Moon-Uncle, Moon-Uncle: Rhymes from India

by Sylvia Cassedy (Translator)

32 pages, Library Binding

First published June 1, 1973

About the author

An American author of picture books, poetry, and fiction, the Brooklyn-born creative-writing teacher began her career with a few minor picture books, such as Little Chameleon (1966), but is best known today for her poetry and novels. Roomrimes (1987) and the posthumously published Zoomrimes: Poems about Things That Go (1993) were praised for their perceptiveness, humor, and unusual variety of poetic forms.

Cassedy's three novels, Behind the Attic Wall (1983), M.E. and Morton (1987), and Lucie Babbidge's House (1989) are all intricate, leisurely paced novels about troubled or difficult protagonists who gain self-esteem through the intervention of possibly magical characters.

The author's incisive characterizations, carefully wrought prose, and ambiguous endings made her a critics’ favorite.

Cassedy's early death cut short an extraordinary writing career that had yet to peak, and fans can only wonder about—and mourn the loss of—the novels that were yet to be.

Reviews

[Cara Stone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Containing 43 verses, this book is an example of Indian songs, riddles, and rhymes. The repetitive nature of the familiar-feeling verses would be great for preschool children (great for movement or rhythm games). The watercolor images throughout are simple and applicable to the verse with which it shares the page. Includes notes for vocabulary understanding (at the bottom of the pages). Some are simple and charming, yet, this one stands out to me:
"DISOBEDIENCE
Father built a sturdy fence,
mother scrambled out.
Father gave her several whacks;
Listen to her shout."
...