Written by Eva Wong Nava
Illustrated by Jason Chuang
Published by Candlewick Press
Mom's Review
Here's a quick rundown of the content:
The frame narrative of a little girl celebrating the mid-autumn festival paves the way for the real story: the legend of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess. Readers learn how the Lord Archer shot down multiple suns that were scorching the earth, was rewarded for his service with a gift of immortality, abjured the gift only to have his beloved wife inadvertently accept it, and was separated from her as she unwillingly journeyed to the moon as a new goddess.
But here's why you should read it:
It is the little girl, in the end, who prompts us to ask the important questions of why, consider how our choices shape our futures and relationships. I love folklore in general, and it is always a pleasure to read well-written legends that are accompanied by beautiful illustrations. And when those legends lead us to contemplate universal truths and big questions like why one person is privileged and not another or what value nature holds, I encounter worthwhile storytelling. That's precisely what The Moon Rabbit is. Eva Wong Nava and Jason Chuang have combined forces to retell Chang'e's legend in a way that you don't want to miss.
Two more points:
If you judge a book by its endpaper, you'll know you're in for something good with The Moon Rabbit.
Look carefully and you'll see the little girl's rabbit tucked into every illustration.
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