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English Titles

		LITTLE DOG MOON MAXINE TROTTIER PAINTINGS: LAURA FERNANDEZ & RICK JACOBSON TORONTO: STODDART KIDS, 2000. 23 P. ISBN 0773732209 AGES 5 TO 8
Little Dog Moon Source

Life is peaceful in a monastery set high in the Himalayas of Tibet. Tenzin is a young monk who takes care of Moon, the monastery dog. Moon wanders on the mountain paths during the day and sleeps at Tenzin's feet at night. One winter evening, a young boy and girl seek refuge at the monastery. They are looking for a way through the mountains to lead them to freedom in Nepal. Their mother sent them out on their own in the wintertime so they could avoid soldiers and have a chance of escaping the brutal Chinese regime. She gave them a prayer flag to lift to the sky if they reach their destination. Tenzin and the monks decide that Moon should be the children's guide to Nepal. Next morning, they set off through the mountains. Weeks and months later, little Moon comes back to the monastery with the prayer flag around his neck . . .

The warm hues of the monks' robes and contrasting tones of the landscapes set the mood in the paintings that bring this compelling story to life. The artwork captures the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery and its isolation amid the grandeur of the Himalayan peaks. The depictions of Moon, with his bright eyes and thick coat of fur, are full of charm. A beautiful book in which young readers can learn about two Tibetan children, and their quest for freedom and peace.

-JP