Long Night Moon, by Cynthia Rylant is an ethereal and beautifully rendered book that entranced me both visually and lyrically. The poetic traditions of Native Americans and their unity with nature are revealed through Rylant's poetic verse and Siegel's charcoal illustrations. The poetry and illustrations work together to characterize the unique quality of the twelve full moons. Month by month, Rylant describes characteristics of the moon through her use of figurative language. Her use of similies, metaphors, and alliteration are some of the literary devices Rylant uses to provide rhythmic and fluid descriptions of the moon at night.
The book had a very calming tone throughout. This book reminds me of another Rylant book titled In November. Both books eloquently describe nature by providing language that makes the setting of these books almost tangible. Both books incorporate language and illustrations that add a formal tone to these naturalistic descriptions. Rylant has a deep respect for nature and her ability to describe natural occurences is impressive and insightful.
Because of Rylant's love of nature, she probably feels a deep respect for Native American culture. Because these people are so attuned to nature, Rylant sets the stage for Long Night Moon by revealing how Native Americans gave each moon a special name. The names of each moon are embedded in her descriptions on subsequent pages. Each name is illuminated to accentuate the uniqueness of each moon. Each name closely resembles the characteristics of the seasons.
The illustrations are mesmerizing and alluring. The moon illuminates each illustraton, thus providing a light source on each page. This light source also provides shadows that closely resemble what the Earth looks like during a full moon. Images of animals, people, and natural settings are made visible by the radiant light of the full moons. What would normally be invisible at night is revealed by the magical light of the moon. These scenes and descriptions make me want to take a long walk at night to take in the quietness and solitude.
This would be another wonderful read-aloud for students. Discussion could arise that would enable children to tie their knowledge of the phases of the moon and seasonal changes to make connections with the text. Long Night Moon is an enjoyable and calming book that pays tribute to nature's beauty and splendor.
The book had a very calming tone throughout. This book reminds me of another Rylant book titled In November. Both books eloquently describe nature by providing language that makes the setting of these books almost tangible. Both books incorporate language and illustrations that add a formal tone to these naturalistic descriptions. Rylant has a deep respect for nature and her ability to describe natural occurences is impressive and insightful.
Because of Rylant's love of nature, she probably feels a deep respect for Native American culture. Because these people are so attuned to nature, Rylant sets the stage for Long Night Moon by revealing how Native Americans gave each moon a special name. The names of each moon are embedded in her descriptions on subsequent pages. Each name is illuminated to accentuate the uniqueness of each moon. Each name closely resembles the characteristics of the seasons.
The illustrations are mesmerizing and alluring. The moon illuminates each illustraton, thus providing a light source on each page. This light source also provides shadows that closely resemble what the Earth looks like during a full moon. Images of animals, people, and natural settings are made visible by the radiant light of the full moons. What would normally be invisible at night is revealed by the magical light of the moon. These scenes and descriptions make me want to take a long walk at night to take in the quietness and solitude.
This would be another wonderful read-aloud for students. Discussion could arise that would enable children to tie their knowledge of the phases of the moon and seasonal changes to make connections with the text. Long Night Moon is an enjoyable and calming book that pays tribute to nature's beauty and splendor.
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