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American Indian Trickster Tales
Of all the characters in myths and legends told around the world, it's the wily trickster who provides the real spark in the action, causing trouble wherever he goes. This figure shows up time and again in Native American folklore, where he takes many forms, from the irascible Coyote of the Southwest, to Iktomi, the amorphous spider man of the Lakota tribe. This dazzling collection of American Indian trickster tales, compiled by an eminent anthropologist and a master storyteller, serves as the perfect companion to their previous masterwork, American Indian Myths and Legends. American Indian Trickster Tales includes more than one hundred stories from sixty tribes--many recorded from living storytellers—which are illustrated with lively and evocative drawings. These entertaining tales can be read aloud and enjoyed by readers of any age, and will entrance folklorists, anthropologists, lovers of Native American literature, and fans of both Joseph Campbell and the Brothers Grimm.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1998
51 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Richard Erdoes
73 books39 followersRichard Erdoes was an artist, photographer, illustrator and author. He described himself as "equal parts Austrian, Hungarian and German, as well as equal parts Catholic, Protestant and Jew..."
He was a student at the Berlin Academy of Art in 1933, when Adolf Hitler came to power. He was involved in a small underground paper where he published anti-Hitler political cartoons which attracted the attention of the Nazi regime. He fled Germany with a price on his head. Back in Vienna, he continued his training at the Kunstgewerbeschule, the University of Applied Arts, Vienna.
He also wrote and illustrated children's books and worked as a caricaturist for Tag and Stunde, anti-Nazi newspapers. After the Anschluss of Austria in 1938 he fled again, first to Paris, where he studied at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere, and then London, England before journeying to the United States.
In New York City, Erdoes enjoyed a long career as a commercial artist, and was known for his highly detailed, whimsical drawings. He created illustrations for such magazines as Stage, Fortune, Pageant, Gourmet, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, Time, National Geographic and Life Magazine, where he met his second wife, Jean Sternbergh (d. 1995) who was an art director there. The couple married in 1951 and had three children. Erdoes also illustrated many children's books.
An assignment for Life in 1967 took Erdoes to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for the first time, and marked the beginning of the work for which he would be best known. Erdoes was fascinated by Native American culture, outraged at the conditions on the reservation and deeply moved by the Civil Rights Movement that was raging at the time.
Erdoes wrote histories, collections of Native American stories and myths, and wrote about such voices of the Native American Renaissance as Leonard and Mary Crow Dog and John Fire Lame Deer. In 1975 the family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where Erdoes continued to write and remained active in the movement for Native American civil rights.
His papers are preserved at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.
He was a student at the Berlin Academy of Art in 1933, when Adolf Hitler came to power. He was involved in a small underground paper where he published anti-Hitler political cartoons which attracted the attention of the Nazi regime. He fled Germany with a price on his head. Back in Vienna, he continued his training at the Kunstgewerbeschule, the University of Applied Arts, Vienna.
He also wrote and illustrated children's books and worked as a caricaturist for Tag and Stunde, anti-Nazi newspapers. After the Anschluss of Austria in 1938 he fled again, first to Paris, where he studied at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere, and then London, England before journeying to the United States.
In New York City, Erdoes enjoyed a long career as a commercial artist, and was known for his highly detailed, whimsical drawings. He created illustrations for such magazines as Stage, Fortune, Pageant, Gourmet, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, Time, National Geographic and Life Magazine, where he met his second wife, Jean Sternbergh (d. 1995) who was an art director there. The couple married in 1951 and had three children. Erdoes also illustrated many children's books.
An assignment for Life in 1967 took Erdoes to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for the first time, and marked the beginning of the work for which he would be best known. Erdoes was fascinated by Native American culture, outraged at the conditions on the reservation and deeply moved by the Civil Rights Movement that was raging at the time.
Erdoes wrote histories, collections of Native American stories and myths, and wrote about such voices of the Native American Renaissance as Leonard and Mary Crow Dog and John Fire Lame Deer. In 1975 the family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where Erdoes continued to write and remained active in the movement for Native American civil rights.
His papers are preserved at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 16, 2017
Honestly, any book containing a story titled, "Monster Skunk Farting Everyone to Death" is pretty good read as far as I'm concerned.
July 12, 2010
Interesting text containing stories that cross the tribal lines of Native Americans across the country. While some of these stories are new to me in every way, many reflect the same morals as those found in Aesop's Fables, proving that myths and fables are a preferred way to teach moral lessons to children across many cultures.
The sexual content of some of these fables surprised me, but the introduction to the text (definitely worth the time it takes to read) reports that some tribes don't give a second thought to discussing sex with their youth, and it's openly discussed in front of children.
Trickster fables are often funny and entertaining, but most still teach a good moral lesson. An interesting read.
Recommended, especially in the study of Native American literature.
