This lovely picture book tells a folktale from China and captures too the pleasures of a family gathering, and the importance of spending time together. Its little girl narrator is excited – it’s the night of the mid-Autumn Festival feast and her grandparents are coming round to celebrate. Her favourite part of the meal are the special mooncakes, ‘as small as my hand and as round as the moon’. They are decorated with the image of a beautiful lady and her grandmother tells them the story of Chang’e, the Lady in the Moon. It is a tale of courage, love and self-sacrifice, one to light up an autumn evening. As the book concludes, the little girl knows exactly what wish she will make for the coming year: like the lady in the moon, she wishes to be kind of heart and wise of mind. The story will be new to most readers in this country and, with a message of thanksgiving and unity and its insight into another culture, is a great one to share as we enjoy the autumn. There’s even a recipe for the delicious sounding mooncakes too.
Two sisters and their grandmother celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a popular Chinese holiday. Their favourite part? Mooncakes, of course—along with Ah-ma's story of the ancient Chinese tale of Hou Yi, a brave young archer, and his wife, Chang'e.
A long, long time ago, Hou Yi rescued the earth from the heat of ten suns. The Immortals rewarded him with a magic potion that could let him live in the sky with them forever. But when a thief tries to steal the potion, Chang’e must protect it. How can she keep the precious potion safe from the thief’s evil intentions? The sisters are mesmerized by Ah-ma's retelling and the fact that the very mooncakes they enjoy each holiday are a symbol of this legend's bravest soul.
Vivid, colourful illustrations illuminate the pages - capturing the imagination of parents and children alike - inviting readers to gaze at the cornflower blue evening and find Chang’e, the Spirit and Lady in the Moon.
Author Christina Matula comments:“Sharing stories from generation to generation is a time-honoured tradition in folklore. My inspiration was to capture the wonderful story behind the Mid-Autumn Festival for the first time in a picture book; to pass on some of my own heritage to my children, and indeed any child with a love of stories. The Shadow in the Moon teaches not only the origins of this captivating festival in Chinese culture, but also an understanding of its modern-day values of thanksgiving and in uniting friends and families.”
