Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a a beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations. It should have won the Newbery award, but I suppose being named as an honor book is better than nothing. ( )

The author states that this book was inspired by Chinese folk and fairy tales and it definitely has the magical tone and feel of that genre. Minli wishes her little struggling family could have good fortune, and, inspired by the tales her father has told her, decides to set out and find the Old Man of the Moon and ask his advice. Along her journey, she meets characters who are key to advancing her mission: a dragon who can't fly, a king, a poor buffalo boy with a special friend, and a group of kind villagers. Interspersed in the narrative are the mini-folktales that ultimately tie into Minli's quest. Ultimately, Minli doesn't get the advice she seeks but in this case it's the journey, not the destination, that provides the satisfaction. A sprightly story with a plucky heroine that serves well as a read-aloud. ( )

Beautiful story, beautiful illustrations. Minli lives with her family in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, barely getting by. She decides to leave on a quest, to go find the Man in the Moon and change her fortune. Along the way, she meets a talking goldfish, a dragon, an evil green tiger, and many kind folks who offer her assistance. ( )

Minli lives with her parents in a tiny house in China where they work in the rice fields trying to eke out a meager living. Minli's father tells her tales every night about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon who is believed to know the answer to any question. Wishing to change the fortune of her poor family and that of their neighbors on Fruitless Mountain Minli decides to try to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask for his help. Along the way Minli meets a flightless dragon who accompanies her on her journey and the two share many adventures including the near-death of dragon when he is bitten by the fearsome green tiger. Everyone she meets, including people and animals, tell Minli many tales and fables about the origins of Fruitless Mountain and Minli's kind spirit lead her to helpful people, not the least of which is a king. Together Minli and dragon find their way to the realm of the Old Man of the Moon.

This was a cute story, a little too much fantasy for me, but Minli and dragon are very likeable characters. She is a brave little girl and her acts of kindness along the way are a great moral to the tale. It is a young adult novel probably most appropriate for 8-12 year olds.
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