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24th out of 76 books
—
225 voters
Many Moons
A wise tale of a little princess who wanted the moon and got it. “Grown-ups themselves will find the book hilariously funny. . . . The lovely, squiggly illustrations in color are exactly right.”--The New Yorker
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
April 1st 1981
by Harcourt Children's Books
(first published 1943)
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I agree with Rosemary Thurber, in her introduction, that it makes one nervous to think about modernizing this classic. But after dithering for awhile, she remembered the lesson of the story - consult with the vested parties, the children. Bringing in the illustrator of Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks was genius. I actually like this version better than the original - something about Simont's clear bright watercolors works for me, and for the story.
This book won the 1944 Caldecott, but this must've been another year where there wasn't much competition. I liked the book, though the story drones on for a bit. The book tells the story of a princess who falls ill and wants the moon, but all of her father's advisors say that the moon is impossible to get, until he asks the Court Jester, who takes a more logical-to-a-child approach to the situation. She gets her moon and gets well again. The next night, when the moon reappears, the king is frant...more
Many Moons by James Thurber, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin is a fairy tale about Princess Lenore, who asks for the moon when she is sick. The King summons all his wise men but none of them know how to get the moon. The Court Jester turns out to be the one to solve the problem.
This charming, whimsical story has plenty of sly humor and a few challenging words (surfeit, physician etc.). Thurber writes about wisdom and the differing perceptions of children and adults. The concept of things being "i...more
This charming, whimsical story has plenty of sly humor and a few challenging words (surfeit, physician etc.). Thurber writes about wisdom and the differing perceptions of children and adults. The concept of things being "i...more
If you know of James Thurber, it's probably because of his hilarious stories and cartoons in the New Yorker, or maybe from his multiple collaborations with colleague E. B. White. But did you know that he wrote an absolutetly sweet, endearing children's book?
Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin is a charming, whimsical fairy tale with Thurber's signature goofiness and humor. My sister used to read it to me whenever I had the flu or a cold, and it always brought a smile that made me feel bet...more
Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin is a charming, whimsical fairy tale with Thurber's signature goofiness and humor. My sister used to read it to me whenever I had the flu or a cold, and it always brought a smile that made me feel bet...more
I've always liked the whimsical drawing style of Louis Slobodkin, and it seems to fit nicely with this story of royalty in a far-off land.
When the king's daughter, Lenore, falls ill, the king decides that he will grant her anything she wishes in order to aid her convalescence. When Lenore says that she wants the moon to keep for her own, the king consults his most trusted personal advisors to see what can be done about the situation, for he is unwilling to deny his daughter's request and he kn...more
When the king's daughter, Lenore, falls ill, the king decides that he will grant her anything she wishes in order to aid her convalescence. When Lenore says that she wants the moon to keep for her own, the king consults his most trusted personal advisors to see what can be done about the situation, for he is unwilling to deny his daughter's request and he kn...more
I really liked reading this book. The author was so creative when thinking of ideas, failing ideas, and clever ways to get the moon to the sick princess. He found a way to use creativity at its finest and show that things are simply what you make them out to be. For example, the princess believed the moon was the size of her thumbnail and made of gold, so that is what the king had made for her. This book is engaging in that it tries to make you think of a way to either get the moon to Princess L...more
Sep 17, 2012
Lauren Derosa
added it
I loved this book! It is pretty long for a children's book but I can definitely see why it was written for children. First of all, the illustrations are beautiful! I think that they look like water colors which I love. Although the painting seem to just be outlines with not much detail, they are still able to capture the emotion of the character in a very interesting way. Another aspect that I thought would appeal to children is how they listed out what the King has asked for. The types of thing...more
Many Moons was written by James Thurber. This is a modern fantasy story about a princess. Princess Lenore gets sick and asks for the moon. The reader is taken on a journey as the king has his three wisest men and the jester try and help. I think that this is a great book to be read aloud for a couple of reasons. Some of the words that Thurber included, such as surfeit, may be confusing for some younger readers. However, by having it be read aloud, the reader can explain these words to children....more
