Big Turtle

by David McLimans

Breathing new life into traditional storytelling, David McLimans takes an exciting step into the world of folktales with another stunning visual feast. At the start of Big Turtle , the world only had two the animals in the lower Water World and the people above in the Sky World. When Sky Girl falls to the sea, she is saved by two beautiful swans but is unable to return to her sky home. Big Turtle suggests building a new home for Sky Girl on his great shell using earth from the bottom of the sea, so Otter, Muskrat, and Beaver each attempt to reach the ocean's bottom. Only little Toad is able to bring enough earth to the surface to place on Big Turtle's back-creating a new world between the sea and sky for Sky Girl, who becomes the Earth's first person.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Native American, Animals, Folklore, Nonfiction

40 pages, Library Binding

First published October 11, 2011

Reviews

[Jay G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

This story follows two separate worlds, the Sky World where humans live and the Water World, where animals live. One day an expectant mother falls from Sky World into Water World. The animals realize she is unable to live in the water and take her to see Big Turtle, who suggests using the soil found at the bottom of Water World to create an island on his back for her to live on. The animals all band together to create the first world between the sky and water.

I had to read this for my language class in Teacher's college. I enjoyed the bright, colourful illustrations which would catch the attention of the children the story is meant for. I liked how this book could be used to teach students about the relationship humans can have with their environment and nature. It would be a great tool to teach them about respect as well as cooperation.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book to add to the collection of Iroquois storytelling:
The Huron-Iroquois lived in Canada prior to the Iroquois Confederacy that lived in and around New York State. The Iroquois Confederacy consists of the following tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. In Wisconsin, the Oneida Nation is represented. This creation myth is rooted in this history. It is a story that has been passed down through time. The illustrations are captivating and geometrical. I love how the artwork interprets the story. Having worked at the Oneida Turtle School I appreciate the cultural significance of the images. I applaud the illustration of the turtle and how the calendar is represented on turtle's back. I am so happy about the imagery of the longhouses. Congratulations to David McLimans for his wonderful and reverential eye for detail. This book is a great springboard for Wisconsin studies in schools. It is a significant contribution for the state of WI and our country. (This title is a recommended book from the Children's Book Award committee from Wisconsin for books published in 2011.)

[Sydney Matejik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title (italicize): Big Turtle
Author: David McLimans
Illustrator (if separate from author):
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Native Americans, Alternate worlds, animals, healing
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “Long ago, the World had two parts”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): Sky Girl is introduced as the main character in two worlds where people live in the sky and animals in the water. She takes a walk, gets tired and falls asleep, and falls into the Water World. The animals try to get the magical soil from the bottom of the sea to put on the big turtle’s back so an island will grow for Sky Girl to live on. The toad dies trying to get soil, but the other animals are successful. The world we know today grows and Sky Girl has a new home, all on the big turtle’s back. Toad is honored as Mashutaha in the Native American culture.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste): Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children's Literature) Big Turtle is a retelling of a Huron Native American creation myth. With vivid illustrations, David McLimans breathes new life into an old story, bringing it to another generation in a lovely format that is destined to be a classic. Long ago the world existed in two parts: a sky world and a water world. One morning, Sky Girl takes a walk, tires, and falls asleep. She lies down under an apple tree, only to feel the ground rumble. Suddenly she falls into a black hole. Fortunately two swans catch the girl and save her life. They take her to see Big Turtle, who allows the girl to rest on his back. Big Turtle tells these creatures to find the special soil that is beneath the sea, so that Turtle can build an island for Sky Girl to live on. Toad succeeds at this task, but sacrifices her life in the process. An island grows on Big Turtle s back, a place filled with living things. This island became our world, and Sky Girl s descendants became Earth s first people. In honor of her sacrifice, Toad is revered to this day. Young readers will enjoy this beautifully crafted and illustrated tale. 2011, Walker & Company, $18.89. Ages 3 to 7.
(PUBLISHER: Walker (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2011.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste): Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
Caldecott Honoree McLimans (Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet) gives this retelling of a Huron creation myth a contemporary look with the use of crisp, Native American style motifs in bold primary colors. Long ago, the World had two parts, he explains. All the people lived above in the Sky World. And all the animals lived below in the Water World. On the upper half of the page, stylized Huron parents and children bend stiffly over fires and pots; below, beavers, otters, and other water animals fill a blue-green lake. The tale of Sky Girl's rescue after falling into the Water World and the creation of the world on the back of Big Turtle is dramatized with plenty of energetic conversation: What am I to do now? says Sky Girl. I can't get back to the Sky World, and I can't live in the water. Yet, with much time spent on a contest to retrieve special soil deep beneath the water, other elements of the story Sky Girl's pregnancy, the sacrifice of Toad's life, and the population of the new world get short shrift, weakening their impact. Ages 4 8. (Oct.)
(PUBLISHER: Walker (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2011.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): The first review denotes that this will be a hit for young children, to which I agree. The captivating illustrations pair with the text well and offer a colorful visual. However, the second review notes the parts of the story that are left out. I also agree with this review that I was left wondering about these points in the plot.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words): This story has plenty of dialogue making the legend easy to follow and understand for young readers. The text is simple and does not have a wide range of vocabulary. The illustrations match the text exactly and only further enhance the storyline.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
I would use this story in my classroom for a lesson on legends. After reading this text I would have my class create their own “legend” about the creation of the earth or how it looked in the past in general. I would have my students apply their creative writing skills and see how their legend is similar and different to McLimans. I would encourage them to take into consideration how the images helped their understanding of this story; and, if students finish the writing early, they can begin to illustrate it so.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. None
2. K-5
3. This folktale book is a narrative of the Iroquois creation myth. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, the story tells the tale of the sky woman who fell from the clouds; and with assistance from a few friendly sea creatures, they created the world atop the giant turtle's back.
4. I thought the story was beautifully illustrated and was very entertaining. I'm fascinated by Native American creation myths and thought this book was simplistic enough for young children, and also stayed true to the traditions of storytelling.
5. I included this book in my LP1 which was accompanied by an art activity. This story could be used for many different kinds of lessons, under many different themes. You could use it to discuss concepts like: storytelling, general/creation myths, the craft of writing/authorship, etc.

[Emily Sammartino · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning of time our world was separated into two parts, sky world with all of the people and water world with all of the animals. One day Sky Girl falls into a hole and is saved by the animals in water world. The animals must listen to the Big Turtle in order to save Sky Girl. This Native American folktale explains how the world that we have today came to be and why we have earthquakes. The vibrant colors, illustrations, and story are beautiful making a lovely tale that I think a lot of children would enjoy.

[Natalie Jarman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This folklore story is accompanied by vibrant colors and illustrations that give new meaning to traditional story telling. This story starts by explaining that there are only two worlds: lower Water World and the people above in the Sky World. This beautiful traditional literature takes you on an adventure to bringing two worlds together incorporating the theme of Native Americans, animals, healing, and alternate worlds.

[Ashley Frickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about how long ago, the world had two parts. All the people lived above in the Sky World and all the animals lived below in the Water World. Sky Girl needs rescuing after falling into the Water World.

[Ibrieal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This folktale book is a narrative of the Iroquois creation myth. This book contains colorful and vibrant illustrations.

[LaDow Picture · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really very well written.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

David McLimans’ folktale, Big Turtle tells the story about two different worlds. The people lived in Sky World and the animals lived in Water World. As Sky Girl was going for a walk one day, she got tired and wanted to lie down. Soon after she fell asleep, her whole world turned upside down and she found herself needing help from someone she never imagined could help her. This story emphasizes how important it is to help other out, no matter how different they are. Written in true storytelling form, one can imagine passing this story on through generations. This Native American myth is beautifully illustrated on every page, bringing the story to life. While the illustrations may be aesthetically pleasing, the story and message may be difficult for younger children to understand without a discussion afterwards. However, the messages throughout make this an important story for all children to hear.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Native American version of how the world as we know it began, David McLimans uses a story passed down orally and pencil, pen, tracing paper, and computer illustrations with vivid greens, blues, and blacks to explain how Sky Girl found a home. Having fallen asleep in her Sky World, Sky Girl fell through a hole into the Water World. Unable to return to her sky home or to live in the watery lands she had plummeted into, Sky Girl needs a place to live. Big Turtle calls all the animals together to obtain soil that lay beneath the waters that could be used to create an island. One by one, Muskrat, Beaver, and Otter dive without success. Then, the lowly Toad dives and returns with soil inside her mouth. The story is simply but engagingly told. An Author's Note and list of sources provide additional resources.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. It tells the Huron creation story (I love myths and legends and folktales), and the cover is beautiful. But alas. Although many of the illustrations are lovely, I didn't care for the facial expressions of either the people or the animals. The real problem, though, is the terrible dialogue. It ruins the rhythm of the story and sounds contrived. Very disappointing.

(Note: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association Annual Conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Bloomsbury!)

[Molly Asp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great example of the Ojibwe story for how the Earth was created. In this book, there are two parts to the world; the sky and the water. The animals lived in the water and the people lived in the sky. One day a girl from the sky fell to the water world and a big turtle suggests building a home for the girl on his shell. It is an excellent story depicting the beginning of the world and how it is all related to nature. It is a tale passed down through the ages. It has a short plot, and it is fast-paced. Excellent piece of literature.

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the time when all people live in the sky and all animals in the water, Sky Girl falls through a hole, is rescued by swans and taken to wise Big Turtle who, with the help of noble Toad, called Mashutaha, creates the land on which we live. Includes notes about the Huron people from whom the tale comes.


Wyandot Indians -- Juvenile literature

[John Hostetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting folk tale that explains how the land we live in was created. This colorful story can get students creative imaginations flowing and maybe even inspire them to write their own story about how this land was was formed. This story could tie in well with a geography unit and I think students would really enjoy it!

[Erika Forth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creation myth; beautiful, vibrant illustrations

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vividly illusrtated retelling of a Huron creation story.

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huron creation story.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful illustrated account for children to take of the creation myth according to first peoples/native storytelling...

[Rachel S]

i liked it, it was a nice book to read.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huron/Iroquois creation story.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the Huron tribe's Creation myth explaining the origins of the land and the first people.