that this is a book for adults in the guise of a children's story. There is nothing that is inappropriate for children and a child would be able to follow along with most of it.
Adults, however, will appreciate the care that well-know atheist Vonnegut brings to the concept that the creator of the universe has brought himself into his creation as a baby, with all of the limited perspective that a baby has. The warmth of a sun is compared to the warmth of a mother's embrace - and the love of a mother's embrace is superior. The eyes that witnessed creation itself are now the eyes of a newborn that don't quite know how to work together yet.
I found this to be a thoughtful and surprisingly sweet book. It doesn't feel like a typical Vonnegut book, but it may just be one of my favorites.
I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.
See all of my reviews of books by Kurt Vonnegut here: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/sear...
Originally published in 1980.
A mutual friend in publishing approached artist/graphic designer Ivan Chermayeff and author Kurt Vonnegut with a proposal. He wanted them to work together on a book. His proposal was that Chermayeff work up some illustrations and present them to Vonnegut and then Vonnegut would write a book based on those illustrations.
Vonnegut, even then, was an internationally celebrated author. Chermayeff created many of the images Americans see every day - the corporate logos for such companies as Chase Bank, National Geographic, Scholastic Books, Univision, NBC, PBS, and more.
Chermayeff presented Vonnegut with a series of simple, childlike paintings of the moon, star, and the sun. They came with no explanation. There is also a diagram of an eyeball. I do not know if that was part of Chermayeff's art or if Vonnegut added it, but I would imagine that Vonnegut added it.
Vonnegut took the drawings and made Sun Moon Star, a beautiful children's story about Jesus on the day of his birth.
When I say that this is a children's story, I really mean that this is a book for adults in the guise of a children's story. There is nothing that is inappropriate for children and a child would be able to follow along with most of it.
Adults, however, will appreciate the care that well-know atheist Vonnegut brings to the concept that the creator of the universe has brought himself into his creation as a baby, with all of the limited perspective that a baby has. The warmth of a sun is compared to the warmth of a mother's embrace - and the love of a mother's embrace is superior. The eyes that witnessed creation itself are now the eyes of a newborn that don't quite know how to work together yet.
I found this to be a thoughtful and surprisingly sweet book. It doesn't feel like a typical Vonnegut book, but it may just be one of my favorites.
I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.
See all of my reviews of books by Kurt Vonnegut here: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/sear...
March 25, 2021
In 2021, I've been re-reading all the Vonnegut. He is my favorite author and when I had read Vonnegut when I was younger, this was not widely available, if at all. I had never heard of this until this year. I checked out the book for free from Hoopla and read it on my iPad. Random thoughts initiate:
1. I guess this is a children's book, though it talks about the king ordering the death of all newborn male children. That would have scared my kid. It took about 20 minutes to read, I guess. It was a kind of charming tale about Baby Jesus being born and what he saw, or thought he saw, during his first day of being alive on earth.
2. I would say this is for Vonnegut completionists only. Definitely not essential. The art was pretty simple and basic - nothing special.
I gave it two stars as the least essential Vonnegut yet. I like stories about Jesus and I thought it was kind of charming, but didn't have a great pay off or anything.
1. I guess this is a children's book, though it talks about the king ordering the death of all newborn male children. That would have scared my kid. It took about 20 minutes to read, I guess. It was a kind of charming tale about Baby Jesus being born and what he saw, or thought he saw, during his first day of being alive on earth.
2. I would say this is for Vonnegut completionists only. Definitely not essential. The art was pretty simple and basic - nothing special.
I gave it two stars as the least essential Vonnegut yet. I like stories about Jesus and I thought it was kind of charming, but didn't have a great pay off or anything.
August 13, 2025
A major departure from what I typically read. This is the story of Jesus, and the first like, 12 hours after He was born. While yes, very much a Christian story, Vonnegut writes it in such a way that feels... not neutral, but less overtly in-your-face than the vast majority of rehashings of this tale I've seen and heard.
The simple yet poetic way the story is written is beautifully complimented by Ivan Chermayeff's lovely illustrations. They're simple, mostly just a handful of shapes, or even entire pages of a single colour, but they're poignant. With Vonnegut's words, and Chermayeff's illustrations, this is a religious kid's book that doesn't feel... wrong.
And quite frankly, it's a pretty bold move to portray Jesus' first hours of life, going from omnipotence to needing to rely on the human body, in such a matter-of-fact way.
The simple yet poetic way the story is written is beautifully complimented by Ivan Chermayeff's lovely illustrations. They're simple, mostly just a handful of shapes, or even entire pages of a single colour, but they're poignant. With Vonnegut's words, and Chermayeff's illustrations, this is a religious kid's book that doesn't feel... wrong.
