Jealous of the sun, the moon creates her own fiesta but celebrates a bit too much. An enchanting story that explains why the moon is sometimes out during the day.

The story begins: "For hundreds of years, the sun and the moon stayed in their separate skies. It was the sun’s job to shine all day long while people went about their work. It was the moon’s job to watch over people’s dreams.  Both were happy with this arrangement until the night the moon overheard the stars gossip.  Some stars wished they could come out with the sun. ‘All the games and feasts,’ they said, ‘take place under the sun’s brilliant rays. And those are the times when people wear their most colorful clothes.’"

The delightful story set in Mexico explains why the moon is sometimes out during the day. Jealous of the sun, the moon creates her own fiesta but celebrates a bit too much. A timeless tale that pulses with the energy and cultural charm of a fiesta, this has been a favorite for years at library story times. It is also recommended for teachers by the California Department of Education.

Listen to Vienna Rose read The Moon Was at a Fiesta to you.  A marvelous example of the magical encounter between a child and books that we wish for all children.

“A splendid marriage of words to pictures," – Children’s Book Reviews

Artwork honored by the Society of Illustrators and chosen for display at The Art Institute of Chicago and twenty museums around the U.S.

Publishers Weekly :Cultural charm resonates throughout this appealing original folktale. Here Gollub and Martinez, who previously collaborated on another Mexican-inspired tale, The Twenty-five Mixtec Cats , offer the Oaxaca explanation for why the moon is sometimes visible during the day. "For hundreds of years, the sun and the moon stayed in their separate skies. It was the sun's job to shine all day long while people went about their work. It was the moon's job to watch over people's dreams." When she overhears the stars talking wistfully about the games and feasts enjoyed during the sun's hours, the moon decides to throw a party of her own. Excited by the prospect, the townspeople, local animals and even the neighborhood mermaid offer to provide food and costumes. Martinez's angular, folkloric artwork features a sandy, desert palette accentuated by brightly garmented characters. Ethnic masks, dolls and lanterns, which are described in a glossary at the end of the book, further enliven the festivities. The moon's remorse when the tired, nocturnal revelers are unable to perform their daytime duties casts an ungainly moral over an otherwise sprightly and lighthearted tale. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

School Library Journal : Grade 1-4-This original porquoi story set in Mexico explains why the moon is sometimes visible in the morning sky. The sun and moon are happy with their celestial arrangement until the latter hears about the parties and feasts that take place during the day. She becomes jealous, and decides to have a fiesta at night. The people agree and stay out until daybreak, so when the sun rises, none of the work in the fields gets done. Although the moon is remorseful and resolves to stay in the evening sky, she occasionally likes to celebrate, and "That's why in Oaxaca, when people rise with the sun and see the moon, they say, 'The moon was at a fiesta.'" The story is perfect for reading aloud. The Spanish words, seamlessly interspersed throughout, add flavor. The watercolor, gouache, and acrylic illustrations perfectly complement the text-cool greens and blues reflect the light of the moon by night, and earth tones reflect the sun's glare by day. The same luminous colors used in the landscapes are repeated in the people's faces and clothes, suggesting their close relationship with nature. Full of wonderful details, the pictures give a glimpse of Oaxacan culture-the paper cut-out decorations, fireworks and wooden masks, and the anthropomorphized moon-and beautifully convey the people's respect for nature and their love of celebrations.

Booklist : Ages 5-8. Arranging a nocturnal fiesta to please the dissatisfied stars ("All the games and feasts take place under the sun's brilliant rays"), the moon is pleased until she realizes that the villagers of Oaxaca, Mexico, will sleep all day, and their crops will be planted late. Still, she has enjoyed her evening very much and continues to celebrate occasionally. That's why in Oaxaca, when people rise with the sun, they sometimes see the moon. Combining the social realism of Orozco with the whimsy of Chagall, the vigorous mixed-media paintings are a delight. The patterned pictures in golden hues include the sleeping half-moon covered by a colorful blanket and an exhausted human reveler draped over a tree limb. The narrative of this original pourquoi is simple yet appealing, and Spanish terms like mole, tamales, and monigotes are thoughtfully integrated into the narrative. This is the same team that gave us the acclaimed The Twenty-five Mixtec Cats (1993); hopefully, they'll take on the intriguing Mexican festivities (Night of the Radishes and Monday on the Hill) discussed in the detailed afterword. Julie Corsaro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.