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The Night the Moon Fell: A Maya Myth
When a gust from her grandfather's blowgun causes Luna to tumble from the sky and fall into the ocean, the little fishes help her rise once again, in an updated retelling of a traditional Mopßn Maya myth.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2000
About the author
Pat Mora
87 books97 followersPat Mora (born 1942) is a female Mexican-American author and poet. Pat Mora was born in El Paso, Texas. She is married and has 3 grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 21, 2014
This book was a retelling of a Mayan myth. I enjoyed the bright, playful artwork.
January 6, 2015
Such a cute, imaginative story about the fish who patched up the moon. The watercolor illustrations are stunning!
May 5, 2025
This is a gentle and thoughtful book about a girl who finds a special golden flower. The flower helps her feel calm, strong, and happy inside. The story uses quiet words and a peaceful tone to help children slow down and think. It’s great for reading when kids need to relax or when talking about feelings. It also introduces children ages 3-7 to ideas from other cultures, showing that peace and joy can come from simple things. It’s a lovely book to keep in a calm corner of the classroom.
December 28, 2017
A charming retold Maya myth about the moon and the sea fishes working together to raise the moon again. The helpful sea fishes form the Milky Way. The illustrations are beautiful - whimsical.
February 19, 2026
Interesting, but structured and illustrated a little unconventionally. There is a good sense of cooperation and helpfulness with the fish.
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March 1, 2016Title: The Night the Moon Fell
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator:Domi, Domi
Genre:Myth
Theme: Friendship; determination; hard work pays off; never give up no matter what happens; a journey from different lands and adjusting to a situation
Opening line/summary:"One night long ago, Luna the moon hummed high in the night sky."
Brief Book Summary: Her grandfather's blowgun causes Luna, the moon, to tumble from the sky and falls to millions of pieces in the dark ocean which is a new land to her. In this Maya legend, Luna must come to her own rescue, seeking for help from a little fish in the ocean. Will the fish help Luna get back into the night sky? Or will this new world of the ocean cause Luna to remain there forever? Read "The Night the Moon Fell" to find out!
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.Professional
Recommendation/Review #2:Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2000 (Vol. 97, No. 1))
In this retelling of a Mayan myth, the moon, Luna, falls from the sky and breaks into slivers and bits on the ocean floor. There, with the help of the friendly fish, Luna sees the color and beauty in the sea, and she finds the strength to gather the pieces, make herself whole, and return with her friends to her place in the sky. Beyond the archetype of exile and return, there's not much story, especially for young kids; but Mora's a fine poet, and her words are simple and immediate ("Where am I? Where's the sky? / Broken, sad, lost am I"). Mexican artist Domi's beautiful watercolors show the splashing rainbow colors connecting fish, sea, flowers, birds, moon, and sky.
Response to professional reviews: I loved this book very much! I remember reading this book in Spanish and was so happy to find out there was an English version to the book. I disagree with the second review in the sense that there is "not much story for young kids." I believe there is much of a story for young kids and it teaches a great lesson on determination and never giving up on a journey no matter what gets in your way. I really loved the illustrations that were portrayed throughout the story and the use of color was extraordinary. I love how the first review proposes what the book may be teaching to young viewers because it shows that anyone can interpret a book differently. I know I will definitely be looking up at the moon differently from now on!
Evaluation of literacy elements: I thought this book was definitely geared towards upper elementary aged students. There were many words per page which would be hard for young, beginner readers to follow. There were many rhyming words throughout the book as well which makes it great for children to read along too. This helps young readers learn what rhyming words are and it makes it easier for them to sound out words. I would definitely read this book aloud to 1st grade students and above!
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would have the students recreate the making of Luna the moon. Since Luna the moon was destroyed and broken apart into many pieces, I will cut out many pieces of the moon for each student. I would then have them glue the pieces together on construction paper and have the students color in the moon however they wish just like the book! They will be recreating their very own Luna the moon just like the little fish in the story did. This creative art lesson will teach children about shapes and about the different phases of the moon as well!
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator:Domi, Domi
Genre:Myth
Theme: Friendship; determination; hard work pays off; never give up no matter what happens; a journey from different lands and adjusting to a situation
Opening line/summary:"One night long ago, Luna the moon hummed high in the night sky."
Brief Book Summary: Her grandfather's blowgun causes Luna, the moon, to tumble from the sky and falls to millions of pieces in the dark ocean which is a new land to her. In this Maya legend, Luna must come to her own rescue, seeking for help from a little fish in the ocean. Will the fish help Luna get back into the night sky? Or will this new world of the ocean cause Luna to remain there forever? Read "The Night the Moon Fell" to find out!
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.Professional
Recommendation/Review #2:Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2000 (Vol. 97, No. 1))
In this retelling of a Mayan myth, the moon, Luna, falls from the sky and breaks into slivers and bits on the ocean floor. There, with the help of the friendly fish, Luna sees the color and beauty in the sea, and she finds the strength to gather the pieces, make herself whole, and return with her friends to her place in the sky. Beyond the archetype of exile and return, there's not much story, especially for young kids; but Mora's a fine poet, and her words are simple and immediate ("Where am I? Where's the sky? / Broken, sad, lost am I"). Mexican artist Domi's beautiful watercolors show the splashing rainbow colors connecting fish, sea, flowers, birds, moon, and sky.
Response to professional reviews: I loved this book very much! I remember reading this book in Spanish and was so happy to find out there was an English version to the book. I disagree with the second review in the sense that there is "not much story for young kids." I believe there is much of a story for young kids and it teaches a great lesson on determination and never giving up on a journey no matter what gets in your way. I really loved the illustrations that were portrayed throughout the story and the use of color was extraordinary. I love how the first review proposes what the book may be teaching to young viewers because it shows that anyone can interpret a book differently. I know I will definitely be looking up at the moon differently from now on!
Evaluation of literacy elements: I thought this book was definitely geared towards upper elementary aged students. There were many words per page which would be hard for young, beginner readers to follow. There were many rhyming words throughout the book as well which makes it great for children to read along too. This helps young readers learn what rhyming words are and it makes it easier for them to sound out words. I would definitely read this book aloud to 1st grade students and above!
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would have the students recreate the making of Luna the moon. Since Luna the moon was destroyed and broken apart into many pieces, I will cut out many pieces of the moon for each student. I would then have them glue the pieces together on construction paper and have the students color in the moon however they wish just like the book! They will be recreating their very own Luna the moon just like the little fish in the story did. This creative art lesson will teach children about shapes and about the different phases of the moon as well!
November 18, 2022
I liked that this book incorporated cultural language and that the drawings were very colorful. It was fun and easy to read and is a good way to introduce myths or legends in the classroom.
June 12, 2008
This is a book appropriate for 1st-2nd grade. This book is very descriptive and paints a picture in your mind. This book also has dialogue, with emotions, and rhyming. This book deals with teamwork which is really important and because of teamwork she comes a whole moon again. Students could make sounds along with the appropriate sounds that are in the book as the book is being read to keep them engaged in the material.
September 11, 2012
I thought this book was a good book and interesting. I would definitely read this to a younger age group. I thought it was fun and I enjoyed the colors. I do think that the younger kids would enjoy a book like because it was short but it kept the readers interested. I also like the entire story line and everything that followed under.
January 15, 2012
This was a fun one to read as it included some sing-songy verses and rhyming as well. The art was unique and not a favorite of mine but it was fitting for the story.
November 1, 2015
A great book! illustrations are amazing, and the story is a good one for teachers to teach perseverance.
December 2, 2018
Awesome!
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May 2, 2017Title: The Night the Moon Fell
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Domi
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Sky and Friendships
Opening line/sentence:
One night long ago, Kuna the moon hummed high in the sky.
Brief Book Summary:
This Mayan myth tells the story of how the moon broke into pieces one night and the power of her fish friends, helped put her back together again.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• Children’s Literature
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
• Horn Book Guide
(5) K-3 Illustrated by Domi. Luna the moon falls from the sky and lies shattered at the bottom of the sea. With the help of some little fish, Luna manages to get herself together and goes back to her sky escorted by her new friends. This adaptation of a Mayan myth about the origin of the Milky Way is convoluted and rambling and includes some uninspired couplets. Stunning, dreamlike watercolors soar above the words. Also available in Spanish.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Hornbook mentioned a lot of the strong aspects of this myth but did not give it an overall good rating. Children’s literature and Hornbook mentioned that the artwork in this book was beautiful and dreamlike. Children’s literature mentioned that the meaning of the story hints at friendship and the need for true friends.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The paintings in this book are one of a kind. The colors bleed onto the pages and connect with the story. This myth has a lot of text but the story is written with vocabulary that children can comprehend. The pictures are formed around the text; they form the background of the pages. Throughout the myth there are onomatopoeias. This allows the readers to interact with the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This myth is about how the moon fell and the fishes put her back together. The students could recreate the ending on how the moon was saved after falling into pieces. This will allow the students to be creative and create their own myth from the story.
