Moony Luna / Luna, Lunita Lunera focuses on the emotions of a young girl who is starting school. Like many children, Luna has a mix of emotions—excitement, confidence, fear, uncertainty—as she prepares for her first day. Not knowing what to expect, Luna imagines that there are monsters lurking at her school. This story addresses the conflicting emotions that children often feel when starting school. Moony Luna / Luna, Lunita Lunera is more than a story of first-day jitters, however. It goes further to explore how community support is essential during times of transition. With help from her parents, classmates, and teacher, Luna becomes comfortable in her new environment.

Moony Luna / Luna, Lunita Lunera, in both Spanish and English, is an ideal read-aloud story for the start of kindergarten or first grade. It can be used to introduce and discuss the roles of children and teachers, the classroom, and school in general. Furthermore, young learners may take solace in learning that it is normal to have a mixture of feelings during this time of change.

This book is intended for children ages 3 to 6. We have used California Standards for kindergarten to guide the activities in this Teacher’s Guide.

Latino

School and Community:
first day of school; classroom/school culture; support of family and friends

Emotions:
fear/confronting fears; recognizing/dealing with emotions; overcoming shyness to make new friends

Growing Up:
new experiences; childhood milestones; separation from family

	Jorge Argueta is a celebrated Salvadoran poet who has written and participated in more than fourteen books and anthologies. His first two books for Children's Book Press, A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada and Xochitl and the Flowers / Xochitl, la niña de las flores, have each received awards and commendations. Argueta immigrated to the United States at age 19 to escape the violent conflict in his homeland. Since his arrival in the Bay Area, he has engaged in significant social and political work. Through poetry, lectures, and activism, he has eased the transition for other Central American immigrants. He has worked to promote literacy and cultural understanding in homeless shelters and public schools for more than ten years. Argueta lives in San Francisco with his partner, fellow poet Teresa Kennett, and teenage daughter, Luna.
	Elizabeth Gómez is a Mexican American artist and mother of two young children. Her bright, whimsical paintings not only reflect the magical realism of her native culture, they exude the vitality and warmth of her own busy household. A graduate of the renowned San Francisco Art Institute, Gómez has also completed significant studies in Italy, Canada, and Mexico. Throughout the 1990's her work figured prominently in galleries across the Americas. With the new millennium came her first children's book, The Upside Down Boy / El niño de cabeza (Children's Book Press, 2000), which was honored as a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children. Her first collaboration with Jorge Argueta came in 2002 with the book A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada. She lives in Redwood City, California with her family. Our thanks to the Irwin Home Equity Foundation for their support in the production of this Teacher's Guide.