SUN AND MOON SISTERS

After jealousy dims their affections, sisters learn to let love shine in this original tale that is redolent of folklore.

Sun and Moon, nearly identical apart from the details of their matching red dresses, argue repeatedly over which of them is more beloved by humans. To settle this debate once and for all, the pale-skinned, dark-eyed, rosy-cheeked little girls with silvery locks decide to trade places. The results are as expected, with weary children finally begging Moon to offer them respite from the blistering heat, and then, when dawn does not come, desperately wishing for Sun to return to warm the Earth. The children deliver a message to the bewildered duo, explaining that they matter equally and should focus on performing their respective duties, after which all is once again right both on Earth and in the heavens. In this book translated from the French, some illustrations hint at the author/illustrator’s Vietnamese origins, for example showing a dark-haired girl fishing with a bamboo pole and a child wearing a conical Southeast Asian–style hat. The story unfolds predictably in the manner of traditional pourquoi tales, and the prose is plain and serviceable. It is the illustrations that stand out, their jewel tones, elegant lines, and complex textures managing to look simultaneously contemporary and timeless.

A sweet morality tale of cosmic misadventures and sibling rivalry.