Spoiled Girl Wants the Moon

1944 Winner: Many Moons

Written by: James Thurber                          Illustrated by: Louis Slobodkin

Illustrator Biography (From Wikipedia)

Born in Albany, New York was a sculptor, author and illustrator of numerous children's books. At the age of 15, he attended the Beaux Arts Institute of Design in New York City from 1918 to 1923. He would deliberately get his elevator 'stuck' between floors so he could read his books. Slobodkin married Florence Gersh, a poet and children's book writer in 1927, but he didn't immediately become involved with children's literature. He illustrated his first children's book in 1941, The Moffats, by his friend, Eleanor Estes, with whom he collaborated on five more books. In 1944, he won the Caldecott Medal for illustrating Many Moons, written by American writer James Thurber. He wrote and illustrated the popular The Spaceship Under the Apple Tree book series. He was also the author of Sculpture; Principles and Practice. During his career, Slobodkin illustrated nearly 90 books, 50 of which he also wrote.

Louis Slobodkin died in May 1975.

Book Summary (From Wikipedia)

Many Moons is a children's picture book written by James Thurber and illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. It was published by Harcourt, Brace & Company in 1943 and won the Caldecott Medal in 1944.^[1][2] Princess Lenore becomes ill, and only one thing will make her better: the moon. Unlike much of Thurber's other work, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and his fables, this story shows a crisis between males and females that ends happily for all.

Despite winning the Caldecott Medal with Slobodkin's original illustrations, a reprint in 1990 by Harcourt featured the text accompanied by new illustrations by Marc Simont.^[3]

Many Moons is about a sick princess who wants the moon. The princess is perhaps more sick at heart than body. Her father, the king, is enraged when the wizards, the Lord High Chamberlain, and the mathematician court can't get the moon. In the end, it is the jester who realizes that the princess thinks the moon is only as big as her thumbnail and made of gold, so he goes to the goldsmith, who makes a necklace with a gold sphere on it. the jester gives it to the princess. The King then worries that she will see the moon in the sky that night and realize that the necklace was not the real moon. The jester goes to check on her. the princess thinks that whenever something is taken, it is replaced, like her tooth, a unicorn's horn and flowers.

Illustrations:

The illustrations for me were difficult to get used to.  The best way I can describe them is, wiggly with little detail.  It takes a moment for the readers eyes to adjust to the style.  As you can probably infer, not my favorite style.

Art Medium:  Not sure

Final Thoughts:

1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes, Little girls will like it.

2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Maybe.

3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? Already did.
4. Where did I get the book? I own it!