What do you think?
Rate this book
Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story
A long time ago, fire belonged only to the animals in the land above, not to those on the earth below. Curlew, keeper of the sky world, guarded fire and kept it from the earth. Coyote, however, devised a clever plan to steal fire, aided by Grizzly Bear, Wren, Snake, Frog, Eagle, and Beaver. These brave and resourceful animal beings raided the land above and risked all to steal fire from Curlew.
Beaver Steals Fire is an ancient and powerful tale springing from the hearts and experiences of the Salish people of Montana. Steeped in the rich and culturally vital storytelling tradition of the tribe, this tale teaches both respect for fire and awareness of its significance, themes particularly relevant today. This unforgettable version of the story is told by Salish elder Johnny Arlee and beautifully illustrated by tribal artist Sam Sandoval.
Beaver Steals Fire is an ancient and powerful tale springing from the hearts and experiences of the Salish people of Montana. Steeped in the rich and culturally vital storytelling tradition of the tribe, this tale teaches both respect for fire and awareness of its significance, themes particularly relevant today. This unforgettable version of the story is told by Salish elder Johnny Arlee and beautifully illustrated by tribal artist Sam Sandoval.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
123 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 1, 2017
I read this book to my students and even though the story was great and they were learning about a different culture... they had a really hard time understand what was going on.
"A long time ago, fire belonged only to the animals in the land above, not to those on the earth below. Curlew, keeper of the sky world, guarded fire and kept it from the earth. Coyote, however, devised a clever plan to steal fire, aided by Grizzly Bear, Wren, Snake, Frog, Eagle, and Beaver. These brave and resourceful animal beings raided the land above and risked all to steal fire from Curlew."
"A long time ago, fire belonged only to the animals in the land above, not to those on the earth below. Curlew, keeper of the sky world, guarded fire and kept it from the earth. Coyote, however, devised a clever plan to steal fire, aided by Grizzly Bear, Wren, Snake, Frog, Eagle, and Beaver. These brave and resourceful animal beings raided the land above and risked all to steal fire from Curlew."
June 29, 2019
Retold by Salish elder and storyteller Johnny Arlee, and illustrated by Salish artist Sam Sandoval (a media specialist for the Salish and Kootenai Tribal Preservation Department), this tribally-sponsored picture-book has been sitting on my shelf for years now, waiting to be read. As the brief note to the reader included at the beginning of the book mentions, this is a story meant to be told and discussed only in winter, when snow is on the ground, and the note requests the reader to respect that tradition. Noting this, at the time of purchase (it was summer), I put it away, intending to pull it out the following January. Naturally, I forgot all about it, only to remember the next summer. After a few years of this, today I finally succeeded in reading and "discussing" (through this review) Beaver Steals Fire, having grabbed it on my way out the door this morning, after seeing the light dusting of snow (our first this year!) on the ground.
The tale of how the animals of earth gained fire from the land above, where it was guarded by Curlew, Beaver Steals Fire details their cooperative effort - how they decided on a leader based on the songs of the applicants (Coyote, pictured on the cover, was the winner); how the animal companions ascended to the sky, thanks to Wren's climbing; how they learned the location of Curlew's lodge thanks to Snake and Frog's surveillance (although one of them came off the worse for wear, in the end); and how fire itself was finally won, through the combined efforts of Beaver and Eagle, and kept, through the efforts of Prairie Chicken - and how their combined actions resulted in triumph.
I really appreciated both the cooperative aspects of this tale, and the fact that the realities of animal life - yes, Snake eats Frog - are maintained, with no interruption to the story. The artwork was appealing, with an earthy palette - lots of tans, yellows and light browns - and figures that are a cross between animal and human. The material at the rear, giving more detailed information about the thousands of years of land management - through the careful use of fire - used by the Salish, was really quite fascinating, as was the detailed explanation of the Salish language, and how it is written, using the International Phonetic Alphabet. I'd be interested to know whether some of the principles of controlled fire are being reintroduced today, and how that is working. All in all, an engaging story and informative afterword make Beaver Steals Fire a very valuable book, one I would recommend to young folklore enthusiasts, and to readers interested in Salish culture and/or land management issues.
The tale of how the animals of earth gained fire from the land above, where it was guarded by Curlew, Beaver Steals Fire details their cooperative effort - how they decided on a leader based on the songs of the applicants (Coyote, pictured on the cover, was the winner); how the animal companions ascended to the sky, thanks to Wren's climbing; how they learned the location of Curlew's lodge thanks to Snake and Frog's surveillance (although one of them came off the worse for wear, in the end); and how fire itself was finally won, through the combined efforts of Beaver and Eagle, and kept, through the efforts of Prairie Chicken - and how their combined actions resulted in triumph.
I really appreciated both the cooperative aspects of this tale, and the fact that the realities of animal life - yes, Snake eats Frog - are maintained, with no interruption to the story. The artwork was appealing, with an earthy palette - lots of tans, yellows and light browns - and figures that are a cross between animal and human. The material at the rear, giving more detailed information about the thousands of years of land management - through the careful use of fire - used by the Salish, was really quite fascinating, as was the detailed explanation of the Salish language, and how it is written, using the International Phonetic Alphabet. I'd be interested to know whether some of the principles of controlled fire are being reintroduced today, and how that is working. All in all, an engaging story and informative afterword make Beaver Steals Fire a very valuable book, one I would recommend to young folklore enthusiasts, and to readers interested in Salish culture and/or land management issues.
March 10, 2017
Beaver Steals Fire is about how the animals in the sky had fire and the animals on land didn’t but wanted it and how they devised a plan to get the fire. It was fun following the animals on their journey to get fire.
January 19, 2018
On the cover the book is credited to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Once inside you can find the name of the illustrator, and further back, into the supplemental materials, you can find the storyteller, but ultimately this tale originates from the tribe. It is being used now as part of a project to help increase understanding of fire's role and improve the management of the environment.
In addition to a pronunciation guide and other background material included in the book, there is other material available through The Fire History Project. It was not my favorite story, but could be a valuable part of a unit on history or ecology.
In addition to a pronunciation guide and other background material included in the book, there is other material available through The Fire History Project. It was not my favorite story, but could be a valuable part of a unit on history or ecology.
February 24, 2018
Story Telling
I appreciated the lore and story. I was even more fond of the fact that they included a request and reasons for not reading this story aloud or for storytelling except during winter. The acknowledgements and phonetic guides were very helpful and a nice addition to the story containing authentic Salish words.
I appreciated the lore and story. I was even more fond of the fact that they included a request and reasons for not reading this story aloud or for storytelling except during winter. The acknowledgements and phonetic guides were very helpful and a nice addition to the story containing authentic Salish words.
March 19, 2010
Format: Picture Book
Award: AIYL 2006 (American Indian Youth Literature Award) This was the first year this award was given. It is awarded every 2 years. It honors the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
I found the note to the reader at the beginning of the book to be very informative and interesting. It is asked that anyone who wishes to read or discuss aloud this book only do so during winter when snow is on the ground. This way those reading and discussing the book can enjoy a part of the culture during the time of the year that it belongs.
The animals on Earth didn't have fire. They decide the one with the best song will lead them in stealing fire from the sky. Coyote was the one with the best song. The animals then follow Coyote's instructions to steal fire from the sky.
This book has a lot of information at the beginning and the end for teachers to discuss with their students in the classroom. I think this book can be read and discussed with 4th or 5th graders.
Award: AIYL 2006 (American Indian Youth Literature Award) This was the first year this award was given. It is awarded every 2 years. It honors the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
I found the note to the reader at the beginning of the book to be very informative and interesting. It is asked that anyone who wishes to read or discuss aloud this book only do so during winter when snow is on the ground. This way those reading and discussing the book can enjoy a part of the culture during the time of the year that it belongs.
The animals on Earth didn't have fire. They decide the one with the best song will lead them in stealing fire from the sky. Coyote was the one with the best song. The animals then follow Coyote's instructions to steal fire from the sky.
