Half a Moon and One Whole Star

Crescent Dragonwagon

Aladdin, Sep 30, 1990 - Juvenile Fiction - 32 pages

A soothing, evocative poem about night falling over a young girl’​s home and neighborhood is brought to life by the lush artwork of Caldecott Medal winner Jerry Pinkney in this bedtime treasure.

Up above the earth so far
Hang half a moon and one whole star
Hang one whole star and half a moon;
Nighttime will be coming soon.

And while a young girl sleeps, nighttime deepens in vivid harmony all around her—in the woods and garden, on the ocean, in the city, and on the porch, where her parents sit.

About the author

Crescent Dragonwagon’s books for children include Half a Moon and One Whole Star and Home Place. She’s also the author of several novels, a book of poetry, and cookbooks, such as Passionate Vegetarian. With her late husband Ned Shank, she is the cofounder of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she lives. You can also visit her at Dragonwagon.com, where the weather is whatever you'd like it to be.

Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021) illustrated 100 children’s books, and his work earned the 2010 Caldecott Medal, five Caldecott Honor Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards, five Coretta Scott King Honors, five New York Times Best Illustrated Book awards, and, in 2006, the Original Art Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators. Jerry Pinkney’s many acclaimed titles included John Henry, Minty, Sam and the Tigers, The Ugly Duckling, and Mirandy and Brother Wind. Find out more at JerryPinkneyStudio.com.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Half a Moon and One Whole Star
• Author: Crescent Dragonwagon
• Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Aladdin, 1990
• ISBN: 0689714157, 9780689714153
• Length: 32 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Bedtime & Dreams; Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / United States / African American & Black; Juvenile Fiction / Poetry