Starred Review ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 1992)

Starred Review Visually dynamic, this picture book presents a Peruvian folktale in both English and Spanish. Fox wants to go to the moon and persuades his friend Mole, who's reluctant to leave the good earth, to climb with him up a grass rope to his destination. When Mole slips and falls, the other animals laugh at him. He's so ashamed that he burrows into the earth, but Fox still looks down from the full moon, where one can make out his shadowy face to this day. Each double-page spread includes a large, stylized illustration and English text in white and Spanish text in silver. The storytelling in both languages is succinct and fluent, with only a few awkward translations in the Spanish. Bold collages of brightly colored papers, including a shiny silver, incorporate designs and motifs from ancient Peruvian artifacts, architecture, textiles, and sculpture into a riveting, modern interpretation of the tale. A fine choice for reading aloud. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1992)

School Library Journal Starred Review

K-Gr 3-- A retelling of a Peruvian pourquoi story, presented in English and Spanish, that is concise and funny. Mole is a practical fellow who longs only for ``Worms, worms, more worms.'' Fox, however, is a visionary; he wants to go to the moon. He deter: mines his method of access (a grass rope to be hooked around the bow of the crescent), chooses Mole as his companion, and, with the aid of some birds, sets off. He achieves his goal, his friend does not, and bits about the nature of the moon and the mole are explained in the process. Prince's stylish translation really shines. Her fox is so clearly obsessed with his project and so convincing in a used-car-salesman sort of way, that an oral telling cannot help but produce correct, funny inflections. Ehlert's cut-paper illustrations are striking. The bold colors range from earth tones to Day-Glo pinks, purples, and oranges, and her use of silver for Fox and for the moon is masterful. Shapes cut, apparently, by using the lines of rulers and templates as guides produce a remarkable, contemporary rendering of Peruvian folkart. Despite the use of fairly simple lines, the characters have personality and verve. The book's generous size makes this perfect for group sharing. Moon Rope can be used to give non-Spanish speakers an idea of the rhythm and cadence of that language. It is a fine purchase for folktale and picture-book collections as well as for ESL programs. --Ann Welton, Thomas Academy, Kent, WA

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1992)

Designed as a bilingual book in English and Spanish, the 'pourquoi' tale describes how Fox convinces Mole to climb to the moon, using a grass rope. Mole slips back to earth, and, humiliated, he forever after lives underground, but Fox can still be seen in the full moon. The text moves smoothly, and the dramatic, abstract illustrations glow like jewels against richly toned pages.

Kirkus Reviews

In what may be her handsomest book yet, a Caldecott Honor winner presents a Peruvian folktale concerning a fox and a mole who try to climb a rope of grass to the moon (the birds loop it over the crescent). Fox, who keeps his eye on the goal, can still be seen there; Mole, always more interested in worms, slips, then returns to earth and hides his embarrassment by digging a tunnel. Using dramatically large (10''x12'') format and backgrounds of brilliant color, Ehlert illustrates the simple story with bold, stylized cutouts—often recalling Peruvian motifs— that are dazzling not only in their daring use of vibrant colors (including gold and silver) but in the simplicity of their design, masterfully incorporating the text in English (in white) and Spanish (silver). Excellent source note; altogether outstanding. (Folklore/Picture book. 2+)"