Grace Moon (1884–1947) was an American children's author, publishing many works on Native American themes. Her most notable work was Runaway Papoose, which won a Newbery Honor in 1929.
Biography She was born Grace Purdie in Indianapolis on February 5, 1884.
She received her education from the University of Wisconsin, National Academy of Design, New York and the Art Institute of Chicago.The Writer, Volume 30, William Henry Hills, Robert Luce, p. 74, 1918"Moon, Grace." Junior Book Of Authors (1951): Biography Reference Bank (H.W. Wilson). Web. 2 June 2015. She spent several years in Europe and explored Aztec ruins in Mexico with her father. Her "bringing out" party was as the American Legation in Buenos Aires.Carl Moon family photograph and clipping album, Carl Moon Collection of Family Photographs and Ephemera, Huntington Library In 1911 she married Carl Moon, a painter and photographer of the American Indian.Best Of The West 2012: Carl Moon, Photographer With A Native Heart Cowboys and Indians, Dana Joseph, June 2012 Carl worked at El Tovar Studio in the Grand Canyon from 1911 until they moved to Pasadena in 1914. The couple had two children Francis-Maxwell and Mary. They collaborated on 22 children's books on the Pueblos and Navajos with Carl illustrating some of them.
Selected works Indian Legends in Rhyme - 1917 Lost Indian Magic: A Mystery Story of the Red Man as He Lived Before the White Men Came – 1918 Wongo and the Wise Old Crow - 1923 Chi-Wee, The Adventures of a Little Indian Girl – 1925 Chi-Wee and Loki of the Desert - 1926 Nadita (Little Nothing) - 1927 Runaway Papoose – 1928 The Magic Trail – 1929 The Missing Katchina - 1930 The Arrow of Teemay - 1930 Far-away Desert - 1932 Book of Nah-Wee - 1932 Shanty Ann - 1935 Singing Sands - 1936 White Indian - 1937, "The story is well-paced and not too far-fetched." Solita -1938, "Grace Moon has established a reputation for this type of story, and though there is no particular distinction to this one, it is good routine story-adventure against a Mexican background." Daughter of Thunder - 1942, "All Moon books give accurate pictures of Navajo life, showing various customs such as the Rain Dance." One Little Indian - 1950
References
Bibliography In Search of the Wild Indian: photographs and life works by Carl and Grace Moon, Tom Driebe, Maurose Publishing, 1997
External links
Lost Indian Magic, full text and illustrations Indian Legends in Rhyme, full text and illustrations