Customer Reviews

American Indian Fairy Tales (Illustrated Stories for Children)

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NB: THIS REVIEW REFERS TO THE 1993 DERRYDALE HARDCOVER EDITION.

During the 30 years during which Henry Schoolcraft lived among the Indians of the Great Lakes area, he undertook a personal mission to learn their folklore and then transcribe into English. This book offers ten Native American fairy tales on fine quality paper with excellent color illustrations by John Rae. Whether they are tales of adventure, love, or quests for glory and improvement of the tribe, they reveal basic human traits: we see our 21st century selves mirrored in recognizable behavior, from character flaws to noble sacrifice. Some tales offer explanations for natural phenomena.

These tales are recounted to rapt young listeners--hungry to learn the ways and values of their people--by old venerable Iagoo, whose tribal function is to preserve their history by means of oral tradition.
The total anthology underscores the close relationship between humans and sprits, between mankind and the animal realm, between people and
their environment (Mother Earth, Father Sky). This celebration of the interconnectedness among humans and their world reminds readers
that every action has a consequence, for which we must take the blame or shoulder the responsibility. Contemporary readers will recognize many similar traits and personality quirks, which reveal the commonality of the human experience.