The Moon Lake by Ivan Gantschev (1981) is a story with a moral. On the very first page is a handwritten “UU Church of Franklin”, which makes me wonder how it made its way to a library book sale. This book is also published by a local company, Picture Book Studio of Natick. I don’t see a current listing online for this publisher.
Somewhere in a mountain landscape is a lake. Precious stones line its banks as a result of the moon shaking herself dry after a bath in the lake. Only an old shepherd knew the location of the lake and passed away without sharing this knowledge. When his grandson Peter stumbled upon the lake, he filled his shepherd’s sack with precious stones, dreaming of buying a new blanket, shirt, and salt. A passing fox shared the secret to exiting the area safely. Peter gave the fox food in return for this secret. Selfish people who later visit this lake don't find the exit. I suppose the moral is not to be greedy? A current interpretation might point out that the lake region wasn’t destroyed by a massive mining operation. Peter is grateful for the brilliance of the jewels, which he benefits from but does not exploit.
I enjoyed Gantschev’s watercolors. They are paradoxically clear and precise while also softly rendered.
