Review of Long Night moon by Cynthia Rylant

• Bibliography

Rylant, Cynthia. 2004. Long Night Moon. Ill. by Mark Siegel. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689851269

• Plot Summary

According to Native American traditions, the moon of each month takes on a personality and name of its own. Rylant's beautifully eloquent text takes the reader through the year to the 'Long Night Moon'.

• Critical Analysis

With spare, soft wording, Rylant weaves an imaginative personality for the full moon each month. The text has the feel of poetry. It is lyrical. The Earth and inhabitants of the fields and forest are all affected by each moon leading up to the December moon; The Long Night Moon that is the "faithful" moon.

Mark Siegel's art is wispy and ethereal. there is a short description in the back of the book from Siegel about his difficulty in deciding how best to illustrate this book. He chose charcoal, pencil, and pastels. The book maintains that quality of the full moon night as nocturnal creatures are shown in relation to the personality each moon displays.

• Reviews

In School Library Journal-"books this good come along once in a blue moon."

In Kirkus Book Review-"...a quiet meditation on time and nature."

In Booklist-"The deceptively easy phrasings strike a chord; even when the words are joyful, there's still a poignant undertone."

• Connections

Collect books about phases of the moon and have children learn about them.

Use web sites like moonconnection.com and have children create their own calendar of moon phases.

Have children research native American mythology and legends. have them create a story of their own that might become a legend.