How Raven Stole the Sun (Tales of the People) [Hardcover]

Maria Williams (Author), Felix Vigil (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Tales of the People

Created with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Tales of the People is a series of children's books celebrating Native American culture with illustrations and stories by Indian artists and writers. In addition to the tales themselves, each book also offers four pages filled with information and photographs exploring various aspects of Native culture, including a glossary of words in different Indian languages. The clever Raven, who was once pure white, turns himself into a mischievous little girl as he finds a way to bring light to the world. This engaging Tlingit story is brought to life in painterly illustrations that convey a sense of the traditional life of the Northwest Coast peoples.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this new addition to the popular Tales of the People series, striking illustrations combine with a fascinating retelling of a traditional Tlingit tale.

About the Tales of the People series:

Created with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Tales of the People is a series of children's books celebrating Native American culture with illustrations and stories by Indian artists and writers. In addition to the tales themselves, each book also offers four pages filled with information and photographs exploring various aspects of Native culture, including a glossary of words in different Indian languages.

About the Author

Maria Williams (Tlingit), who has a doctorate in ethnomusicology from UCLA, is the Native Folk Arts Director for the Alaska State Council on the Arts. She learned this story, which is a traditional Tlingit tale, from her father, Aweix Bill Williams. Felix Vigil (Jicarilla Apache/Jemez Pueblo) follows in his father's footsteps as a professional artist. A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, he lives and paints in Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, where he was born and raised.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 29 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Kids; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789201631
• ISBN-13: 978-0789201638
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > United States

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Felix Vigil's artwork is perfectly suited, July 5, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Raven Stole the Sun (Tales of the People) (Hardcover)

How Raven Stole The Sun is the latest addition to the Abbeville "Tales of the People" series of books for young readers, published in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Felix Vigil's artwork is perfectly suited to Maria Williams retelling of a Tlingit tale she first heard from her father. Its the story of how the Raven transformed himself to bring light to what had been an earth shrouded in darkness. How Raven Stole The Sun is further enriched for young readers with a glossary of Tlingit Words, a brief description of the Tlingit People; and photographs of artifacts drawn from the Smithsonian collection, as well as period photos of the Tlingit people. Other highly recommended titles in this outstanding series include The Butterfly Dance (0789201615, ...); Brave Wolf And The Thunderbird (0789201607, ...); and Coyote In Love With A Star (0789201623, ...).

5.0 out of 5 stars This tale will steal children's hearts as well, December 1, 2008

By 

A. S. Johnson "seeking change" (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Raven Stole the Sun (Tales of the People) (Hardcover)

This is a retelling of a Tlingit tale about how Raven used to be white and there was only darkness in the world. The chief of a tribe has the Sun, Moon, and Stars in boxes because he wants them for himself. Raven tricks the chief into releasing them, then turns black while escaping.

I've been reading this to my 4 year old for 5 months now, and he loves it. The illustrations are great, and the writing is very nice. It is also an appropriate length for someone his age or a little older. While the book is directed to a child, I like it too. I enjoy reading it to him.