Many Moons is a great picture book for older children, preferabbly around the ages of seven to ten. The book contains very imaginative text with some confusing words for younger children and it is longer than moany other picture books. The book uses words such as surfeit and physician that only an older child could really comprehend. the illustrations are rather bare and colorless, this is most likely because the author concentrates more heavily on the creative words that are on the page rather...more
Sep 15, 2012
Ashleigh Smithers
added it
Many moons was a good book. The author had a great idea for a story. I liked how the illustrator made the pictures correspond to how the King reacted and from the point of view of the King. The repetition of the book and storyline is a great way for children to understand the plot of the story and to focus more on what it happening with the words then the pictures. I also liked how the book began with “Once upon a time” it is a great way to get the kids interested in the book and want to keep re...more
I love James Thurber. Hard to believe he's a "grown up" writing in the voice of a child - because he does it so very simply and fluidly. Princess Lenore wants the moon. All the adults in the room, who see the world in a way that is completely and wholly utilitarian, who are confounded and bounded by logic and reason, aren't able to give it to her - except for the King's Fool. There's a happy ending, which I love, and one must appreciate the fact that the grown-ups in the book, though tiresome an...more
Many Moons written by James Thurber illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
At first glance I would have never guessed that the illustrations of this book were Caldecott Medal worthy. It seems as if the illustrations used in this final draft were actually only meant to be used as a first draft. However, the beauty of the artwork is in the simplicity of it. While the illustrations aren’t my personal favorite because I appreciate more vibrant work, Louis Slobodkin created images that fit the text quite well...more
At first glance I would have never guessed that the illustrations of this book were Caldecott Medal worthy. It seems as if the illustrations used in this final draft were actually only meant to be used as a first draft. However, the beauty of the artwork is in the simplicity of it. While the illustrations aren’t my personal favorite because I appreciate more vibrant work, Louis Slobodkin created images that fit the text quite well...more
This book is full of beautifully painted watercolor pictures. These pictures do not tell the story but are a great aid at helping create an image for the reader when hearing or reading the story. The pictures are creative and overloaded with images to get the readers imagination going. Even the small pictures on each page help to keep the reader engaged. The pictures help to peak the readers interest because they are colorful and inventive. I like this book because it has big pictures as well as...more
I remember liking this book as a kid, and so I picked up, kind of on a whim to read aloud to my first graders this week. We've been studying space in science class and this book provides interesting discussion points on unscientific beliefs about space (the moon is made of cheese etc.).
The book is pretty long for a picture book and has some really hard words in it (surfeit!?), BUT it has a great story that involves both royalty and outer space, so the kids were hooked. We broke up the reading i...more
The book is pretty long for a picture book and has some really hard words in it (surfeit!?), BUT it has a great story that involves both royalty and outer space, so the kids were hooked. We broke up the reading i...more
The princess wants the moon, but the adults of the royal court can't seem to understand how to give it to her.
There is definitely a lot of waviness and curves to this book. I noticed how illustrations of Royal court's lists looped around the scenes. The only way I think to describe each illustrations' frame is blob-like.
The color palette is hard for me to look at after awhile. The overall story is a good example of honoring a child's imagination. I did enjoy the pattern of threes in the text. T...more
There is definitely a lot of waviness and curves to this book. I noticed how illustrations of Royal court's lists looped around the scenes. The only way I think to describe each illustrations' frame is blob-like.
The color palette is hard for me to look at after awhile. The overall story is a good example of honoring a child's imagination. I did enjoy the pattern of threes in the text. T...more
"Many Moons" was the recipient of the Caldecott Award in 1944. It is one of my favorite children's stories because it is all about the moon, and that is one of my weird obsessions. What I find most intriguing about this picture book is the pictures. They are water color pictures with loosely defined lines and colors. I feel that these pictures give the book an unique touch of character. I feel that it causes the readers to take some time and examine what is going on on each page as they read the...more
Elizabeth has been obsessed with outer space lately. She says she needs to know more about our solar system so she doesn't land on a firey planet by accident when she grows up (what?!?). I didn't realize what this book was about, and I highly recommend it.
This book is about a princess (plug number one) who wants the moon to keep (plug number two). It has a much larger number of words than your average picture book. The kind that, if you aren't prepared, you tell your kids, "not today." I was act...more
This book is about a princess (plug number one) who wants the moon to keep (plug number two). It has a much larger number of words than your average picture book. The kind that, if you aren't prepared, you tell your kids, "not today." I was act...more
Tags: Caldecott, moon, princess, Lenore, standard source
When Princess Lenore is sick she asks for the moon, but her father the king and his wise men can't get it for her. The Court Jester is the only one wise enough to ask Lenore what she thinks the moon is like. When the king worries about her seeing it again in the night sky, again the Jester asks Lenore to explain and she comes up with the simple analogy of the moon being replaced like a tooth.
Caldecott Award 1944
"Many Moons" by James Thurber...more
When Princess Lenore is sick she asks for the moon, but her father the king and his wise men can't get it for her. The Court Jester is the only one wise enough to ask Lenore what she thinks the moon is like. When the king worries about her seeing it again in the night sky, again the Jester asks Lenore to explain and she comes up with the simple analogy of the moon being replaced like a tooth.
Caldecott Award 1944
"Many Moons" by James Thurber...more
This book was a little bit lengthy to read to a group of students in a classroom. I think it might be a good idea to read to older students who have a longer attention span and can listen to the story and do not need as much visual stimulation. I like how the moral of the story was how even the smartest of adults can miss things that children see. Children offer us so much insight and as teachers we need to soak it all up as much as possible. The pictures were not as crisp as I would have liked...more
Very simple illustrations, the vocabulary in this book surprised me – I think some of the vocab wouldn’t be found in picture books that are more modern. “surfeit” on the 2nd page for example. Ambergris, myrrh, minstrels and troubadours. Also a wordy picture book – the story itself is more the focus than the pictures in my opinion. A sweet story of a princess who requests the moon. All of the wisest men can’t get it for her, but the jester asks her about it and gets her the moon. A story about im...more
And some are classics because they're JUST THAT GOOD.
Many Moons is in the second one. Fully twenty years after I read it as a child, I picked it up and was able to remember the plot. That's lasting power.
This is a funny book about the difference in perceptions - who is right about the moon? - and in wisdom. It has a simple funny story on the top, but it invites a few different deeper discussions with young children. Love it :)
I will note that it's a little wordy for a picture book. You may want...more
Many Moons is in the second one. Fully twenty years after I read it as a child, I picked it up and was able to remember the plot. That's lasting power.
This is a funny book about the difference in perceptions - who is right about the moon? - and in wisdom. It has a simple funny story on the top, but it invites a few different deeper discussions with young children. Love it :)
I will note that it's a little wordy for a picture book. You may want...more
I did not really like this book because I felt it was too wordy. I did not really like how the Princess was portrayed. I felt that she was portrayed as being really ignorant and did not know very much. Also, the King was really arrogant and needed everyone to do all of his errands. The point of the book, I felt, was that the truth is in the eye of the beholder and that is why the Princess was happy with what was presented to her. But because of the way it was presented, I felt like the book was...more
As I am reading the book, I notice the extensive vocabulary such as surfeit, physician, wise, etc. In a part of the book, it lists many things that the King's wise man has gotten for him like blue poodles and exotic birds, but also made up things like mermaids and unicorn horns. So I like how dramatic they make it that it's possible to get anything else but the moon. I don't think a child would really understand the humor in this story until they are in 2nd or 3rd grade. I really enjoyed this st...more
Personally, I was not very fond of this picture book. I thought it was repetitive and the story line got boring. There was too many characters and the children might not be able to keep up with all of them. On a good note, it made me use my imagination. The middle part of the book dragged on and it took awhile to get to the conclusion of the story. The illustrations resembled watercolors and were not very detailed and quite dull. I did like how the princess was always the one to solve the proble...more
Creative in the sense that it allows children to teach their theories and perspectives on life. Who would have thought that the moon could grow back just as flowers re-bloom each year and teeth grow back in. Some parts felt over exaggerated, for instance when each of the kings high lords, wizards, and mathematicians came in preaching on how many deeds they have accomplished for him. Still the young princess had adorable reasoning and although it may not be a correct theory, it is a creative one...more
The princess has fallen ill and has but one request: the moon. The king consults all of the wisest men in his employ but not one of them can fulfill the princess's wish. It is the Court Jester who figures out how to grant the little girl's wish by asking her specific questions about how someone would go about taking the moon, what it is made of etc; he gives her the version of the moon she believes in. A great story, rich with characterization and humor. Illustrations look like watercolors. Must...more
I loved the simple logic of the jester in this book. Sometimes the "learned" thinkers are not necessarily the wisest.
