Chang’e on the Moon (Everlasting Tales #1)

In this first of the Everlasting Tales series, Moore and Li retell the story of the moon goddess Chang’e and her legendary romance with a skilled archer, Hou Yi. Both human, the married couple are deeply in love, and they share that love with their village and beyond, spreading compassion and goodwill. When 10 blazing suns appear in the sky one day, threatening to destroy Earth, the two set off to protect the land and are rewarded for their bravery with an elixir of immortality—enough for only one—that disrupts their bond with a trusted ally. Li’s ethereal textured illustrations, made using both analog and digital tools, portray an idyllic scene turning disastrous under blazing suns. Alongside lush landscapes and portraits, this modern rendition of the classic tale refreshingly centers, per an author’s note, on love’s “strong power, wide reach, and ability to transcend distance, physical being, and even time.” Back matter includes a condensed version in Mandarin. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)