In the days before the animals stopped talking to people, begins this Native American–styled folktale, Old Woman and her animal friends sang to the moon, which was much closer then. When Coyote wishes to join in the chorus, they all protest that his howling will frighten Moon. His ego bruised, Coyote wonders aloud why anyone would sing to Moon, who is so bright she keeps him awake at night, until Moon flees from the sky, plunging them all into darkness. Storyteller Thomas King's tale for readers up to 8 is illuminated with Johnny Wales' glowing watercolors.
"The illustrations are beautifully rendered in smoky grays and browns that perfectly reflect the nighttime setting. Translucent brush strokes and lines give the images the distinctive look and feel of Japanese paintings. Coyote's sauciness and the moon's haughtiness are elegantly captured."—School Library Journal