And quite frankly, it's a pretty bold move to portray Jesus' first hours of life, going from omnipotence to needing to rely on the human body, in such a matter-of-fact way.
November 15, 2025
I snapped this up because who knew Kurt Vonnegut had written aa children's Christmas book? Truly did not know what to expect. It is short and spare. But what does it mean? While the illustrations are simple color blocks, they are significant symbols, and as stated: Sun, Moon, Star. The story describes the Creator's first moments as a human child, and Vonnegut does it with beauty and simplicity. Or does he? The story is familiar and yet not. The world is not as it seems to baby eyes. Nastiness and judgement take place, goodness prevails, and yet the child is innocent of this knowledge. Vision is different from seeing, knowing and experiencing are subjective, each bringing different knowledge. So simple, so difficult. I will be thinking about this book for a while.
July 26, 2018
If you just read this without knowing how the book was created, you'd think "meh, it's alright." But the creation context of this creation story is important. Chermayeff, a graphic designer, created the illustrations FIRST and then Vonnegut came along and filled in a story to go with them. It's described in the front of the book as "a song whose music came first." Knowing this changes everything. I never thought I'd describe a Vonnegut book as being good to read to children as a bedtime story around Christmas, yet here I am saying exactly that about this book.
January 12, 2025
People seem to run hot or cold on this one but I loved it. Viewing the Nativity through the eyes of the Creator, newly in human form, was intriguing to me. I understand that the illustrations came first and Vonnegut created the story around them and I found the crafting of this story to also be fascinating. Made me ponder and consider some of my understanding of the Nativity and I love books that cause me that sort of pondering opportunity. Yes, it is listed as a children's book but I would say that it would need to be a more advanced child who would read this one, at least on their own.
March 3, 2025
RIP Kurt Vonnegut, you would have loved Tumblr.
On a serious note: This was beautiful. Who would have known Vonnegut wrote a children's book and that it'd be so beautiful? I'd love to own this physically one day. It's so tender, but at the same time, the illustrations are so genius in tandem with the story beside it. His mind really works in such wonderful ways. This was gentle but so Vonnegut. Love love love.
On a serious note: This was beautiful. Who would have known Vonnegut wrote a children's book and that it'd be so beautiful? I'd love to own this physically one day. It's so tender, but at the same time, the illustrations are so genius in tandem with the story beside it. His mind really works in such wonderful ways. This was gentle but so Vonnegut. Love love love.
August 2, 2017
A collaboration where the pictures came first, then the words. Illustrations are on black or dark blue pages--variations of sun, moon, or star. Words tell the Nativity story through the eyes of a newborn baby, by what he sees. A fresh perspective. Makes a person think. Purists may disagree. Not particularly for young children. Might make one's own story to the pictures.
January 7, 2021
Rasanya gemas karena hanya membaca versi digital. Kalau berkesempatan, saya ingin sekali memiliki versi fisiknya.
Tentang Vonnegut, ia memang sudah brilian apa adanya.
Saya tidak menyangka jika puisi-puisinya bercerita tentang natal. Diceritakan melalui suduy pandang Yesus, puisi-puisinya terasa jauh lebih humanis. Kejutan yang menyenangkan.
Tentang Vonnegut, ia memang sudah brilian apa adanya.
Saya tidak menyangka jika puisi-puisinya bercerita tentang natal. Diceritakan melalui suduy pandang Yesus, puisi-puisinya terasa jauh lebih humanis. Kejutan yang menyenangkan.
August 17, 2017
A charming, creative retelling of the Christ child's birth. Chermayeff created a series of pictures before Vonnegut provided the story. As with his novels, Vonnegut's charm and humanity is on full display in this story for all ages.
December 7, 2017
Found this by happy chance in the library. It's a really different and poetic look at the Nativity from the point of view of the baby Jesus, who struggles to make sense of the scene around him with His now-imperfect human eyes. A fascinating conceit, beautiful and thoughtful.
January 21, 2020
This was interesting, and if you're a Vonnegut fan, a must-read, I think, if you can get your hands on a copy.
It was unexpectedly about Christmas, which was fun, given the time I started reading it.
I kept getting interrupted and then beginning again.
It was unexpectedly about Christmas, which was fun, given the time I started reading it.
I kept getting interrupted and then beginning again.
June 24, 2018
A humanist retelling of the nativity.
December 25, 2018
to be a Christmas tradition with my family for many years to come !
January 9, 2019
So good! The nativity story told from Jesus' POV, complete with his fuzzy newborn eyesight. I love how incarnational it is.
January 19, 2020
Fascinating. Would be an interesting paired piece for an AP Lit or literature of the Bible course. Read on Kindle. I will seek out a hard copy for better visuals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews