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Haley Whitehall

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Who Tells the Moon to Sleep? Paperback – December 10, 2012

by Haley Whitehall (Author), Bill Pilgrim (Illustrator)

4.4 13 ratings

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Picture book for ages 8 and up. Having learned from Mama that the world is filled with things that do what they please like the moon and the cat, eight-year-old Tess wonders why she and Mama are constantly told what to do. They are told when to play, when to eat, and even when to sleep. Mama gently explains that they are slaves and are told what to do because they are owned by the couple in the big house whose fields they work. But Tess realizes that a person can never truly be owned. The master cannot control her mind or her heart. This is a tender story that tells of the heartbreak of slavery and one little girl’s powerful plea for freedom.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Since the age of four, Haley Whitehall always wanted to be a writer. She went to Central Washington University and majored in her other favorite subject: history. Now she pairs her two passions into writing historical fiction set in the nineteenth century U.S. Haley loves coffee a little too much. Perhaps that is why she is a night owl. Cats, a good book, and a view of the mountains make her happy.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Expanding Horizons Press (December 10, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0985182830
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0985182830
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.88 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.08 x 8.5 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.4 13 ratings

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Haley Whitehall

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Haley Whitehall is living her dream writing stories for all ages. She went to Central Washington University and majored in her other favorite subject: history. She has social studies and library endorsements. Now she pairs her two passions into writing historical fiction set in the nineteenth century U.S.

She lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historicals set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.

She blogs at HaleyWhitehall.com or you can follow her on Twitter @HaleyWhitehall. She loves to hear from readers.

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4.4 out of 5

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Barbara loves a great read

Well done -A great way to deal with difficult subject for a child.

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014

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WELL done- I only wish I had bought print version. That is only reason I give 4 stars- I could not see the artwork. I bought the kindle version to forward to my grandson in Malaysia. I wish I had bought the print. I think I might enjoy the art work but was too small to see even when enlarged to fit 7" screen on my kindle. The story was a great way to present the story of slavery to children. Told with compassion and if Haley does more for children I will be in line to buy them for my grandkids. A Unique way to present this difficult topic in history.

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2013

This book is a real winner! I don't often give five stars, but this one truly merits it. It is lovingly illustrated, tells a great message (controlling others through ownership is wrong), but best of all it is written with a graceful and skilled style.

It follows a traditional story-telling method, which is repetitive (but not monotonous!) and circular: upon forced to wake early, the girl in the story asks her mother "Who tells the sun to wake?" Her mother explains that the sun wakes when it has slept until no longer sleepy--something the girl cannot fathom. This repeats: "Who tells the cat to eat;" "who tells the beaver to wash;" etc. Finally, the title question, "Who tells the moon to sleep?" The girl wonders how it is that they (the sun, the cat, the moon) are allowed to make such decisions. After her mother explains that it is because they are free, the girl cleverly reasons that, as she is unable to make such decisions she must not be free. It is her first realization that she is, in fact, another human's slave.

At first demoralized, she quickly finds strength in the knowledge that, though her actions can be controlled by another, no one can control her mind, heart, and soul. And with such strength, she vows that one day she will be truly free, with no one to control her.

The girl in the story is very well portrayed. Her inquisitiveness, her desire to play, her distress at the thought of eventual separation from her mother, even her discomfort when hungry, makes her a character that modern children can easily identify with and sympathize with. Slavery was real--it happened to real people--real children. What would that have been like? This story brings that question to our minds.

This book was an excellent read aloud, though at times the subject matter made it hard (emotionally) to continue. The topic of slavery has not been discussed in depth in our household. It is a topic that must be introduced at some point. This book makes that perfect introduction.

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Sue Geurkink

Children's Book with Powerful Message

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

Who Tells the Moon to Sleep is a cleverly written children's book featuring a mother and her daughter. During the course of the day, the child asks questions about her activities comparing them to the freedom that is found in the world of nature around her. It is a powerfully and poetically written book about the evil practice of slavery. Who Tells the Moon to Sleep is educational and historical and should be included in every child's library.

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2013

I received this book free to read and review from Library Thing. This is an excellent book about slavery. In the story, a little girl asks her mother several times about why things are as they are, why certain things do things. Finally, the girl realizes they do the things they do because they can make decisions and are free--and decides she also will one day be free to decide herself. The book is simple enough for a young child to read or understand when it is read to him/her, yet has enough wisdom and common sense to make it very worthwhile. I liked the fact that it is simple yet still profound in the deepest sense. Parents looking for a good book to read with their children that will teach as well as entertain should read this book. It does both and does both extremely well.

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kaybee2

A great read for children 8 and up

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2013

Who Tell's The Moon To Sleep? is a wonderful children's book. It portrays slavery in a way that is easily understood by young children without becoming graphic. It is told by a young girl who is very realistic, and easy to relate to. This would be a wonderful book to read both in and out of the classroom. I highly recommend this book for any and all children, and it is a great way to start a discussion about slavery.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Maria Bray

Thought provoking story for young readers

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2013

Who Tells The Moon to Sleep? Written by Haley Whitehall, this book is a fictional portrayal of a little girl who lived as a slave on a tobacco farm. The story is told from the child's perspective as she begins to notice that not everyone is treated the same. Sad and thought provoking, this is an excellent read-a-loud book for early readers. The book is also suitable as a resource in the classroom to support discussions about slavery and treating others equally.

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Kindle Customer

Fantastic Children's Book

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2012

Just read the heartbreaking picture/story Who Tells the Moon to Sleep? by Haley Whitehall . It will be a fantastic, tender-hearted book to share with my grandchildren about the days of slavery, and the children then. What the life was like for the slave children. Tess questions why her and Mama are told when to do everything, even play or eat or sleep, but other things in life aren't. She comes to realize that they can never completely be owned as no one, not even Master Embry can own their heart or mind. There are beautiful illustrations by Bill Pilgrim to go along with story.

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Cathy Spencer

A Thoughtful and Entertaining Children's Story

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2012

I quite enjoyed WHO TELLS THE MOON TO SLEEP. The story depicts the hard living conditions of a young slave girl and her mother while working on a tobacco plantation. The questions the girl asks about nature and the creatures living around her help her to ponder her own life and the difference between being free and enslaved. The illustrations are beautiful with warm colours and a rustic style well-suited to the story. It's a great children's story; both entertaining and thought-provoking. I recommend it.

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