The Moon and the Oyster

Caroline M. Hallsworth is a librarian at Cambrian College in Sudbury.

This is the story of a young oyster who is so entranced by the beauties
of nature, in particular by the magic of the moon, that he aspires to
create a beautiful moon inside himself, in the form of a pearl. After a
long quest for the perfect pebble to form a drop pearl, the oyster
experiences great pain as his pearl grows and his end draws near. At
last, the moon acknowledges the anguish and beauty of love, and, in
accepting the oyster’s gift, gives eternal life to this spirit.

The text is rich with wonderful images that bring their own magic to
the oyster’s underwater world. The story is told effortlessly and with
a lyricism that draws the reader along. Gal’s rich and fluid artwork
enhances the story. The only flaw in the book is the device of the
fisherman’s daughter, who appears at the beginning and at the end of
the tale, but whose connection to the oyster is tenuous.

This gentle, evocative fairy tale is sure to delight readers of all
ages.