From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5 The infamous Lakota trickster is once again on the losing end of a trick. Iktomi watches as a man commands his eyes to leave his head and then calls them back. The mysterious stranger tells Iktomi the secret of his trick but warns him never to do it more than four times in one day. Naturally, Iktomi must show off his new skill to his friends and does so once too often. When he finds that he can't retrieve his eyes, he stumbles about until he convinces Buffalo and Mouse to each give him one eye. Unfortunately, these replacements don't provide the vision and perspective needed to maneuver in the human world. As in Goble's previous titles about this legendary rascal, this book operates on many levels. It is an amusing trickster tale as well as a symbolic story about limited perception and understanding. Historical elements about Plains Indian life are juxtaposed with contemporary objects and attitudes. Varied typography delineates the story's narration from Iktomi's thoughts and ongoing comments meant to elicit responses from listeners. Different fonts and crisp, colorful artwork create an attractive book. Fans of Goble's unique narrative and visual style won't be disappointed with the latest account of Iktomi's outlandish antics. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Multilayered and virtually multimedia, Goble's latest again presents a sly, very funny trickster tale with gorgeous illustrations. An obviously Bad Guy, with a black hat and a bottle of whiskey, gets the preening Iktomi to sign a land sale deed by teaching him how to throw his eyes from his head--and get them back--telling him that he can do this only four times a day. Iktomi immediately breaks that rule and finds himself eyeless. He tricks an eye each from Mouse and Buffalo, but their different sizes don't work well together. Goble does great things with the picture space: Iktomi, in full Plains regalia, resembles an image on a blanket or an anthropological watercolor. Other figures appear as small totems or as silhouettes. Goble plays with the text, too: Iktomi addresses the audience in small fonts (or handwritten scrawls) scattered across the pictures; the narrator's commentary (separate from the story) is in gray type. Goble lists his detailed sources and offers an introduction, but he also lets Iktomi have his say: "This is more lies about me by that white guy, Paul Goble." Goble enters the spirit of the trickster tale fully, making the book and its telling as tricky as Iktomi (whose name means spider). GraceAnne A. DeCandido
