Under the Moon

by Dyan Sheldon

When Jenny finds an arrowhead in her backyard, she spends the rest of the day trying to imagine what the world was like long ago--when there were no cars, no towns, and no cities, but only the people, the land, and the animals. Then she falls asleep and awakens in a place more beautiful and magical than any she could have imagined. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Dyan Sheldon is the author of many novels for young adult readers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, which was made into a major motion picture. American by birth, she lives in North London.

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story involves Jenny, a young girl who finds stone which she believes to be an arrow head. Jenny has a keen interest in history and is interested to know more about this history of the place she lives. She goes outside to camp out and imagine what life was like within older days. As she falls asleep Jenny finds herself in the land she was imagining surrounded by native indians who would like their 'arrow head' back. The story ends with Jenny waking up and realizing the word is still the same as it was before she went to sleep.
I really loved the look of this book but was slightly disappointed by the content. This story employed the typical, she woke up and it was all just a dream, stance which deflated my interest in the book. Initially I really enjoyed the story as there was a lot of mystery and brilliant description, which would be a perfect stimulus for writing. However when the story got nearer to the end the plot seemed to vanish slightly and the story lost the oopmh it had started off with.
Despite myself not particularly enjoying the book, I do feel there were good elements which could be used well within the classroom. There is a beautiful description on the camp that the Indians live on, which would be perfect as an example for creative imaginative writing. I also really enjoyed the concept of immersing into what you are imagining so much that you feel as though it is real. I think this would help children with their creative writing and would therefore develop this.

I am interested to see if the authors have similar story lines for their other books. For this reason I am going to be looking at their book the Whale Song :)

[Klarissa]

Under the Moon is a terrific picture book for youth today. Its incredibly relevant because of the young girl trying to see the world as it was before we had busy cities. Jenny’s mother first tells her that there “were no roads, no cars, no cities, and no towns. Just the people…and the land itself”. Later that night Jenny stays in her tent and tries to imagine what the Earth was like 100 years ago just as her mother explained it. Today, living in a society that is too caught up in the newest electronics it is important to imagine the world before we had cities and skyscrapers. This picture book is the perfect example of a young child being imaginative while the content isn’t fostering animation of inanimate objects. This book is designed for a child ages nine through twelve. I personally believe because of the character appearing to be younger than this age I would set the age group between six and ten.

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one because of our branch Leatherlips program on 3/13 Linda suggested this picture book on her booklist. The illustrations are beautiful and not the typical fare in picture books these days. The story is long and a bit odd but would be fine for schoolagers insterested in arrwoheads, Inidans, camping out and the moon.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar in theme to her other picture book, The Whales' Song, with beautiful paintings. Sheldon's protagonists in both are children who are trying to connect to the past and/or with nature.

[MJ]

this copy rejacket

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Moon would be great for readers in grades 2-5th. I selected this book based on the title and the cover reminded me of when I would camp as a child. The book's theme is that before us there was a different way of living, before us life was simple, quiet, filled with nature, and a time of being one with nature. This story would help students see and understand what the world was like when the Native Americans were the only ones here. An art teacher could have her class draw what they believe the lands looked like back then, and have the students draw what the lands look like now. After the drawings are completed they could have the students compare and contrast the different environments and discuss their drawings. I thought Under the Moon was a book filled with realistic images that allowed the reader to be in Jenny's thoughts. I loved how she described her town as it is now and how she saw the town many moons ago. I also thought when she put the arrowhead back in the ground that it was very symbolic of how our lives are all intertwined.

[Alice Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl imagines her life in America before the period of industrialisation, learning about and reflecting upon her Native-American ancestors. The book has some lovely descriptive language that I would use a model for children.

[Emily Levings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheldon, D. (1994). Under the Moon. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

I think this book would be appropriate for children ages 8-9, because in fourth grade is when Ohio students learn Ohio history. I think this book has a lot of facts about Indians and the illustration is beautiful. I absolutely love this book, and I think I will want to have it for the future.