The Deetkatoo: Native American Stories About Little People [Hardcover]

John Bierhorst (Author), Ron Hilbert Coy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

With a blend of magic and realism, John Bier horst presents 22 tales of little people from 14 different N ative American cultures. It includes a comprehensive bibliog raphy and source notes. '

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7-This collection of tales is gathered from the native peoples of the Americas, from Greenland west to California, and Canada south to Argentina. Falling somewhere between passed-down personal reminiscences and full-blown fairy stories, the 22 selections are short and simply told. They reveal incidents from the lives of the little people and their interactions with the average-sized folk before the Europeans arrived. The brevity adds to the ease of reading or telling these tales. The extensive introduction discusses their place in world literature, as well as specifics from the stories. Black-and-white linoleum prints depict multiple images and scenes with simple outline figures. An interesting and unusual addition for Native American and folktale collections.
Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-12. Bierhorst presents 22 tales, varying in length and complexity, about little people, from 14 Native American groups, including the Inuit, Aztec, and Maya cultures. Although folklorists don't consider these stories to be folktales in the ordinary sense (they "are called memorates, implying that they have been taken straight from the memory despite their extraordinary subject matter"), readers will still enjoy their depiction of the power and influence the little people exert over humans and everyday events. Bierhorst provides an excellent introduction to the tales and an unusual "Guide to the Lore of Little People," which groups the stories by theme--food, rain, helpfulness, personal traits, etc. Tribal information as well as extensive source notes are appended; the illustrations were not seen. Karen Hutt

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688148379
• ISBN-13: 978-0688148379
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)