Children's Books > Under the Lemon Moon

* Smithsonian Notable Children's Book*
* Parents' Choice Silver Honor*
* Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for 2000, NCSS/CBC*

... Moreno's luminous watercolors gently depict rural life in Mexico.

-Kirkus Reviews

The primitive watercolor illustrations, long on bright color and strong line, augment the story beautifully.
-School Library Journal

Softly punctuated with the hues of the flower-filled Mexican countryside, Moreno's watercolor and pastel images quietly convey the picturesque setting. Her attention to folkloric details helps bridge the story as it travels between realism and fairy tale.
-Publisher's Weekly


The story deals honestly with the pain of being robbed of a treasure, and also, by showing the thief with his impoverished family, conveys the need for compassion. Moreno's watercolor-and-pastel illustrations give the Mexican countryside a warm, softly textured appearance.

-Booklist
...illustrated with flat, soft, stylized pictures, this mystical story is believably kindhearted.
- Parent's Choice
This gentle story is written in English with a few Spanish words included to give the flavor of the Mexican countryside, and is told in the great tradition of giving and receiving.

-Hungry Mind Review

Rosalinda's concern for her beloved tree and her kindness towards the thieving Night Man will appeal to young children on many levels. Under the Lemon Moon--a luminous tale of human compassion--shares a gentle lesson with the lightest touch imaginable. -Amazon.com

Under the Lemon Moon cover
Under the Lemon Moon cover
watercolor, pastel
1999