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Domi
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Sky and Friendships
Opening line/sentence:
One night long ago, Kuna the moon hummed high in the sky.
Brief Book Summary:
This Mayan myth tells the story of how the moon broke into pieces one night and the power of her fish friends, helped put her back together again.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• Children’s Literature
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
• Horn Book Guide
(5) K-3 Illustrated by Domi. Luna the moon falls from the sky and lies shattered at the bottom of the sea. With the help of some little fish, Luna manages to get herself together and goes back to her sky escorted by her new friends. This adaptation of a Mayan myth about the origin of the Milky Way is convoluted and rambling and includes some uninspired couplets. Stunning, dreamlike watercolors soar above the words. Also available in Spanish.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Hornbook mentioned a lot of the strong aspects of this myth but did not give it an overall good rating. Children’s literature and Hornbook mentioned that the artwork in this book was beautiful and dreamlike. Children’s literature mentioned that the meaning of the story hints at friendship and the need for true friends.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The paintings in this book are one of a kind. The colors bleed onto the pages and connect with the story. This myth has a lot of text but the story is written with vocabulary that children can comprehend. The pictures are formed around the text; they form the background of the pages. Throughout the myth there are onomatopoeias. This allows the readers to interact with the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This myth is about how the moon fell and the fishes put her back together. The students could recreate the ending on how the moon was saved after falling into pieces. This will allow the students to be creative and create their own myth from the story.
Read
November 30, 2017Title: The Night Moon Fell
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Pat Mora
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Fiction, Picturebook
Opening line/sentence: “One night long ago, Luna the moon hummed high in the night sky.”
Brief Book Summary: Luna the moon tumbles from the sky breaking into pieces into the dark ocean. The fish help piece her back together and she then takes them to create the Milky Way in the sky.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Name of Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (The Five Owls, January/February 2001 (Vol. 15, No. 3))
Name of Source: CLCD
Long ago, Luna the moon is shaken off balance from her place high in the night sky, and falls in broken pieces to the bottom of the sea. Stars, flower, birds, all miss her light and seek her in vain. In this version of a traditional Mopan Maya (Belize) myth, poor Luna despairs, down deep in the ocean: "Where am I? Where's the sky? Broken, sad, lost am I." With the help and encouragement of the little fish, she finds a way to put herself back together and return to her proper place in the sky. Mora makes Luna come alive in the narrative, which includes vivid description punctuated with sounds and song-like rhymed couplets as the tiny fish first cheer her, then collect her pieces, patch them together, and help her rise again. These new friends then stay with her as twinkling stars. Domi has chosen to visualize this mystical, other-worldly myth with transparent sweeps of color that suggest the ephemeral qualities of sky and water with highly stylized fish, flower, and bird shapes. The moon herself is similarly constructed, first round with a face, then as shards on the sea bottom, finally as a glowing bright presence in a dark sky. Words and pictures collaborate here in telling a poetic, even fantastic story, one that demands that the reader enter another kind of world. This book is also available in a Spanish version, La noche que se cay la luna: Mito Maya. 2000, Groundwood, $16.95. Ages 3 to 8.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Name of Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Name of Source: CLCD
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the first review that the words and pictures collaborate in the story telling. Not one element tells more of the story than the other and because of this each plays a significant role, without the story written down a reader would not understand what is fulling occurring. I also agree with the second review that it builds upon the Mayan myth beautifully and elaborates on a story that builds upon the myth itself.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Relating to Molly Bang’s principles, the soft but vibrant use of pinks, orange, and purples allows the reading to have a warm and inviting feeling while reading this book. I also really like the personification used in this story and how the moon becomes alive and experiences human like characteristics. What is interesting with this picture-book, is that the pictures do not describe much of what is occurring in the story, because of this the reader must come up with illustrations as to what is going on in their head.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Because this story has a lot of personification filling the pages, I think that it would be a great idea to use that in a lesson for a classroom. Building off of the story, the students can draw a picture of something that is not a human and then write a story about it experiencing human like characteristics. Once the class is complete, as a group everyone would come together to share what they created.
