9 Picture Books to Celebrate the Moon and the Mid-Autumn Festival

Please welcome my guest author, Katrina Moore, with her book list of 6 picture books to celebrate the moon, just in time for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival!

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. from Wikipedia

We are giving away 2 of her books with inscribed bookplates! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.

p.s. Here are 3 more:

Giving Thanks with Halmoni: the Korean Harvest Festival by Kathleen Choi & Sook Nyul Choi, illustrated by Il Sung Na

It’s almost time for Chuseok (often called Korean Thanksgiving), and Su-Jin worries that her grandmother, Halmoni, will feel homesick during her first Chuseok away from Korea.  So, Su-Jin and her friends decide to ask Halmoni to help them learn about the holiday and plan a celebration. This book is a warm introduction to Korean culture, with beautiful illustrations, cultural depth, and a message of love and intergenerational connection. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Grandmother Moon by Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason, illustrated by Trish B. Waters

During the car ride to the reservation, a grandmother tells stories to her granddaughter, passing down the oral tradition of the tribal stories of her childhood. When her granddaughter asks about the moon, she shares the story of Grandmother Moon, a kind, powerful, and loving guide for the Earth and its people. This loving intergenerational picture book celebrates the bond between family as well as between humans and nature, and is a reminder of the ancient wisdom of the Indigenous peoples worldwide. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Legend of Chang’e: A Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival by Ling Lee and Eric Lee, illustrated by Rachael Foo

Readers who want to learn Mandarin will enjoy this bilingual version of the Chinese folktale about how the goddess of the moon, Chang’e, came to be. This story explains the significance of mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn festival. [bilingual Mandarin using simplified characters and pinyin picture book, ages 4 and up]

9 Picture Books to Celebrate the Moon!

Ever since I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and fell instantly for Eric Carle’s striking moon on that opening page, as well as for storytelling—or maybe even before that, I’ve loved the moon. For as long as I can remember, I’ve searched for it, wished on it, and gazed upon it, night after night. It’s one of my family’s favorite pastimes, whether we’re going on a night walk or camping in a tent in our backyard so that we’re in the perfect position to see the moon in its luminous glory. So, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that one of our favorite holidays to celebrate together is The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is all about spending time together and celebrating the glorious full moon (on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar).

My newest picture book, Chang’e On The Moon, retells the origin story of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, and how, before she flew to the moon, she was simply Chang’e. In today’s post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite picture books that are perfect for other moon-loving readers—any time of the year!

Everlasting Tales: Chang’e On The Moon retold by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Cornelia Li

This tale retells the origin story of Chang’e, how, before she flew to the moon and became China’s beloved moon goddess, she was simply Chang’e—a kind and compassionate human who loved with all her heart and spread goodwill throughout the communities around her. It was her love for her husband, Hou Yi, and of the world, that gave her the courage to protect them all in the bravest possible way. While staying authentic to, and honoring the original tale, it’s retold for a modern audience, and illustrated gorgeously! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Nigel and The Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Nigel dreams big, but he’s too scared to share his dreams with his classmates during career week at school. It’s the moon that he finds comfort in—the safe space for him to share his most secret desires. It’s a heart-tugging story with evocative art that will leave readers dreaming big. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

This Caldecott-honor-winning picture book whimsically shares an original origin story of the phases of the moon. Little Star can’t stop taking nibbles out of the moon! It’s a beautiful, dreamy, scrumptious story that will have little readers looking at the moon in a whole new way. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

First Night of Howlergarten by Benson Shum

Starting school jitters are shown in a fresh and fun way in this picture book that features Sophie, who worries that she won’t turn into a wolf like her classmates when the full moon appears. It’s a sweet and entertaining tale about coming into your own in your own time and accepting others, and ourselves as we are. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

The Bear and The Moon by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Catia Chen

This book isn’t about the moon, at first! It’s about a bear and a balloon, and a sweet friendship that forms, blooms, and then is, inevitably, doomed. Then, it’s the glorious full moon that comes at the end to soothe, to transform, to heal. It’s a book that shows grief in an accessible way for young readers, that is ultimately hopeful, and overall, so stunningly beautiful! [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Moon! Earth’s Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

This picture book, full of fun and kid-friendly moon facts–from the formation of the moon, and its history, is written from the perspective of the moon! It’s full of voice and illustrated beautifully. Young readers wanting to know more about the moon, its relationship to Earth, and its place in the solar system are in for a treat in this book that delivers all of that, and more. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Chang’e On The Moon 2 book GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away two copies of Chang’e On The Moon with inscribed bookplates. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Katrina Moore is an author and former elementary educator with a M.A. in Teaching and over thirteen years of experience in classrooms and schools across multiple states. She writes in Georgia, where her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the acclaimed and beloved picture books, CHANG’E ON THE MOON, THE STAR IN YOU, HOPE IS A HOP, SOMETIMES LOVE, ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS, and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR, and more. She is also the author of the humorous chapter book series, TEENY HOUDINI, starring the magic-loving, mayhem-making Bessie Lee, and the forthcoming BIG JOB FOR LITTLE BABIES board book series, illustrated by Benson Shum. Connect with her on Twitter/X @kmoorebooks, Instagram@katrinamoore1011, and check out her website, www.katrinamoorebooks.com.

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