Chang'e on the moon

In this first of the Everlasting Tales series, Moore and Li retell the story of the moon goddess Chang'e and her legendary romance with a skilled archer, Hou Yi. Both human, the married couple are deeply in love, and they share that love with their village and beyond, spreading compassion and goodwill. When 10 blazing suns appear in the sky one day, threatening to destroy Earth, the two set off to protect the land and are rewarded for their bravery with an elixir of immortality--enough for only one--that disrupts their bond with a trusted ally. Li's ethereal textured illustrations, made using both analog and digital tools, portray an idyllic scene turning disastrous under blazing suns. Alongside lush landscapes and portraits, this modern rendition of the classic tale refreshingly centers, per an author's note, on love's "strong power, wide reach, and ability to transcend distance, physical being, and even time." Back matter includes a condensed version in Mandarin. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

Set long ago, "when the Earth was very young," this story explains the origins of the Chinese moon goddess. Chang'e is full of love. Her love is returned--by the trees, the animals, the wind, and, most of all, her husband, Hou-Yi. The pair travel together "to protect the people and create caring communities." One day, 10 scorching suns appear in the sky. With life on Earth on the brink of destruction, Chang'e and Hou-Yi cannot stand by. A formidable archer, Hou-Yi pierces the suns with his arrows until only one remains. In thanks, the heavenly Jade Emperor and his goddess wife, Xiwangmu, give them an elixir that grants them immortality. But there's only enough for one of them, so the lovers decide to live out the rest of their lives as humans--together. When Peng Meng, Hou Yi's jealous apprentice, schemes to steal the elixir for himself, Chang'e sacrifices their mortal future together and drinks the elixir herself. As explained in the author's note, the legend of Chang'e has many variations. Moore centers her retelling on the couple's kindhearted qualities and their enduring love. As moon goddess, Chang'e watches over the Earth for all eternity. Hou-Yi spends the rest of his living days devoted to honoring Chang'e and their shared passion of community care, and the story of her sacrifice sparks a celebration in her honor: the Mid-Autumn Festival. Li's painterly illustrations beautifully capture Moore's text. A lovely retelling. (Mandarin version of the tale)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.