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Pat Mora
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Fiction, Picturebook
Opening line/sentence: “One night long ago, Luna the moon hummed high in the night sky.”
Brief Book Summary: Luna the moon tumbles from the sky breaking into pieces into the dark ocean. The fish help piece her back together and she then takes them to create the Milky Way in the sky.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Name of Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (The Five Owls, January/February 2001 (Vol. 15, No. 3))
Name of Source: CLCD
Long ago, Luna the moon is shaken off balance from her place high in the night sky, and falls in broken pieces to the bottom of the sea. Stars, flower, birds, all miss her light and seek her in vain. In this version of a traditional Mopan Maya (Belize) myth, poor Luna despairs, down deep in the ocean: "Where am I? Where's the sky? Broken, sad, lost am I." With the help and encouragement of the little fish, she finds a way to put herself back together and return to her proper place in the sky. Mora makes Luna come alive in the narrative, which includes vivid description punctuated with sounds and song-like rhymed couplets as the tiny fish first cheer her, then collect her pieces, patch them together, and help her rise again. These new friends then stay with her as twinkling stars. Domi has chosen to visualize this mystical, other-worldly myth with transparent sweeps of color that suggest the ephemeral qualities of sky and water with highly stylized fish, flower, and bird shapes. The moon herself is similarly constructed, first round with a face, then as shards on the sea bottom, finally as a glowing bright presence in a dark sky. Words and pictures collaborate here in telling a poetic, even fantastic story, one that demands that the reader enter another kind of world. This book is also available in a Spanish version, La noche que se cay la luna: Mito Maya. 2000, Groundwood, $16.95. Ages 3 to 8.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Name of Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Name of Source: CLCD
A traditional Mayan myth is retold in this English version by the poet Pat Mora. It seems Luna, the moon, is startled by her grandfather's blowgun and rolls out of the sky and into the sea where she breaks into millions of pieces. But her friends, the fishes, help her "collect herself" and they add little found bits they pick up from seashells and in crevices on the ocean floor. Soon Luna is ready to journey skyward again. But she seeks a few patches from her friends who donate a scale or two. Finally, curious, the fishes make a net of themselves and accompany her to the sky where today they twinkle and swim. The original Mayan story featured a weaver moon and a fish who is the Milky Way, so Mora has taken some creative liberties here and has inserted some awkward verse ("Where am I? Where's the sky?/Broken, sad, lost am I") into the otherwise flowing story. Vibrant paintings use colors which bleed on the paper with rainbow-like results. The decorative artwork resembles folk motifs and pattern, each painting striking on its own, but taken as a whole, the illustrations are a less-than-eloquent continuation of the story. Is this a Mayan explanation of why the moon waxes and wanes? Perhaps. Or is it a story of self-reliance, as the opening note suggests, or of the need for true friends, as the text hints? Nonetheless, the book demands a second look for the beautiful artwork, and the enigmatic story will have children looking to the stars with new curiosity.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the first review that the words and pictures collaborate in the story telling. Not one element tells more of the story than the other and because of this each plays a significant role, without the story written down a reader would not understand what is fulling occurring. I also agree with the second review that it builds upon the Mayan myth beautifully and elaborates on a story that builds upon the myth itself.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Relating to Molly Bang’s principles, the soft but vibrant use of pinks, orange, and purples allows the reading to have a warm and inviting feeling while reading this book. I also really like the personification used in this story and how the moon becomes alive and experiences human like characteristics. What is interesting with this picture-book, is that the pictures do not describe much of what is occurring in the story, because of this the reader must come up with illustrations as to what is going on in their head.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Because this story has a lot of personification filling the pages, I think that it would be a great idea to use that in a lesson for a classroom. Building off of the story, the students can draw a picture of something that is not a human and then write a story about it experiencing human like characteristics. Once the class is complete, as a group everyone would come together to share what they created.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews