How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lisa Desimini (Illustrator) "When the pulse of the first day carried it to the rim of night, First Woman said to First Man, The people need to know..." (more)
Key Phrases: First Woman

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to the Navajos, the jumble of stars in the night sky reflects the disorders and confusion of life itself. In this lyrical retelling Oughton--in her first children's book--paints a picture of calm deliberation as, at the beginning of the world, First Woman determines to write the laws in the sky for all to see. So she positions her jewelry "crafting her careful mosaic on the blackberry cloth of night." Coyote offers to help with this important task but becomes impatient and sends a cascade of stars hurtling into the night, creating chaos for all time. Oughton's text echoes First Woman's self-confidence and is sprinkled throughout with deft turns of phrase. Desimini's somber yet luminous art evokes nature's solemn beauty as it captures the silent mystery of the "rim of night." Her solid, slightly static figures firmly place this fantasy-like world of the desert in reality. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- At the end of the first day, First Woman tries to convince First Man that ``The people need to know the laws.'' Impatiently, he tells her to write them in the sky. She takes a blanket full of her jewels (stars) and with infinite patience begins ``designing her pattern so all could read it.'' Coyote asks to help, but when he sees the magnitude of the task he grumbles, then flings the remaining stars into the night sky, forever obscuring the pattern. As the second day dawns, the people go about their lives, ``. . . never knowing the reason for the confusion that would always dwell among them.'' This Navajo tale acknowledges the common human feeling that there IS a message in the stars--the laws of a clear and orderly universe--if it could be read. It absolves humans of guilt (Coyote did it) and provides a First Woman who is a strong, positive, and beneficent figure. The concise and graceful text is matched with illustrations in a primitive but dramatic vein, marked by simplified shapes, saturated matte colors, and desert-stark composition. The claret-sandstone earth and deep lapis sky, meeting at a curved horizon, dominate most pages; the white of eyes and starlight punctuate the design. This handsome book might well fit into a myth or Native American collection, but it can stand on its own timely and attractive merits as well.
- Patricia Dooley, Univ. of Washington Extension, Seattle
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 3, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395779383
• ISBN-13: 978-0395779385
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,132 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #4 in

  Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > United States > Native American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend, November 1, 2000

By	"donna91363" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend (Hardcover)

My son is in 2nd grade and they're doing a unit on Native Americans. We read this book together and enjoyed the story as well as the beautiful illustrations. This book also lends itself to do the shadowbox project that goes along with the class studies. I enjoyed the Navajo concept of how the stars are patterned in the sky. We would recommend this book for the 7-9 year old group.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How the stars fell into the sky?, November 10, 2007

By	Ann Page-Thomas (London, England) - See all my reviews

This is a thought provoking legend about the origin of the stars - the patterns and the absence of patterns to be found there. It contrasts human behaviour - represented by the first woman, with animal behaviour - represented by a coyote, and would be ideal for any child to hear, think about and to read. The illustrations are bold and vivid.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, February 23, 2009

By	Elizabeth Leonard "elizabeth" (upstate ny) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is writen in the thoughts and belifes of the Native Americans. It is about how the starts got into the sky. I kids 4 and 14 love this book. I give it 5 stars.