Rabbit and Opossum come to life in 'Ancient Night' — a new twist on an old legend

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/19/ [login to see] /rabbit-and-opossum-come-to-life-in-ancient-night-a-new-twist-on-an-old-legend
A decade ago, Mexican illustrator David Álvarez took a trip and got the idea for his children's book, Ancient Night.

Spain — the cities, the culture — reminded him a lot of home. The similarities made him want to research the history of Mexico and Central America before the Spanish conquest.

So Álvarez started reading. He came across many myths, including one that stuck with him: the story of the rabbit and the moon.

According to legend, the dark spots on the moon are the tracks of a rabbit. But how did the tracks get there? People in Mesoamerica have several different stories.

Some claim the rabbit was hurled there to lessen the moon's glow.