Praise for The Children's Moon , by Carmen Agra Deedy:
“…LaMarche’s emotive watercolors…capture the beauty of a world where sunshine and moonlight are equally radiant. The well-told tale works on multiple levels, useful in units on the moon and mythology, but also for an SEL discussion on identity, ego, and sharing.” —School Library Journal
Praise for The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! , by Carmen Agra Deedy:
* "Deedy's original tale about standing up to oppression couldn't be more timely. Yelchin's saturated, folksy, mixed-media paintings are the perfect partner, fleshing out the characterizations and offering visual humor. This subtle, modern multicultural tale is a must have." — Kirkus Reviews , starred review
* "Deedy uses repeating language to powerful effect, ramping up the stakes while underscoring the gallito's steady determination...Yelchin amplifies themes of protest and injustice in vivid mixed-media caricatures that emphasize the rooster's humble nobility in contrast to Don Pepe's sneering autocratic airs. Like the gallito's cries of 'kee-kee-ree-kee!' Deedy's message about speaking up and speaking out rings as clearly as a bell." — Publishers Weekly , starred review
* "Deedy's original story of the noisy village of La Paz has the feel of a well-told folktale — one with plenty of dry wit... Bright hues and busy page layouts reflect a boisterous La Paz but fade to dull blues and open space when Don Pepe comes into power. Following the narrative arc, the color and energy return with the gallito's arrival and resistance. The story closes with an inspiring author's note encouraging readers and listeners to make themselves heard." — The Horn Book , starred review
"Told with a storyteller's flair, the narrative reads like a folktale, while Yelchin's mixed-media illustrations are vibrant and perfectly suit the text. A fun read-aloud for any library, especially ones looking for stories with Hispanic influence." — School Library Journal
Praise for Rita and Ralph's Rotten Day , by Carmen Agra Deedy:
* "Oswald's illustrations take full advantage of this book's elongated format, accentuating the distance between the friends' houses... Deedy's realistic portrait of the ups and downs of friendship will strike a familiar chord with young readers. This well-crafted story is an excellent choice for those seeking books featuring conflict-resolution to help children learn to manage their emotions and build healthy friendships and boundaries." — Booklist , starred review
"A sincere and sympathetic but unsentimental treatment of a challenging behavior for youngsters — the admission of wrongdoing and the repair of friendship — told with a lilting cadence by noted storyteller Deedy... Kids can glean a lot from Rita and Ralph: miscommunication is an easy, inevitable occurrence between friends, and though making up is much more difficult, it's always worth a shot, and accountability goes a long way when making amends. A corresponding hand game, 'Mr. Wiggle & Mr. Waggle,' complete with diagrams, accompanies the text." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , Recommended
* "A terrific read-aloud... Rita and Ralph's tiff, told with a sweet freshness, is a timeless, engaging tale with which any young reader is likely to identify... Best friends learn that asking for — and accepting — forgiveness is an up-and-down process in this delightful picture book." — Shelf Awareness , starred review
08/01/2021
PreS-Gr 2— An original porquoi tale explains the phenomenon—seeing the moon during daylight—the author calls a Children's Moon. Moon hears the sound of children and wants to learn more about these creatures she has never seen before. Children have always gone to bed before the sun sets and the moon has always been deprived of their company. Sun, a boastful and controlling sort of character, likes it that way. Not only does he enjoy shining most brightly in the sky, but he wants to be the center of the attention for the children. Only when the moon is able to communicate that there are other stars in the sky is the sun's interest piqued to the point in making a deal with the moon. Back matter adds additional information about the moon and our relationship with it. The illustrations are full of LaMarche's emotive watercolors that capture the beauty of a world where sunshine and moonlight are equally radiant. VERDICT The well-told tale works on multiple levels, useful in units on the moon and mythology, but also for an SEL discussion on identity, ego, and sharing.—John Scott, formerly Friends Sch. of Baltimore
Carmen Agra Deedy lovingly narrates her own origin story, which explains why we sometimes see the moon during daylight hours. Since children are sent to bed before moonrise, the moon never has a chance to see children on earth. She begs the sun to let her see the children and to let the children see her. That is why the visible moon by day is called a “children’s moon.” Deedy brings emotion to the story with an enthusiastic voice for the moon and a deep, pompous voice for the sun. Deedy also explains the moon’s phases and how to view the children’s moon. Cheerful music enhances the enjoyment of this sweet tale. Chimes signal page turns so that families can follow along with the illustrations. S.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
DECEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
Carmen Agra Deedy lovingly narrates her own origin story, which explains why we sometimes see the moon during daylight hours. Since children are sent to bed before moonrise, the moon never has a chance to see children on earth. She begs the sun to let her see the children and to let the children see her. That is why the visible moon by day is called a “children’s moon.” Deedy brings emotion to the story with an enthusiastic voice for the moon and a deep, pompous voice for the sun. Deedy also explains the moon’s phases and how to view the children’s moon. Cheerful music enhances the enjoyment of this sweet tale. Chimes signal page turns so that families can follow along with the illustrations. S.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
DECEMBER 2021 - AudioFile
2021-07-14
Since children were traditionally sent to bed early, before the moon had a chance to rise, the moon in this picture book feels that she never has a chance to see children. She begs the sun, a rather haughty fellow, to let her experience seeing the young people of the Earth. The sun keeps refusing her requests until the moon gives the sun the experience of viewing his fellow stars in the universe, “and if he felt less grand…he also felt a little less lonely” afterward. The moon asks once again, singing out, “will you please-please-please- with-a-comet-on-top let me see the children?” Only then does the brilliant yellow orb arrange for the moon to have this experience. Told in the manner of a folktale, the story is followed by instructions on how to see the so-called children’s moon after the waning gibbous phase and a page of miscellaneous facts about the moon. The softly warm paintings feature the two heavenly orbs with many different expressions on their very human faces. They shine down on different places all around the Earth, and one final double-page spread shows a multiracial cast of kids gazing up. This can be used effectively as a bedtime story at home or as a playful adjunct to lessons about the sun and the moon and their places in the solar system.
Smooth prose and amusing illustrations explain a monthly astronomical occurrence. (Picture book. 4-6)
