Thanking the Moon

Name: Thanking the Moon
Author: Grace Lin

A story that explores wonder and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Wonder. staying curious about the world around you.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: to be amazed at and/or curious about something that is pleasantly unexpected, beautiful, or mysterious. In short: Curiosity sparks endless discovery. Summary: The wonder of the earth’s moon is celebrated at this special Chinese Mid Autumn Festival. Chinese families honor this occasion with activities, decorations, and special feasts. Readers will learn some Chinese words along with the folklore origin of this tradition. Lesson Objectives:

After learning that Chinese people created this moon festival to honor the moon, students will show more interest in traditions and myths from around the world that express wonder at some natural phenomena.
This story could be linked to studies about Chinese culture.

Guiding Questions:

Why do Chinese people celebrate The Mid-Autumn Festival?
Share what your thoughts are about the moon when you see it at night. Is it mysterious? Why or why not?
Can you remember how to say mom, daddy, and younger sister in Chinese?
Have you ever had a picnic at night under a full moon? Ask your family if they want to try it out!
What is used to light up the sky for the festival?
Have you ever tried a moon cake? Would you like to?
Share about any stories or myths that explain why something in nature is the way it is. If you don’t know any, ask someone.
What in nature makes you wonder and why?
Is there a tradition that you like to celebrate with your family? If you don’t have one, make it up and make it happen!
Share about any activities, decorations, foods, songs, games that are part of that tradition.

🌿 Virtue Connection: Wonder means staying curious about the world around you.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.