Since this is a Caldecott medalist I should comment that I like the simplistic style of the art work and how just a few "smudgy" lines can tell the story. I especially like the fireworks.
This is a good story for helping adults understand how to understand children and to let children know that they are wise in their own way. Although the book is not really this "deep" on the surfa...more
Since this is a Caldecott medalist I should comment that I like the simplistic style of the art work and how just a few "smudgy" lines can tell the story. I especially like the fireworks.
This is a good story for helping adults understand how to understand children and to let children know that they are wise in their own way. Although the book is not really this "deep" on the surfa...more
CIP: "Though many try, only the court jester is able to fulfill Princess Lenore's wish for the moon."
Maggie: When the Princess overindulges on raspberry tarts and falls ill, the King summons all his wise men to find the cure for her ills, only to discover that it is the kingdom's resident fool who can provide the solution. This absolutely charming tale has delighted children of all ages for over fifty years yet the message of 'the eye of the beholder' is timeless. A great pick for one-on-one rea...more
Maggie: When the Princess overindulges on raspberry tarts and falls ill, the King summons all his wise men to find the cure for her ills, only to discover that it is the kingdom's resident fool who can provide the solution. This absolutely charming tale has delighted children of all ages for over fifty years yet the message of 'the eye of the beholder' is timeless. A great pick for one-on-one rea...more
Many Moons is about a sick princess who wants the moon. Of course this cannot be done, but her father, the king, gets angry when several people fail to accomplish the task. The jester realizes that the princess thinks the moon is actually smaller than it is, so he has the goldsmith make a gold necklace that resembles the moon. She is satisfied with this, and believes that when something is taken, it gets replaced. This is the reason why the moon is still in the sky after the necklace is made; it...more
Many Moons by James Thurber, is a kind of fantasy story about a princess. Princess Lenore gets sick so her King Father offers her anything that she wants. She asks for the moon. The King has his three wisest men and help get the moon for her, with no luck. Then he gets a jester to try and he succeeds! I think this story is really cute. It is a little long but the pictures a really good and it has a great moral of the story. I would recommend that an adult reads this along with the reader.
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Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedien...more
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“If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question?”
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“Have you brought the moon to me?" she asked. "Not yet," said the Court Jester, "but I will get it for you right away. How big do you think it is?" "It is just a little smaller than my thumbnail," she said, "for when I hold my thumbnail up at the moon, it just covers it." "And how far away is it? asked the Court Jester. "It is not as high as the big tree outside my window," said the Princess, "for sometimes it gets caught in the top branches." It will be very easy to get the moon for you," said the Court Jester. "I will climb the tree tonight when it gets caught in the top branches and bring it to you." The he thought of something else. "What is the moon make of, Princess?" he asked. "Oh," she said, "it's made of gold, of course, silly.”
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May 01, 2010 07:27pm