Many Moons

Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin.

Wonderful, wise, heartwarming and humorous, this original fairy-tale from James Thurber, celebrated cartoonist and short-story writer, as well as author of a number of (other) classic children's books - The Thirteen Clocks, The Wonderful O - follows the story of a sick little princess who wishes for the moon. Her indulgent father, determined that she shall become well, summons his Lord High Chamberlain, Royal Magician, and Royal Mathematician, but each in turn tells him that the idea is impossible: the moon cannot be brought to the princess. It falls to the Court Jester, consoling his sovereign in his distress, to observe that the moon means different things to different people, and to suggest show more that they ask the Princess Lenore what it means to her...

Originally published in 1943, Many Moons won illustrator Louis Slobodkin the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1944.** The artwork, done in black and white, and then colored in with blue, pink and yellow accents, is quirky and engaging. The style is a little "scribbly," composed with lots of wiggling lines, but it is also very expressive, perfectly capturing the king's exasperation and despair, and the princess's solitude, lying in her bed. I love how Slobodkin captures the humor of the scenes in which the various royal advisers list all that they had done for the king, as the items they mention parade around the edge of the page, in a sort of informal decorative border. All that said, although the artwork is appealing, the real star here is the story, which had me chuckling in appreciation at a number of points - the long list that each adviser pulls out! the king's growing frustration! - and happily engrossed by the clever and witty wordplay at others. Highly recommended to young readers who enjoy fairy-tales, as well as to fans of James Thurber's wonderful work.

**Note: I understand that there is also a newer edition of this story that is illustrated by Marc Simont, who worked on Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks. I will have to pick that version up, to see how a different artist has interpreted this tale. show less

Illustrated by Marc Simont

The Princess Lenore isn’t feeling well, and she asks for just one thing – the moon. She is certain this is the only thing that will make her well again. Her father, the King, summons his most trusted advisors, and tasks them with securing the moon for the Princess. But to a man, they declare this impossible. Until the Jester arrives and looks at the problem from a different angle.

I love Thurber’s story-telling. I’ve previously read another of his fables for children, and I’m equally delighted with this one. Marc Simont’s illustrations are whimsical and perfectly fit Thurber’s text. I found myself poring over them, trying to find all the references in the text … “blood from a turnip,” “a show more rabbit out of a hat, and a hat out of a rabbit” et al. The fact that the Princess holds the key to the great puzzle no adult can solve will especially delight children, but adults can learn an important lesson as well.

The book was originally published with illustrations by Louis Slobodkin; it remains in print along with this newer version which I read. I’ll have to try to find that original edition to see Slobodkin’s Caldecott-Award-winning work. show less

Many Moons is a hilarious version of the classic tale of a princess who wanted the moon and got it. When the king discovers she will be ill until given the moon, he asks his chamberlain, wizard and court mathematician to help him get the moon. Each member of the court has a comedic but worthless response that brings him no closer. Finally, the court Jester is able to produce the moon for the princess by finding out what the moon means to her.

I purchased this book because it is a classic fantasy and I saw the Caldecott medal on the cover but I was skeptical about the ratio of small pictures versus the abundant text. At first afraid it would not hold the attention of today’s contemporary audience, after reading it aloud I found it so show more funny that it’s bound to be enjoyed by my family for years to come.

The conversations between the king and his court read like a comedy routine and the intricate plot builds up so well I was full of anticipation for how the story will be resolved. The illustrations, though few and far between compared with the amount of text, are marvelously whimsical, in a sketchy and lightly colorful manner that makes them seem to float on the page like a Klee painting. Ultimately, I think this is a story to be read aloud with dramatic flair- a story that will entertain all ages of readers with its humor, plot development, and creative dialogue. show less

Many Moons, illustrated by Marc Simont.

This original fairy-tale from James Thurber, in which the young Princess Lenore becomes ill after eating too many raspberry tarts, and asks her concerned father for the moon, was initially published in 1943, and won its original illustrator, Louis Slobodkin, a Caldecott Medal in 1944. This newer edition, published in 1990, features the artwork of Marc Simont, who also worked on Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks and The Wonderful O. The text itself has not been changed.

I enjoyed this newer version of Thurber's classic story as much as the original. The word-play was as engaging, the humor as entertaining, and Simont's watercolor illustrations were charming. Slobodkin's were more cartoon-like and quirky, show more I think, and these more lyrical, but both have their appeal. I particularly liked the scene here in which we see (or don't see, as the case may be) the King as he knocks things over, while wearing the invisibility cloak made for him by the Royal Magician. Hilarious! Recommended to young fairy-tale readers, and to fans of Marc Simont's work. show less

Princess Lenore is ill from eating too many raspberry tarts. She believes that possessing the moon is the only thing that will cure her. Despite a command from the King, neither the Lord High Chamberlain nor the Royal Wizard nor the Royal Mathematician can get the moon for her. Only when the clever Court Jester consults the Princess herself is the problem solved - with characteristic Thurber wit.

And some are classics because they're JUST THAT GOOD.

Many Moons is in the second one. Fully twenty years after I read it as a child, I picked it up and was able to remember the plot. That's lasting power.

This is a funny book about the difference in perceptions - who is right about the moon? - and in wisdom. It has a simple funny story on the top, but it invites a few different deeper discussions with young children. Love it :)

I will note that it's a little wordy for a picture book. You may want to save this for reading aloud to an older child, or even waiting for them to read it to themselves!

This delightful Caldecott Medal winner is classic James Thurber and as such is filled with sweet humorous prose with a witty little message. Louis Slobodkin's simple yet evocative ink and water color illustrations help bring the story to life. When a little princess is ill her father, the king, is worried and is willing to get her anything her heart desires if only she will get well. When the princess decides she wants the moon she sets off a chain reaction of worries for the wisemen of the court as well as for the king. All of the best minds of the kingdom are dismayed when they cannot come up with a way to get the moon for the princess. Their final analysis: IMPOSSIBLE! The court Jester gets to the heart of the problem and with the show more help of the princess and the wisdom of childhood, not only presents the princess with her heart's desire but can explain why the moon still appears up in the sky. Don't miss this lovely book. It's a great tucker-inner and is as fun to read aloud as it is to hear it read. show less