In the days before the animals stopped talking to people, begins
this Native American–styled folktale, Old Woman and her animal
friends sang to the moon, which was much closer then. When
Coyote wishes to join in the chorus, they all protest that his
howling will frighten Moon. His ego bruised, Coyote wonders
aloud why anyone would sing to Moon, who is so bright she keeps
him awake at night, until Moon flees from the sky, plunging them
all into darkness. Storyteller Thomas King's tale for readers up
to 8 is illuminated with Johnny Wales' glowing watercolors. "The
illustrations are beautifully rendered in smoky grays and browns
that perfectly reflect the nighttime setting. Translucent brush
strokes and lines give the images the distinctive look and feel
of Japanese paintings. Coyote's sauciness and the moon's
haughtiness are elegantly captured."—School Library Journal