Many Moons / James Thurber, Ill. Louis Slobodkin
Voyager
1943
Though many try, only the court jester is able to fulfill Princess Lenore's wish for the moon
Fictional story to go along with studying outer space, the moon etc. A modern fairy tale for studying fairy tale structure.
I love the story of this book more than the illustrations to be honest. I know these are the original ones that won the Caldecott, but I like the more defined quality of the Marc Simont illustrations better. Slobodkin's illustrations feel loose and watery to me, and don't do the beautiful story justice. I love the story as a modern fairytale that follows the rules of fairytales. The Wise are not as wise as the Fool or the Small Child. Things come in threes, and there's a general etherealness to this story that stays with me. I feel peaceful coming to its end as the princess falls asleep.