Moon Pops - by Heena Baek (Hardcover)

About the Book

"You've heard of the man in the moon, you might have heard that the moon is made of cheese, and you may or may not have heard of the moon rabbit. In Korean folklore, as well as in folklore from other east Asian countries, they tell tales of a rabbit whose great generosity and sacrifice was honored by having his likeness added to the moon. This is a quiet, weird and wonderful book about a sweltering hot summer night--it's too hot to sleep, too hot to do anything. Everyone has their a.c. running, their fridge doors open, and their windows shut to keep the heat at bay. It is so hot, that the moon begins to melt, in slow drips. Granny hears the drips and runs out to catch the falling moon drops in a bucket. Back in her apartment she puzzles over what to do with the melted moon, and an idea pops into her head -a moon pop idea! She decides the best thing to do is to make popsicles. When all of the whirring and buzzing of the a.c.'s and fridges cause a power outage, Granny hands the moon pops out to her neighbors and as they lick the popsicles, something magical begins to happen--the heat melts away. Everyone is finally asleep and happy... Almost everyone, that is. Two rabbits from the moon knock on Granny's door. They come from the moon and their home has melted away! Once again Granny puzzles over what to do until and idea sprouts in her head--a moon sprout idea! She pours the last few moon drops into a flower pot and puts it in the window. Like magic, it blossoms before their eyes and opens to the sky where suddenly the moon appears in a small speck of light, which grows and grows back into the full moon. The rabbits cheer and dance home to the moon, and Granny finally gets some sleep."--

Book Synopsis

A witty, weird, and wonderful spin on a classic Korean folktale, the first picture book to be published in English by internationally acclaimed Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winner Heena Baek

"Whimsically varied perspectives and the unusual depth of field offered by Baek's technique make for an entrancing display." -- Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW

One sweltering summer night, while the many residents of one apartment building are struggling to fall asleep, the moon begins to melt. Granny hears it dripping and runs out to catch the moon drops in a bucket. At first unsure what do with the drops, she is soon inspired to turn them into popsicles--moon pops!--to help cool down her neighbors.

But as everyone drifts off to sleep, a new problem arises. The fabled rabbits who, according to folklore live on the moon, have lost their home! With the last of the moon drops, Granny grows a new moon from the potted plant in her window. As the moon ascends to the starry sky above, the rabbits return to their home, and Granny returns to her bed.

Illustrated in otherworldly mixed-media 3D shoebox dioramas that use unique and exquisite collage art, this quirky and colorful picture book spins a new story from the common East Asian fable of the rabbit in the moon.

Review Quotes

"A great bedtime story on a hot night."

-- "Kiss the Book"

"A strange and delightful tale made for lingering over--and perfect for reading with your own moon pop ... Cool in more ways than one."

-- "BookPage"

"Baek's use of onomatopoeia makes for a fun read-aloud for young readers, and her mixed media and collage illustrations result in a unique style that further captures the attention."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"

"Extremely inventive, Heena Baek's Moon Pops is an imaginative take on Korean folklore. The writing is crisp and leaves a certain magic in the air. [Baek's] artwork here is stunning."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"Perfect for a bedtime story on a hot summer night, this entertaining tale offers much to be discovered on multiple readings; a strong title to share widely at story hours."

-- "School Library Journal"

"Well-paced, accessibly written and translated, and visually sumptuous."

-- "The Horn Book"

"Inspired by Korean folklore, this bedtime story uses cutout ink characters within detailed dioramas to depict a magical summer night."-- "Foreword Reviews"

"This modern, whimsical spin on a classic Korean folktale transports readers with eye-catching, detailed artwork and a magical story ... With deep imagination and creativity, Baek has brought to stunning life a piece of Korean culture."-- "Booklist"

"Whimsically varied perspectives and the unusual depth of field offered by Baek's technique make for an entrancing display ... A sweet, icy treat that will warm your heart."-- "Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW"