Chang'e on the Moon

by Katrina Moore, Cornelia Li (Illustrator), Jaime Chu (Translator)

Overview

Everlasting Tales is a collection of multicultural fairy tales and folktales—honoring the stories passed down through oral tradition by refreshing and preserving them for new generations. 

Before she was the famous goddess of the moon, she was simply Chang’e. 

Once upon a time, there lived a kind, beautiful woman named Chang’e. She and her husband, Hou Yi, were deeply in love and existed in peaceful harmony . . . Until, one day, ten blazing suns rose into the sky and threatened everything they knew. But while the two worked together to save the lands from burning up—someone else they trusted was plotting against them.

This epic romance follows how Chang’e’s bravery and selflessness saved her people and why, centuries later, they celebrate her and retell her story all over the world. 

In the first of the Everlasting Tales collection, multicultural folktales passed down through oral tradition now refreshed for a modern audience, Katrina Moore and Cornelia Li tell the Chinese legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess. Back matter includes an author's note and a condensed tale in Mandarin for bilingual readers, perfect all year and during mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063295803
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Series:	Everlasting Tales
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	357,292
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Katrina Moore is the author of the Teeny Houdini chapter book series and the picture books Chang’e on the Moon, The Star in You, One Hug, Hope Is a Hop, Sometimes Love, Grandpa Grumps, Grumpy New Year, and more. She grew up in the suburbs of Maryland with her big Chinese American family. Katrina lives in Georgia with her husband, children, and dogs, where she writes and adventures by day and gazes at the moon and stars by night. Connect with her at katrinamoorebooks.com.

Cornelia Li is a Chinese-born illustrator currently based in Toronto, Canada. She is intrigued by narrative weaved into daily interaction between people and their surroundings and set out to capture the relationship by externalizing the ideas and emotions into elements in her images. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, the AOI, 3x3 Illustration, National Magazine Award, and more.

Editorial Reviews

08/19/2024

In this first of the Everlasting Tales series, Moore and Li retell the story of the moon goddess Chang’e and her legendary romance with a skilled archer, Hou Yi. Both human, the married couple are deeply in love, and they share that love with their village and beyond, spreading compassion and goodwill. When 10 blazing suns appear in the sky one day, threatening to destroy Earth, the two set off to protect the land and are rewarded for their bravery with an elixir of immortality—enough for only one—that disrupts their bond with a trusted ally. Li’s ethereal textured illustrations, made using both analog and digital tools, portray an idyllic scene turning disastrous under blazing suns. Alongside lush landscapes and portraits, this modern rendition of the classic tale refreshingly centers, per an author’s note, on love’s “strong power, wide reach, and ability to transcend distance, physical being, and even time.” Back matter includes a condensed version in Mandarin. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Li’s painterly illustrations beautifully capture Moore’s text. A lovely retelling."  — Kirkus Reviews

"Alongside lush landscapes and portraits, this modern rendition of the classic tale refreshingly centers on love’s 'strong power, wide reach, and ability to transcend distance, physical being, and even time.'” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

08/30/2024

Gr 2–4—A much-loved Chinese folktale gets an update in this lovely picture book. Beautiful Chang'e and her loving husband, Hou Yi the great archer, lead an idyllic life. When nine ominous suns appear in the sky threatening famine and hardship, Hou Yi shoots them down. The grateful Empress of Heaven offers Hou Yi a vial of immortality but there is only enough for one. Neither Chang'e nor Hou Yi wish to be separated from the other, but when his jealous apprentice tries to steal the potion, Chang'e drinks it. She floats away to the moon, along with her pet rabbit, eternally separated from Hou Yi, but "watching over him and all those she loved." Lush illustrations underscore the romantic themes of their story. An afterword offers more information on the tale's widespread appeal and variations, making this a good choice for cross-cultural studies. For additional context, pair with: Grace Lin's Thanking the Moon. A Mandarin translation is included. VERDICT With its focus on Chang'e and Hou Yi's noble sacrifice and enduring love, detailed in exquisite illustrations, this tale has read-aloud potential and should find a home in public and school library collections.—Marilyn Taniguchi

School Library Journal

2024-06-15
Set long ago, “when the Earth was very young,” this story explains the origins of the Chinese moon goddess.

Chang’e is full of love. Her love is returned—by the trees, the animals, the wind, and, most of all, her husband, Hou-Yi. The pair travel together “to protect the people and create caring communities.” One day, 10 scorching suns appear in the sky. With life on Earth on the brink of destruction, Chang’e and Hou-Yi cannot stand by. A formidable archer, Hou-Yi pierces the suns with his arrows until only one remains. In thanks, the heavenly Jade Emperor and his goddess wife, Xiwangmu, give them an elixir that grants them immortality. But there’s only enough for one of them, so the lovers decide to live out the rest of their lives as humans—together. When Peng Meng, Hou Yi’s jealous apprentice, schemes to steal the elixir for himself, Chang’e sacrifices their mortal future together and drinks the elixir herself. As explained in the author’s note, the legend of Chang’e has many variations. Moore centers her retelling on the couple’s kindhearted qualities and their enduring love. As moon goddess, Chang’e watches over the Earth for all eternity. Hou-Yi spends the rest of his living days devoted to honoring Chang’e and their shared passion of community care, and the story of her sacrifice sparks a celebration in her honor: the Mid-Autumn Festival. Li’s painterly illustrations beautifully capture Moore’s text.

A lovely retelling. (Mandarin version of the tale)(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews