Lord Of The Animals: A Miwok Indian Creation Myth [Hardcover]

Fiona French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up

In a beautifully illustrated retelling of a Native American creation myth, Coyote convenes a council of the animals to discuss his ideas for a superior being who will rule over all creation.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Coyote creates the creatures of the Earth, and then calls a council to decide what the Lord of the Animals should look like. Each animal suggests his own qualities as best until fur and feathers begin to fly. Coyote then instructs each one to create a clay model and declares that the council will choose the best. His model exhibits "the best" qualities of other animals and himself. It is man: he stands on two legs like bear; his eyes can see far and hear the slightest sound like deer; and, of course, he is clever and cunning like Coyote. This successful retelling of a Miwok Indian creation myth is comparable in content to versions cited in the source notes. The pictures appear to be a combination of watercolor and ink, and are richly executed utilizing Native American motifs. Animals are printed with greater detail so each one emerges with its own motif, adding to the mythical, almost dreamlike feeling created by the backgrounds. Illustrations are rendered in such a manner that text flows through the art. This enjoyable read-aloud or read-alone could be paired with other stories about coyote such as Verna Aardema's Borreguita and the Coyote (Knopf, 1991) and Barbara Goldin's Coyote and the Firestick (Harcourt, 1996) or a variety of creation tales.?Susan M. Moore, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-8. Coyote gathers all the animals he has created to decide how to make the Lord of the Animals, a superior creature who will rule over them all. Of course, each animal thinks the lord should be in its image, and the arguments fly until Coyote invites each of the animals to create a model from which they will choose the best one. All of the models are washed away, except Coyote's, and in the morning he gives life to man, "cunning and clever, just like Coyote." A straightforward retelling with colorful, stylized illustrations that fill the pages. Brief notes provide the author's sources as well as tribal information. Karen Hutt

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761301127
• ISBN-13: 978-0761301127
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,359,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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