![ A delightful rhyming story about the Too-Smalls who live in Stiltsville. Every evening at six, the Too-Smalls meet in the square where they hope they'll be picked to receive stilts to strut about above the stilt-less masses below. They come to see if they matter-if they're awesome, if they're pretty, if they're clever, or funny.Ollie, the smallest of too-smalls, pleas to be picked, he wants to be like the high-ups of Stiltsville who are proud of their stilts, the ultimate status. But once he gets stilts, oh how it hurts when he stumbles and tumbles and loses his stilts. That is . . . until he meets Jesus who chose low over high telling him, "Keep your feet on the ground. You matter already." This book for kids coordinates with Max's trade book, Fearless, released September 2009.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/d9/5c/d95c59c1d31deeddb2884f9ab142701d.jpg?itok=5dL0cFG0 " A delightful rhyming story about the Too-Smalls who live in Stiltsville. Every evening at six, the Too-Smalls meet in the square where they hope they'll be picked to receive stilts to strut about above the stilt-less masses below. They come to see if they matter-if they're awesome, if they're pretty, if they're clever, or funny.Ollie, the smallest of too-smalls, pleas to be picked, he wants to be like the high-ups of Stiltsville who are proud of their stilts, the ultimate status. But once he gets stilts, oh how it hurts when he stumbles and tumbles and loses his stilts. That is . . . until he meets Jesus who chose low over high telling him, "Keep your feet on the ground. You matter already." This book for kids coordinates with Max's trade book, Fearless, released September 2009.")
Crossway Books selected Fool Moon Rising for February’s Homeschool Book Review Program this year: www.crossway.org/blog In this delightful children’s tale for ages 3-7, author Kristi Fluharty uses humor and rhyme to write an intriguing, sassy tale about the moon, Christ, talents, pride and humility. T. Lively Fluharty’s outstanding illustrations add rich, vibrant color and detail with each turning page. The book also fits with the Lenten season since it highlights the glory of the risen Lord.
The story begins with a little boy framed in his bedroom window, elbows leaning on the window sill, his long-nosed puppy perched beside him, his doggy ears flapping in the wind. The little boy gazes into the night sky and begins a serious talk with God.
He’s concerned about a story he heard and asks God, did the “moon” really brag about “stealing glory” from the sun?
Thus begins an imaginative account about a “crime of cosmic proportions,” a creative tale that illustrates a proud self-involved moon who never considers where the light he shines comes from. Because he can change shapes many times in a month, influence the tides coming in and going out, shed light or darkness and even—drum roll please—once had visitors from earth. Whenever he considers his accomplishments he feels large and proud and is quick to say, “I am the greatest light.”
The gospel-centered narrative is rich in meaning with an underlying message of the dangers of pride and boasting from an enchanting self-centered, self-involved moon. However the moon changes by tale’s end and recognizes his foolishness. He’s very sorry when he realizes his talents and gifts are from God and begins to boast about the sun.
This well-told children’s parable demonstrates an easy-to-understand lesson about pride and humility. Just as the moon reflects the suns light, we reflect Christ’s light when we focus on Him instead of ourselves. Another advantage when we focus on Christ, there’s little room for pride and lots of room for humility.
1 Corinthian’s 4:7 (NLT) is the foundation verse “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why do you boast as through it were not a gift.” for this well-done story
‘Fool Moon Rising’ Written and Illustrated by Krisi and T. Lively Fluharty, Crossway Publishing, 2009, 40 Pages, 978-1433506826, 15.99
***Be sure to check out Max's other delightful tales of Punchinello and
the Wemmick's included in the list that headlines the review. ***
Twitter: @GailWelborn
FaceBook: Gail Welborn
![ A delightful rhyming story about the Too-Smalls who live in Stiltsville. Every evening at six, the Too-Smalls meet in the square where they hope they'll be picked to receive stilts to strut about above the stilt-less masses below. They come to see if they matter-if they're awesome, if they're pretty, if they're clever, or funny.Ollie, the smallest of too-smalls, pleas to be picked, he wants to be like the high-ups of Stiltsville who are proud of their stilts, the ultimate status. But once he gets stilts, oh how it hurts when he stumbles and tumbles and loses his stilts. That is . . . until he meets Jesus who chose low over high telling him, "Keep your feet on the ground. You matter already." This book for kids coordinates with Max's trade book, Fearless, released September 2009.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/0b/b1/0bb16e755d9a87d691e8b2c237bcf113.jpg?itok=Mv_dm5d3 " A delightful rhyming story about the Too-Smalls who live in Stiltsville. Every evening at six, the Too-Smalls meet in the square where they hope they'll be picked to receive stilts to strut about above the stilt-less masses below. They come to see if they matter-if they're awesome, if they're pretty, if they're clever, or funny.Ollie, the smallest of too-smalls, pleas to be picked, he wants to be like the high-ups of Stiltsville who are proud of their stilts, the ultimate status. But once he gets stilts, oh how it hurts when he stumbles and tumbles and loses his stilts. That is . . . until he meets Jesus who chose low over high telling him, "Keep your feet on the ground. You matter already." This book for kids coordinates with Max's trade book, Fearless, released September 2009.")
![ Bess Stovall is famous for being famous. "When it comes to Wemmicks, she's the best," they say. Who wouldn't want to join her Wonderful Wemmicks Club? The catch is this: only Wemmicks made of maple can join–the best wood from the best forest.But Punchinello can't join since he is made of willow. "Willow is weak wood," says Bess. "No one wants to be a willow." And Punchinello is the only willow in Wemmicksville. Everyone looks down on him, even his friend Lucia.Punchinello learns a valuable lesson when Eli the woodcarver helps him see that he is special because the Maker made him–the Maker even chose his wood. This latest tale from Wemmicksville will surprise you as Punchinello himself shocks the town with how special he really is. ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/56/4e/564e7b8bc63a5d1b1fa54d206faa6840.jpg?itok=WEDagksT " Bess Stovall is famous for being famous. "When it comes to Wemmicks, she's the best," they say. Who wouldn't want to join her Wonderful Wemmicks Club? The catch is this: only Wemmicks made of maple can join–the best wood from the best forest.But Punchinello can't join since he is made of willow. "Willow is weak wood," says Bess. "No one wants to be a willow." And Punchinello is the only willow in Wemmicksville. Everyone looks down on him, even his friend Lucia.Punchinello learns a valuable lesson when Eli the woodcarver helps him see that he is special because the Maker made him–the Maker even chose his wood. This latest tale from Wemmicksville will surprise you as Punchinello himself shocks the town with how special he really is. ")
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