Little Peter's Journey to the Moon facts for kids
Little Peter's Journey to the Moon (German: Peterchens Mondfahrt) is a popular fairy tale written by German author and playwright Gerdt von Bassewitz. It was first shown as a play in Leipzig in 1912. Later, in 1915, it became a storybook for children. The book included beautiful pictures by Hans Baluschek. An English version from 2007 is called Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon.
The story is about a boy named Little Peter and his sister Anneli. They help a May beetle named Mr. Zoomzeman. He needs their help to find his missing sixth leg, which is on the Moon! They go on an amazing and risky adventure during the night. They get the leg back and are safely returned to their beds at home.
The Story of Peter's Moon Journey
Many years ago, a thief was stealing wood in the forest. He cut off the sixth leg of Mr. Zoomzeman’s great-great grandfather. The Night Fairy punished the thief by sending him to the Moon. But the thief took the leg with him! Because of this, all the Zoomzeman beetles after him only had five legs.
The current Mr. Zoomzeman can break this old curse. He can get his missing leg back if he finds two children with pure hearts. These children must also have never been mean to animals. He goes into the house of Little Peter and his younger sister Anneli (whose full name is Anneliese). He tells them his sad story. Peter and Anneli promise to help him find the lost leg. Mr. Zoomzeman teaches them a special magical chant. This chant lets them fly! So, they fly off towards the Moon.
On the Moon, they meet the Sandman. He takes care of the star children. Each star child belongs to a child on Earth. Peter and Anneli’s stars are bright and clean. This shows that they truly have pure hearts. The Sandman is very impressed. He offers to take the three heroes to the Night Fairy's tea party at her castle.
They travel in the Sandman's special sky chariot. They fly along the Milky Way. Here, the children learn about amazing things in space.
Meanwhile, the Night Fairy has invited many sky guests to her midnight party. These guests include the thunder man (Donnermann), the wind bride (Windliesel), and the cloud woman (Wolkenfrau). Other guests are the lightning witch (Blitzhexe), Rainy Fritz (Regenfritz), and the gale giant (Sturmriese). Hail Hans (Hagelhans), Mother Hulda (Frau Holle), and Ice Max (Eismax) are also there. The vodyanoy (Wassermann), Mary-of-the-dew (Taumariechen), morning glory (Morgenröte), and the afterglow (Abendröte) join them. The morning star (Morgenstern), the evening star (Abendstern), and the Queen of the Day (die Sonne) are also at the party. The Guardian of the Milky Way arrives and complains. The guests made a lot of mess traveling to the party! The guests say sorry and offer the guardian gifts.
The Sandman and the adventurers arrive. This surprises everyone because the Sandman is never late. Also, he brought humans! Mr. Zoomzeman's sad story makes the sky spirits want to help. The Night Fairy asks the Guardian of the Milky Way to call the Great Bear. Peter, Anneli, and Mr. Zoomzeman are carried by the bear. They go to the Moon cannon. On the way, they pass a meadow where gifts and sweets grow for Christmas. They also pass a nest where a hen lays colorful Easter eggs. The cannon then shoots the adventurers up onto a hill. The lost sixth leg is nailed to a special birch tree there.
At the tree, the heroes face the Man in the Moon. He is a mean and violent giant. The sky spirits attack the Man in the Moon. They want to stop him from eating the children. Peter fights him with his wooden toy sword. Anneli calls her and Peter's stars. The stars blind the Man in the Moon. The evil giant cannot see and gets lost in the deep moon woods.
Little Peter gets the sixth leg. Anneli attaches it to the beetle, who is unconscious. Mr. Zoomzeman wakes up and is very happy! But they must go back to Earth right away. If they don't, they will be stuck on the Moon forever. He uses an old magic charm that makes a hole. The children jump into the hole. They fall right back into their bedroom on Earth.
Dawn breaks, and the children open the window. They let Mr. Zoomzeman fly away. Their mother comes into the bedroom. She brings them a gift of gingerbread from Father Christmas.
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The Night Fairy
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Meeting the children
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Star Meadow
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The Castle of the Night Fairy
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The Moon Cannon
Film Versions
A German TV movie based on the book first aired in 1959. It was shown on Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk. In 1990, an animated film was made. It was directed by Wolfgang Urchs. This movie was released in English as Peter in Magicland.