This book has a lot of information at the beginning and the end for teachers to discuss with their students in the classroom. I think this book can be read and discussed with 4th or 5th graders.
February 6, 2011
This is the 2006 recipient of the American Indian Awards. It is a publication of a story representing thousands of years of oral tradition of the Salish people in Montana. It tells of how fire was a gift from the Creator and brought down from the sky by animal beings to warm and light the earth for the human beings to come. It is beautifully illustrated in soft shades of yellow and brown, with the persona animal(s) on one page and the text on the opposing page. It includes a detailed explanation for teachers and parents about the background of the story and the tribe's feelings about fire. It was part of a larger fire-education program that includes an interactive dvd for middle school and high school students,lesson plans and websites. It also includes a guide to the alphabet used by the Salish tribe and the sounds in the Salish language. This would be a great addition to middle school or high school classrooms in the area of social studies, ecology, poetry, storytelling, Native American tales and mythology.
September 3, 2019
This book offers a compelling story along with cultural information. I had no idea that this story should only be discussed while there is snow on the ground or the intimate relationship between fire and the land. The illustrations fit the book well. The story itself could be a bit confusing for the intended age group, but the extra information like the pronunciation guide and history could make for great discussion.
November 29, 2025
Every species in the animal kingdom is intelligent, strong, and wise, and they all respect one thing we humans need to protect or defend ourselves (fire).
In this book, “Beaver Steals Fire,” a story rooted in the cultural beliefs and traditions of the Indigenous Salish peoples, recounts how the animals ruled the earth before humans. Still, only the animals in the sky had fire, while the animals on land were cold and, just like humans today, needed warmth to survive the freezing and brutal winters. We also see in this book how building a community and working towards a common goal can be achieved in the face of adversity. This is a story of respect and culture, and the reason this book must only be read during the winter months, or the consequences could be similar to our modern-day climate crisis.
A major theme in this book was equity. The animals in the sky relied on fire as their primary resource for keeping warm, cooking food, and meeting other needs. The animals on land had no resources to stay warm or cook, but they knew that humans would one day roam the world and might need fire to meet their needs. For land animals to acquire this resource would bridge the gap of inequality. Another theme in this book is respect. Understanding the importance of having something you've never had before, like fire, and treasuring it once you do have it, and what it offers and brings into your life. Also, respecting the power that fire itself commands from those who use it.
The primary genre of this book is traditional literature. I learned from this book the importance of respecting your elders and understanding the culture and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. I learned that animals can really sense what humans need. If they can sense what we need, they can sense what we fear, what we need from them, and how we need them, for instance, how dogs and cats know if a person is of good character or not. A child reading this book can learn that having a good plan and a good team can accomplish any goal you set to achieve. It could be implied to kids that some animals are cold-blooded and others warm-blooded, even though in the story, the bull snake ate the frog on a quest to steal the fire, and we know both animals are cold-blooded today.
The book is a WOW book for me because of the many life lessons it contains that were known many years ago and are still valid in today's society. It’s a wow book because something so simple as fire commands the wisdom, knowledge, and respect of all who see and handle it. This book reminds you of the importance of once you lose or don’t have something, the value that something brings to you once you do acquire it and possess it.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of anthropomorphism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author drew the characters with the heads of animals like a coyote, beaver, and eagle, but with the bodies of humans. Anthropomorphism occurs more commonly in folktales, fantasy, and children’s stories like Peter Rabbit. The writing craft technique enhanced the book's quality by emphasizing the characteristics and meanings of each animal; for instance, the coyote was the leader of the plan to steal the fire. Coyotes are revered in many Native American traditions for their role in the creation of the world, as tricksters, and as symbols of resilience and survival. Second, the author uses the writing craft technique of Allegory. An example of this writing craft in this book is the author's use of multiple, specific animals. Each has its distinct qualities, and each animal on earth brings a certain balance to the world. The symbolism of how the animals worked together for a single purpose introduces the relationship between Indian peoples and the land.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it was the first book to win the first American Indian Youth Literature Award. It contains no bias, is well written, and is intended for children; readers of any age can read it.
In this book, “Beaver Steals Fire,” a story rooted in the cultural beliefs and traditions of the Indigenous Salish peoples, recounts how the animals ruled the earth before humans. Still, only the animals in the sky had fire, while the animals on land were cold and, just like humans today, needed warmth to survive the freezing and brutal winters. We also see in this book how building a community and working towards a common goal can be achieved in the face of adversity. This is a story of respect and culture, and the reason this book must only be read during the winter months, or the consequences could be similar to our modern-day climate crisis.
A major theme in this book was equity. The animals in the sky relied on fire as their primary resource for keeping warm, cooking food, and meeting other needs. The animals on land had no resources to stay warm or cook, but they knew that humans would one day roam the world and might need fire to meet their needs. For land animals to acquire this resource would bridge the gap of inequality. Another theme in this book is respect. Understanding the importance of having something you've never had before, like fire, and treasuring it once you do have it, and what it offers and brings into your life. Also, respecting the power that fire itself commands from those who use it.
The primary genre of this book is traditional literature. I learned from this book the importance of respecting your elders and understanding the culture and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. I learned that animals can really sense what humans need. If they can sense what we need, they can sense what we fear, what we need from them, and how we need them, for instance, how dogs and cats know if a person is of good character or not. A child reading this book can learn that having a good plan and a good team can accomplish any goal you set to achieve. It could be implied to kids that some animals are cold-blooded and others warm-blooded, even though in the story, the bull snake ate the frog on a quest to steal the fire, and we know both animals are cold-blooded today.
The book is a WOW book for me because of the many life lessons it contains that were known many years ago and are still valid in today's society. It’s a wow book because something so simple as fire commands the wisdom, knowledge, and respect of all who see and handle it. This book reminds you of the importance of once you lose or don’t have something, the value that something brings to you once you do acquire it and possess it.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of anthropomorphism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author drew the characters with the heads of animals like a coyote, beaver, and eagle, but with the bodies of humans. Anthropomorphism occurs more commonly in folktales, fantasy, and children’s stories like Peter Rabbit. The writing craft technique enhanced the book's quality by emphasizing the characteristics and meanings of each animal; for instance, the coyote was the leader of the plan to steal the fire. Coyotes are revered in many Native American traditions for their role in the creation of the world, as tricksters, and as symbols of resilience and survival. Second, the author uses the writing craft technique of Allegory. An example of this writing craft in this book is the author's use of multiple, specific animals. Each has its distinct qualities, and each animal on earth brings a certain balance to the world. The symbolism of how the animals worked together for a single purpose introduces the relationship between Indian peoples and the land.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it was the first book to win the first American Indian Youth Literature Award. It contains no bias, is well written, and is intended for children; readers of any age can read it.
Read
April 17, 2018This book won the American Indian Library Association's Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book in 2006 -- the first year they did these awards.
A Note to the Reader before the story begins states that their traditional Coyote stories should only be told or discussed during the winter when snow is on the ground, which is an interesting idea I hadn't encountered before. The Salish and Penn d'Oreille Culture Committee states, "Coyote stories, like other parts of our traditional way of life, are part of a seasonal cycle. By following this tradition readers, teachers, and students can enjoy this aspect of our culture---keeping and saving something for the time of year during which it belongs."
We had a couple snowfalls last week, and there are still some snow piles, but we're definitely moving toward more consistently warmer weather, so I feel a bit tender talking about this story.
I quite like the illustrations. The story is engaging, but the illustrations were consistently what really drew my eyes.
I was intrigued by the idea from the extra-textual material that "The animal beings knew that one day human beings would arrive, and they wanted to make the world a better place for them, so they set off on a great quest to steal fire from the sky world and bring it to the earth."
This book is part of a broader fire education project, and the "Note to Teachers and Parents" at the end talks about how "This early landscape was not a virgin landscape in the sense of being untouched by humans but a cultural landscape shaped by thousands of years of tribal use of fire," and how the fire-suppression policies that non-Indians imposed really changed the landscape, often for the worse. It concludes: "This story teaches our children how difficult it was to bring fire from the sky world and how important it was to animals and humans. Now it is time for humans to return the gift of fire to the animals."
The story includes the Salish names for all the animals, and there's "A Brief Guide to Written Salish" at the very end.
A Note to the Reader before the story begins states that their traditional Coyote stories should only be told or discussed during the winter when snow is on the ground, which is an interesting idea I hadn't encountered before. The Salish and Penn d'Oreille Culture Committee states, "Coyote stories, like other parts of our traditional way of life, are part of a seasonal cycle. By following this tradition readers, teachers, and students can enjoy this aspect of our culture---keeping and saving something for the time of year during which it belongs."
We had a couple snowfalls last week, and there are still some snow piles, but we're definitely moving toward more consistently warmer weather, so I feel a bit tender talking about this story.
I quite like the illustrations. The story is engaging, but the illustrations were consistently what really drew my eyes.
I was intrigued by the idea from the extra-textual material that "The animal beings knew that one day human beings would arrive, and they wanted to make the world a better place for them, so they set off on a great quest to steal fire from the sky world and bring it to the earth."
This book is part of a broader fire education project, and the "Note to Teachers and Parents" at the end talks about how "This early landscape was not a virgin landscape in the sense of being untouched by humans but a cultural landscape shaped by thousands of years of tribal use of fire," and how the fire-suppression policies that non-Indians imposed really changed the landscape, often for the worse. It concludes: "This story teaches our children how difficult it was to bring fire from the sky world and how important it was to animals and humans. Now it is time for humans to return the gift of fire to the animals."
The story includes the Salish names for all the animals, and there's "A Brief Guide to Written Salish" at the very end.
February 22, 2019
"Beaver Steals Fire" is a traditional Salish story about how the earth got fire. Before the book there was a fore-note that said to only read this book during the winter months to respect the tradition of only telling this story in the winter months. "Beaver Steals Fire" is about a group of Animals who want to prepare the Earth for humans, so they must take fire from the sky. Through out the book, the animals are written in both English and native Salish. This is a great resource for teaching about the Salish traditions. In the back of the book there is a list of resources for teaching about the history of fire in the Native American culture. There is also the whole story of the story and why they believe what they do. As well as, the Salish alphabet and how it relates to English. Overall this is a great book to help further understanding of the Salish culture.
December 15, 2022
Like the Greek myth of Prometheus, this is a story of how fire was taken from the heavens down to earth to help mortals. But the characters in this native American tale are not titans and gods but the native animals of the Montana mountains: Coyote, Beaver, Grizzly Bear, Wren, Snake, Frog, and Eagle. Working together they carefully plan an intricate caper to snatch the fire from Curlew, fire keeper of the sky world. Readers are cautioned that this is a tale to be told only when there is snow on the ground. It contains many Salish words for the names of the animals and also includes in its back matter “A Brief Guide to Written Salish and the International Phonetic Alphabet” by language specialist Shirley Trahan for those readers who want to add a touch of the original language to this English language version of the tale.
December 30, 2019
Tells the Salish story of animals on Earth bringing fire back. There's a big emphasis in the back matter on using fire traditionally and well (how that's related to land management, how poor reactions to fire have helped lead to current large wildfires, etc.).
Each two-page spread is an illustration on the left and text on the right.
Animal names are written in Salish and in English the first time they're introduced.
There's a note at the front about this being a story that's only told in winter with snow on the ground. The end includes notes about the Salish alphabet and pronunciation.
Each two-page spread is an illustration on the left and text on the right.
Animal names are written in Salish and in English the first time they're introduced.
There's a note at the front about this being a story that's only told in winter with snow on the ground. The end includes notes about the Salish alphabet and pronunciation.
March 9, 2018
This is a story told by the Salish and Kootenai tribes in an effort to keep their cultural stories alive. The animals on land visit the animals in the sky in an attempt to steal much needed fire. At the end of the story is information for parents and teachers on the importance of fire in the American Indians' lives. It explains how they used fire for good and how that has changed once their land was taken over.
Read
November 2, 2023This Native American folktale has stunning visuals. In order for the stories that were first passed by mouth to survive, I believe it is crucial to preserve them. A third grade read-aloud in which the children narrate their own folktales that they have been told to pass down. As I mentioned earlier, this is a great folktale. Must Read!
November 15, 2020
A Salish story of how animals stole fire from the sky world and brought it down to the earth. Cultural notes are included, as well as information on how humans can use fire to maintain a balanced landscape.
November 30, 2021
I accidentally read this book the first day we had snow that stuck to the ground, and now I know that winter is the proper time to read and discuss this book. Wonderful language explanation appendix, see also supplemental materials at http://fwrconline.csktnrd.org/Fire/Fi...
November 5, 2018
I think this book can help people increase understanding of fire's role and improve the management of the environment.
December 30, 2019
A traditional story about how the animals on the earth collaborated to bring fire from the heavens to the earth.
July 15, 2022
More into the reading at the end about caring for the earth with periodic fires. 5 stars for importance, definitely.
April 21, 2016
I consider this as a non-fiction book because the background information shared the importance of fire in the Salish and Kootenai Tribes, shares a brief guide to written Salish and Kootenai language and information about The Fire History Project, this book being part of that. They also give the rules for sharing coyote stories, to be shared in the winter when snow is on the ground. This is a coyote story, one that tells how the animals stole fire from the sky so that they could be warm on earth. It comes from years of oral tradition and would be a great introduction to how different cultures use stories to teach. Additional information at the back shares how native Americans managed the earth's land through fire, encouraging more growth through the use of burning off plants and fields. The information shared is interesting about management, and how they were forced to stop when the white man took over, how much has been lost because of the changes made.
July 18, 2011
Age of readership: Ages 9-12
Genre: Folklore
Diversity: Salish & Kootenai Native American Tribes
Illustrations: Pastel, watercolor drawings
My response to the book: The story was created for use of native folklore in a fire education program by and for Native Americans. The book is interspersed with characters names in Salish/English languages tell the tale of how animals brought fire down to the earth from the sky world. The book ends with a section on how write/pronounce letters in the Salish language.
Curricular/Programming connections: Use this book in a unit studying Native Americans.
Genre: Folklore
Diversity: Salish & Kootenai Native American Tribes
Illustrations: Pastel, watercolor drawings
My response to the book: The story was created for use of native folklore in a fire education program by and for Native Americans. The book is interspersed with characters names in Salish/English languages tell the tale of how animals brought fire down to the earth from the sky world. The book ends with a section on how write/pronounce letters in the Salish language.
Curricular/Programming connections: Use this book in a unit studying Native Americans.
July 8, 2007
This book has interesting and useful cultural information about the Salish and Kootenai culture, history, and language(how and when to share the story, pronunciation etc). and is in a series of educational materials for different grade levels about how the importance of fire in native plains cultures.
April 29, 2010
This is a great book written by the tribes and it is culturally appropriate to share. The Montana Office of Public Instruction had a streaming video of Elder Johnny Arlee reading it in English and Salish which brought this story to life for me. When frog keeps tells snake, "Hoy!" I laugh and laugh. You'll have to read it to learn what "hoy" means in English and why frog must keep saying it.
October 16, 2011
This is a wonderful book. I was careful to follow the request in the book that it is used when there is snow on the ground.... good thing it snowed at mt st Helens because I found this to be an enchanting book from the confederated shalish tribes. I have seen this story line in other traditional stories but this one fit this area of the Pacific Northwest.
April 14, 2011
While this is on the list for the SRP books, I think it should be taken off. The foreword explicitly states that this book is a winter/snow book and that it is disrespectful to tell/use it in other seasons.
June 4, 2015
Includes animal names in Salish and a guide to writing and pronouncing Salish.
Note from the Salish & Pend d'Oreille Cultural Committee states this tale should only be read in the winter when snow is on the ground.
Part of the Fire History Project (by the Salish and Kootenai Tribes).
Note from the Salish & Pend d'Oreille Cultural Committee states this tale should only be read in the winter when snow is on the ground.
Part of the Fire History Project (by the Salish and Kootenai Tribes).
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews