A Cloak for the Moon retold by Eric A. Kimmel

Spotlight on Traditional Tales

A Cloak for the Moon retold by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Katya Krenina
 
A tailor decides he must make a cloak for the moon.  Can he find the magical thread to accomplish this grand task?  Let’s shine the spotlight on this retelling:

Summary

This story is said to be based on a traditional tale by Rabbi Nachman, an 18^th century Jewish spiritual leader.  In this retelling, a tailor named Haskel is amazed by the moon’s beauty.  He dreamt the moon was cold and promised to make a shiny, silver cloak for her.  His journey to find out where he could gather the materials and make the cloak is difficult.  His uncle said no one can make it.  His uncle’s apprentice tells him of a garment made with beams of light that stretches and shrinks to fit whoever is wearing it, but he doesn’t know where to find it.  Haskel is determined to make the cloak.  His journey takes him to China where a Persian trader sends him to a city called “The Roof of the World.”  When he arrives, he learns of dress made with beams of light belonging to a princess who is set to be married.  But, the dress is coming unraveled and as this happens, the thread disappears.  Haskel tells the queen he can mend the dress.  As he works to mend it, he figures out the secret to making the thread spin using a magnifying glass to guide a beam of moonlight.  He presents the perfect dress to the queen for the princess.  The queen asks to repay Haskel for his work and he asks for a small bit of thread in return.  He uses this thread to keep his promise to the moon and sews a cloak for her.  He climbs a ladder made out of moonbeams to place the cloak on the moon and wraps himself up with her.



Discussion

This is a beautiful retelling of a magical story where the words and art enhance one another.  Children will be drawn to the colors and details in the illustrations, as well as the story structure.  As Haskel thinks he is getting closer to a solution, he faces another set back.  Children will be hanging on the words of the story to find out what happens next.  Parents and grandparents will appreciate Haskel’s determination to keep a promise.  
 
Cultural influences are present in this retelling because it is based on a traditional tale written by a Jewish spiritual leader.  The story takes place in one of Israel’s smallest cities called Tzafat.  Tzafat is also Israel’s highest city and therefore, it’s coldest. The layers of clothing and head coverings worn by the characters in the book are traditional in this location.  The names in the book, Haskel and Ephraim, reflect Hebrew origins.  Ephraim is still known as a common Jewish name.

Krenina’s illustrations are made with gouache paint.  This type of paint is much like watercolor, but finishes off more opaque.  The illustrations feature an amazing use of color.  Colors are blended and contrasted. One the first page, we see light blue, light green and dark green blended on Haskel’s fabrics.  Dark and light colors are used throughout the illustrations, with whites and silvers reserved for illustrations of the moon and the magical thread.  Shadows and light play against each other, especially in the landscapes. 

Krenina shows her attention to detail in the various patterns and textures she uses in all illustrations.  This detail can be seen on the clothing of the characters like the cloaks, dresses and head coverings.  It can also be seen in the settings like the windows, bricks, stone and curtains.  A hallmark of Krenina’s illustrations is the ethereal borders included on many pages.  These borders outline one page illustrations or text and scenes over two pages.  The borders mostly include flowers and vines, but some borders include details to match the text at that point of the story. 

The story structure features multiple struggles for Haskel.  He is a strong, determined character who is not willing to give up.  He faces dual struggles in helping the princess and keeping his promise to the moon and he is the hero who conquers both!  The language chosen by Kimmel expresses Haskel’s changing emotions clearly, like “deeply disappointed” and “struggled through” to “trembled with excitement” and “astonished eyes.”

Overall, the strength of this book is in the way Kimmel and Krenina worked together.  The illustrations enhance the story and the story illuminates the illustrations. 


Awards/Reviews

Eric A. Kimmel has won various awards for his work like the Caldecott Honor Medal and the Sydney Taylor Picture Book Award.  He has also won the National Jewish Book Award twice. 

Here are samples of a few reviews for A Cloak for the Moon:

“This unique, beautifully written story is enhanced by vividly colored, luminous gouache paintings of equal quality.” – School Library Journal

“Expertly pacing the story, Kimmel (previously paired with Krenina for The Magic Dreidels) embroiders his prose with graceful details, writing of ‘radiant satins [and] silks like colored water.’ The exotic trappings will lure readers, replacing Haskel's determination to keep his promise as the central theme of the work. Intermittently embellished by borders and spot art featuring delicate flower motifs, Krenina's gouache art effectively depicts the Middle and Far Eastern settings of the tale, as well as its timeless sensibility.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Gouache paintings and intricate borders that echo Chinese and Persian design have an exotic richness. Impossible dreams and magical desires fulfilled by persistence and unwavering belief underlie this lovely narrative.” - Booklist

Teacher’s Tools

This book could be used when studying traditional tales.  Other books featuring authors who are retelling a traditional tale could be shared. 

Teachers could use this book when focusing on characters’ emotions.  Students could track the changing emotions of Haskel throughout the story.

Teachers could use this book when focusing on questioning while reading.  Students could write questions they develop while reading and record them on a Post-it note to share with the whole group.  A sentence frame like “I wonder…” could be used.

Teachers could incorporate Eric A. Kimmel’s website (www.ericakimmel.com) into their classroom.  His site features a section called “Hear a Story” where teachers can click on one of Eric’s books and hear him read it aloud. 

Bibliographic Information

Kimmel, Eric A., retell. 2001. A Cloak for the Moon. Ill. By Katya Krenina. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1493-0.