Identify (4) Traits for this character and supply evidence2. Lin's love of Chinese culture is evident in her creation of vivid new folktales that are built into the narrative in such a way that they become a seamless part of the story and their messages are thus relevant and meaningful. Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. I went down to the cellar the other day. The main character, Minli, is a young Chinese girl scraping by with her poor parents in the village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a wonderfully crafted tale with great messages on gratefulness, contentedness, self-sacrifice, faith and love. Map Your Own Connections (with red threads) Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Minli upsets her parents, who are frightened about what will happen to her. There are several forest and rivers and a peach grove. The boy is poor and has nothing but a buffalo but helps her find the king, who possesses a borrowed line of text, which is essential to finding the Old Man of the Moon. Together they encounter a talking goldfish, a boy with a buffalo, a king, a fierce green tiger and laughing twins before scaling Never-Ending Mountain. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? She meets an orphan boy who lives alone with only a water buffalo for company, and she tells him that she needs to see the king. I loved the way it was told through a lot of fairy tales. It is not too scary. When they first meet, he has been bound with ropes and she cuts them off of him. Outside the city, Dragon also obtains a red string of destiny that is used to tie people destined to meet and marry together, which he believes is the borrowed line. By a bare mountain, where the Jade River runs through, lies a poor, mud-covered village known as the Village of Fruitless Mountain, where the protagonist, Minli lives. After high school, Lin attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA in illustration. It says the word thankfulness over and overand nothing else. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. The principal told me that was not a good idea. A-Fu and Da-Fu, twins who are a bit younger than Minli, explain that a vicious magistrate once planned to kill the whole family out of jealousy over their happiness. I would recommend this book for children from age 9 to 99. Numerous collections of Chinese folktales can also be accessed through the library. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Distribute copies of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This brings enormous wealth to Minlis village which alters her familys fortune dramatically. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin 4.30 45,753 ratings5,600 reviews In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. They keep journals to record the challenges Minli faced, and how she met the challenges. In this activity, students will depict the characters of the story using a character map. All storyboards and images are private and secure. This strong-willed, young Chinese girl lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain and decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. Grades 3-6. Give them copies of Worksheet 1 or assign questions from the worksheet as the class progresses. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. Students will provide Dragon also reveals that he was born from a painting and came to life when his eyes were painted. (for grades 3-6), 2010 Newbery Honor NY Times Bestseller (Feb 4th, March 14th 2010) IndieBound Bestseller 2010 Bank Street College of Education Josette Frank Award 2010 Indies Choice Book Awards Finalist For Middle Reader Book of the Year Al Rokers TODAY Show Kids Book Club Pick, December 2009 2010 Mythopeic Fantasy Award for Childrens Literature Starred Kirkus Review Starred School & Library Journal Review Starred Booklist Review Booklist Top 10 SF/Fantasy for Youth:2009 2009 Parents Choice Gold Winner 2010 CCBC Choices List 2010 EB White Read-Aloud Honor Book 2010 Massachusetts Book Award for Childrens/Young Adult Literature, I dont think that, in the fourteen years I have worked as a childrens bookseller and the 16 years I have been a mother buying books for her children, I have ever seen such a magnificently illustrated, beautiful gem of a book hit the shelves. Tanya from Books4yourkids.com, This is a flawless little gem of a book, written in a straightforward, warm tone that always has a hint of a smile in itThere is a lovely sense of satisfaction as one link after another is connected, until the entire shape of the book is revealed like a Chinese knot seemingly complicated yet pleasing and harmonious. Eva from Evas Book Addiction, Booklist*Starred Review* In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means quick thinking, lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. During her journey, she comes across many challenges. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Lead a class discussion about the differences between the sentence on the board and the sentence in the novel. This book has many pages, yet it is the perfect amount for me. (p19) In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, What is contained in the old man in the moon's book of Fortune? Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. The line written there has changed again. The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. She ultimately meets the king, and he willingly gives up the borrowed line, which is revealed to be a page from the Book of Fortune, a legendary book that tells of fates and can be read only by immortal folk. With nothing else to occupy them in the evenings, Minlis father spins tales of the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. Minli is a young girl, the only daughter of her mother, Ma, and father, Ba. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. As she debates what to do, she looks down at the Book of Fortune on the Old Mans lap and sees that he has added in the paper she received from the king. Be sure to include evidence from the text in their answers. Do you like books with magical elements? With each photo, ask students to identify what is happening in the picture, what kind of challenge is presented, and what kinds of skills or abilities the subjects need to be successful. In the book, what were many suggestions about the word that was written on the paper the Magistrate wantedthe secret of happiness. Are all your sentences complete and correctly written? Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him. Because of Minli's sacrifice to help a friend, she and her family receive everything they could ever have hoped for. Image Based Life > Uncategorized > where the mountain meets the moon character traits However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. BildungsromanShelf ElfPaper TigersMotherReaderCharlottes LibraryWrite for a ReaderThe Mommy FilesThrifty Minnesota Mama Creative MadnessAbby the Librarian, And EVEN more!Review at BookpageCareer, Craft & Cheer on CynsationsSoup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet SoupSeven Impossible Things Before BreakfastBook of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat, Make a Compass (like Minli!) That afternoon, she meets a man who sells goldfish. One day I thought I would surprise my friends. They travel all through the night, searching. This is a good time to show students how to use a print or online thesaurus, but remind them only to use words that they are comfortable with; a fancy word is not necessarily the best word. The setting is somewhere in China. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. Have students complete the worksheet. Determine the Age of the Dragon (using peach math) Themes. I think it has a good message for readers and Minli is a good role model. When Minli finds Dragon, it cant fly and is caught up in some ropes. Have students read with the method and at the pace you find best for your class. I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 132pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. Despite her mothers disapproval of stories and dreaming, Minli gathers her courage, her resourcefulness, and her openness to new people and places, to take a remarkable journey to accomplish the impossible. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. . How important are stories in your life? Give each student or pair a story to work with from the following list or let them choose one themselves, being sure that no two are working on the same story. When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. There are numerous other minor characters in the book: You can help us out by revising, improving and updating You may value money, friends, family or ideals like honesty, generosity, and faith. Have students write a paragraph or more using the following prompt: Your values are your principles, the things that you hold to be important in life. It also suggests something valuable; The black mountain seems ominous and threatening; The fact that the mountain cut the sky like a jagged piece of rough metal suggests that it is harsh and perhaps dangerous. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Ba, however, seems glad that Minli is so hopeful. Important Quotes. It was even better than I remembered! A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. "[6], Andrew Medlar from Booklist said: "Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine & mystical land [] children will embrace this [] story"[6], A companion, titled Starry River of the Sky, was published on February 11, 2014. In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In returning to Fruitless Mountain, Dragon also meets his mother, Jade Dragon. The page had been treasured by the kings of the city for generations. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. These characters are the parents of the heroine. She realizes that she cannot ask Dragons questionunless she chooses not to ask her own. When Dragon and Minli reunite, each is surprised to learn that the other has found a borrowed line. ", Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. He is tied up with some ropes, so Minli cuts him free. Dragon realizes that this must be the borrowed line, so he tells them about Minli. How can students use Where the Mountain Meets the Moon as a mentor text to write a personal narrative with vivid language? Remind them to include vivid language. Eventually she decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. Resources for Socratic seminars for elementary school students can be found online. *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed), This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides. It was a boring day, and I tried to figure out what to do. Make two copies for each pair of students to use in analyzing the embedded stories. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. 2023 . She invites them to come with her to see the Old Man, but they laugh and say, Why would we want to change our fortune? Minli is left to ponder these words as she flies a kitemade of both the paper and the thread from the City of Bright Moonlightinto the sky. They stop at the City of the Bright Moonlight to meet the King. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. 3. Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. However, when a few people complained that they preferred sunshine, Jade Dragon grew angry. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. Not understanding that she was rich in love, the womanwho is clearly Ma herselfonly felt bitter about her poverty. When he lands, he says that he feels like he is home. Design a costume for the character. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. [1][2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor[3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. I enjoyed every moment if this book and could not put it down!! Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. When her parents find out, Ma is angry. A difficult choice faces the girl. "Bringing fortune to our house! Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. She describes a poor woman who was blessed with loving husband and a beautiful, happy daughter. (For example: ReadWriteThink's, Each student should have a notebook or composition book with a dedicated section for. Dragon cannot fly. Da-Fu and A-Fu lead Minli to Never-Ending Mountain, where the Old Man of the Moon is said to live. Mountain Meets the Moon . Even so, Minli is a happy and vibrant child who eagerly listens as her father, whom she calls Ba, tells stories every night. Many children are gathered there, and Ba is about to tell the story of Minlis adventures. Which characters in the book prove to be true friends? Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map Minli Wishes to find Old Man of the Moon in order to change her family's fortune.Has Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map Minli Wishes to find Old Man of the Moon in order to change her family's fortune.Has Recursos Precios Crear un Guin Grfico Each figure tied to the next with the fine red thread of fate. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Also, she is full of bitterness and resentment due to their poverty. Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Ask them what qualities she showed as she overcame these challenges (for example: courage, cleverness, persistence). In moments, he disappeared from view into the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, and if it wasn't for the goldfish Minli had in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon study guide contains a biography of Grace Lin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. I absolutely loved this book, beautifully written. Minlis parents desperately hope she can change the familys fortune. Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) Ma and Ba camp in the forest, and Ba tells the story of a greedy magistrate who tried to steal the secret of happiness from a poor but otherwise perfect family. So Mini decides to leave and set off to find the Old Man of the Mountain. Which gives the reader a better understanding of the village? At the end of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and in her essays, Lin shares photos and drawings and discusses how she came to use and adapt elements of Chinese culture in her stories. Tell students about Grace Lin, using information from the Background section. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. It will take more than a goldfish to bring fortune to our house, she says. This is quite a minor character. She notices that he is wearing a piece of golden dragon jewelry, and she follows him. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. My father came down the stairs and asked what I was doing down there. [11], Renee Greenfield and Jennifer Rabold. Read the Study Guide for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, View Wikipedia Entries for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. The goal of this activity is to have students engage with the text through a series of focused questions listed by chapter and page in Worksheet 1. Read More Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters Visual Vocabulary Theme Answer the Prompt Figurative Language Text Structure Create a Storyboard It is a mystical dragon, born from a painting that was supposedly owned by the evil Magistrate Tiger (who serves as the villain of the book). He warns her that he only has time to answer one question. She says they make Minli dream instead of focusing on the reality of the familys poor fortune. However, he informs her that she can ask only one question. He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. In the first part of the lesson, students read each of the embedded folktales as they cover the main narrative. Distribute copies of Worksheet 2. Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. These characters are the parents of the heroine. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. She returns to Dragon and, following the Old Mans instructions, helps him pull a big, heavy bump off the top of his head. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. [Optional activity: Show them the first 1:40 minutes of Al Rokers interview with Grace Lin in which she covers much of the same material. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. The boy laughs and refuses to accept it. Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". Have students pay close attention to the Her grief at losing her children made Fruitless Mountain barren of growth. Knead the dough a few times so that the vanilla extract can distribute evenly. When the students come to class, give them time to share their sentences from the pre-activity in small groups. I brought my pet into school. As she works, Minli wishes she could change her familys fortune. To her surprise, the fish speaks and says that it has swum every river of the world except the Jade Riverthe one Minli has brought her to now. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! She accomplishes her tasks, undertaken with the help of a talking dragon, by showing generosity, courage and integrity. Lins own full-color drawings open each chapter. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. It turns out the goldfish can talk when people want to hear it. They become friends, and Dragon offers to be her steed for the journey, despite the fact that he cannot fly, unlike other dragons. Jennifer Rothschild, Prince Georges County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD, Kirkus Reviews*Starred Review*To change her familys fortunes, a poor Chinese girl embarks on a fantastical quest to discover she already has everything she needs to be happy. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. A couple years after we sold that curriculum, I borrowed it from our local library and read it again. thissection. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. According to the goldfish, the wise man can answer Minli's question on how to bring good fortune to her family and the village. It blends an adventure narrative with a female hero, a collection of traditional and invented folktales, and an array of Chinese-style paintings and woodcuts into an appealing and challenging reading experience. Ask students to think of and share other types of challenges they have seen or experienced. Two destinies at stake. Essay Topics. Minli's father is a storyteller. Day 2. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. Explain your design ideaswhat Minli befriends a dragon along the way. What are three things you can do to make your narrative even better? Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. Readers of the book get to relive the story of Minli's journey, readers Students reading the book will not only share the adventure, but will learn much about traditional values in Chinese culture. Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Despite her mother's disapproval of stories and dreaming, Minli gathers her courage, her resourcefulness, and her openness to new people and places, to take a remarkable journey to accomplish the impossible. For years, she and her siblings were the only Asian American children in her school and she was the only one in her class. It turns out he is not a beggar at all, but the king in disguise. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your ideas. Amazed, Ma observes that the fortunes of the family have changed. by Grace Lin Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character List These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Goldfish Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. Activity 2. They have a line of red thread that was once given to them by the Old Man of the Moon, who told them to keep it until it was needed. Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. There were a lot of things down there. Grace went on a blog tour for her book. Lin has fleshed out this . "Where The Mountain Meets The Moon,", Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-Present, Mythopoeic Awards: Acceptance Remarks 2010, "Wheelocks Mountain a vivid adaptation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Where_the_Mountain_Meets_the_Moon&oldid=1135777303, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 20:10. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback.