Rachel Captures the Moon

Dosi Cotroneo is a freelance writer living in Manotick, Ontario.

The whole town of Chelm loves to watch the moon appear at night. The
problem is that every time it goes away, they feel sad. So, how can they
find a way to capture the moon so they can see it any time, day or
night? All of the villagers take turns trying out their ideas. A
carpenter thinks he can capture the moon by building a ladder to it. A
cook tries to lure it down to the Earth with the smell of her delicious
soup. A musician thinks he can capture it with a beautiful song played
on his violin. A weaver tries to wrap it in a fine blanket. But, it is
all to no avail. Then Rachel comes up with a terrific idea to capture
the moon in a rainbarrel. The whole town cheers as they see their
beloved moon’s reflection in the water!

Author/illustrator Richard Ungar is a lawyer who studied painting at
the Ontario College of Art. This is his first picture book, and it’s a
fine first effort. The story is an adaptation of a Jewish folk tale from
a Chelm story by Samuel Tenenbaum. Ungar gives it a wryly humorous tone.
His gorgeous, vividly colored illustrations with their dreamlike quality
(the cover shows Rachel floating in mid-air reaching for the moon) bring
the town and its quirky inhabitants to life. Rachel Captures the Moon is
highly recommended.