The sexual content of some of these fables surprised me, but the introduction to the text (definitely worth the time it takes to read) reports that some tribes don't give a second thought to discussing sex with their youth, and it's openly discussed in front of children.
Trickster fables are often funny and entertaining, but most still teach a good moral lesson. An interesting read.
Recommended, especially in the study of Native American literature.
March 21, 2019
This was a little disappointing... I thought there would be more cultural background to the stories, I realize this book wasn't written by an own voices author. But that should have made the author(s) want to be even more cultural aware. Unfortunately it wasn't.
As far as what stories were presented, it seems like Coyote is not only a tricksters but just about every other facet of mythology esc character. There was even a story were he marries his DAUGHTERS, even Zeus never committed that level of incest.
August 30, 2020
Story telling is an oral art, and being written down, loses a bit of it's magic. This focused collection of tales featureing one much beloved character, the trickster, covers a fair number of mostly American southwestern tribes, with a few tales from eastern, northern, and tribes south of the border. I'll keep this one in my collection, and next time I go to a campfire with kids around it, I'll recite a couple of my favorites by the firelight.
January 19, 2022
Unpleasant.
July 22, 2017
This is a terrific and extremely informative collection of Native American narratives, drawn from a wide range of cultures and including tricksters of many kinds. A great deal of the material is Rated R, however much of it is family-friendly; this variety of tale types and styles underlies the authenticity and cultural value of the collection. However, the stories are each valuable and interesting in their own right, and have much to teach us about their cultures of origin.
In addition to the stories themselves, there is also a splendid Appendix towards the end of the book, which offers a brief history and description of cultural practices for each tribe represented. There is also a section called Sources, which gives details on the provenance of each tale included in the book, some of which were collected first-hand from their tellers by editors Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.
The tales are retold in this collection in a spare, simple style which showcases the content and characters. They range from short joke-length anecdote-like accounts to long episodic myths and legends. Some are clearly meant to amuse, while others are dark and powerful, frightening and moving. Every theme imaginable is treated, whether sexual, psycho-social, scatological, or gender-political. The book encompasses a world of mores, customs, jokes, animal and human behavior analyses, and more. It is a treasure-house which can be read cover to cover or picked through and explored at leisure. It is valuable to ethnographers, anthropologists, folklorists, storytellers, and lay readers alike, and I recommend it unreservedly.
*Due to some of the Adult material, I do not recommend the book in its entirety for young children, however a great deal of it is child-appropriate, and could be read aloud or retold to mixed audiences.
In addition to the stories themselves, there is also a splendid Appendix towards the end of the book, which offers a brief history and description of cultural practices for each tribe represented. There is also a section called Sources, which gives details on the provenance of each tale included in the book, some of which were collected first-hand from their tellers by editors Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.
The tales are retold in this collection in a spare, simple style which showcases the content and characters. They range from short joke-length anecdote-like accounts to long episodic myths and legends. Some are clearly meant to amuse, while others are dark and powerful, frightening and moving. Every theme imaginable is treated, whether sexual, psycho-social, scatological, or gender-political. The book encompasses a world of mores, customs, jokes, animal and human behavior analyses, and more. It is a treasure-house which can be read cover to cover or picked through and explored at leisure. It is valuable to ethnographers, anthropologists, folklorists, storytellers, and lay readers alike, and I recommend it unreservedly.
*Due to some of the Adult material, I do not recommend the book in its entirety for young children, however a great deal of it is child-appropriate, and could be read aloud or retold to mixed audiences.
October 30, 2010
Really deserved more cultural and historical context to give the tales some substance. The lack of any serious symbolic interpretation or ethnography doesn't do the reader any favors.
November 7, 2025
Most every culture has its folk tales and most every set of folk tales has at least one trickster character. Norse tales have the god Loki; West Africa has Anasi the Spider; China has the Monkey King. Native American tribes have a variety of characters who are tricksters, the most popular one being Coyote. There's also Rabbit and Raven that cause mischief, along with a few other minor characters. Often tricksters are the butts of jokes, when they are not as smart as they think they are (like Daffy Duck against Bugs Bunny). Typically they cleverly try to get out of work by taking advantage of others (like Tom Sawyer painting the fence). But sometimes the trickster helps out others. In this book, a lot of tricksters have semi-divine roles in creating or organizing the universe, aside from their usual shenanigans.
Pop culture generally mistakes folk tales for children's tales. While a lot of these stories are appropriate for the pre-teen crowd, many of them are much more adult in nature. Tricksters, in addition to satisfying their appetites for food or power, often satisfy their appetite for sex. They are not above changing shapes or genders in order to get a beautiful person "under the buffalo blanket." The tales here have plenty of amorous comedy and drama with more detail than I would like my pre-teen to read. This volume has a lot of simple black drawings of characters and situations, some of which are PG-13. I was a bit surprised to see them but they fit with the stories being told.
The stories are charming and enjoyable. Sometimes the trickster gets away with his misbehavior, sometimes he gets caught and either embarrassed or punished (occasionally both). If you like folk tales or mythology, these are light and enchanting.
All the stories are one to four pages long, so the book can be a quick read or something to dip in and out of over a long period. They are entertaining and show the vast creativity of Native American tribes.
Mildly recommended.
Pop culture generally mistakes folk tales for children's tales. While a lot of these stories are appropriate for the pre-teen crowd, many of them are much more adult in nature. Tricksters, in addition to satisfying their appetites for food or power, often satisfy their appetite for sex. They are not above changing shapes or genders in order to get a beautiful person "under the buffalo blanket." The tales here have plenty of amorous comedy and drama with more detail than I would like my pre-teen to read. This volume has a lot of simple black drawings of characters and situations, some of which are PG-13. I was a bit surprised to see them but they fit with the stories being told.
The stories are charming and enjoyable. Sometimes the trickster gets away with his misbehavior, sometimes he gets caught and either embarrassed or punished (occasionally both). If you like folk tales or mythology, these are light and enchanting.
All the stories are one to four pages long, so the book can be a quick read or something to dip in and out of over a long period. They are entertaining and show the vast creativity of Native American tribes.
Mildly recommended.
October 16, 2019
I didn't like it as much as I wanted to...
- the trickster is in fact one of my favorites, but he gets a little old with similar story repeats
- the language of the book has a little too much of that sagacious tone which, once upon a time in a cultural sensitivity class, I was told was racist
- just a wee bit too much sexual nature, though I know that's what tricksters do
To be enjoyed, but if you don't have enough space, not to be kept
- the trickster is in fact one of my favorites, but he gets a little old with similar story repeats
- the language of the book has a little too much of that sagacious tone which, once upon a time in a cultural sensitivity class, I was told was racist
- just a wee bit too much sexual nature, though I know that's what tricksters do
To be enjoyed, but if you don't have enough space, not to be kept
Read
July 19, 2020This is a cunningly wonderful collection of tales about various forms of the trickster from 55 different North American tribes. There's also a helpful appendix with a brief bio on each tribe. I think just about every trickster is here, from coyote to rabbit to spider to raven and a few more! There is so much fun, wisdom, and layers within. Erdoes and Ortiz have done a wonderful job!
May 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this assortment of Trickster tales. While there is some overlap between stories, many are quite unique and give insight into the cultures that produced them. I love that there are so many stories about sex and bodily functions. A good fart story is truly timeless.
December 22, 2017
The stories are so short that I had difficulty reading this through. An audio version might have made this a 5-star read.
April 29, 2023
Interesting and enlightening. The appendix includes a listing of American tribes, their characteristics, history and current status.
October 15, 2024
This book would benefit from context (even if brief).
May 4, 2023
One of the most interesting cultures to me is that of Native Americans. This book is filled with stories of the trickster stories that are told in so many Native American cultures throughout so many different tribes. I became really interested in the idea of the trickster honestly with pop culture in watching a tv show. Reading these gave me an insight into their culture as well as how the Native American people tell stories.
A lot of reasoning behind things like fairytales or in this case folklore, it to explain something that is practically unexplainable like how people were made. In multiple creation stories, a coyote in involved in the creation of certain tribes. I also have read different folklore that has been from cultures like Germany or Greece, and it is so interesting to see how much it differs in the fact that, many fairy tales are written to entertain, and while some of these may be fairly humorous, and as a warning, sexual (not for any classroom of young children), they are also stories that have been passed down through generations, some only by word.
I rated this a 4 out of 5 stars as they were very interesting and comical at times, some got repetitive as also there is the warning of sexual content which can sometimes be distracting when reading a story. However, a good read for someone who is looking for a window into the Native American culture.
A lot of reasoning behind things like fairytales or in this case folklore, it to explain something that is practically unexplainable like how people were made. In multiple creation stories, a coyote in involved in the creation of certain tribes. I also have read different folklore that has been from cultures like Germany or Greece, and it is so interesting to see how much it differs in the fact that, many fairy tales are written to entertain, and while some of these may be fairly humorous, and as a warning, sexual (not for any classroom of young children), they are also stories that have been passed down through generations, some only by word.
I rated this a 4 out of 5 stars as they were very interesting and comical at times, some got repetitive as also there is the warning of sexual content which can sometimes be distracting when reading a story. However, a good read for someone who is looking for a window into the Native American culture.
February 11, 2017
after the 15th story about coyote stealing the sun i kinda got the point
January 4, 2014
This book is a compilation of Native American trickster tales. It's divided into thirteen parts, each with a different theme or trickster characters. Trickster characters include coyote, raven, rabbit, and more.
Each story ranges from half a page to five pages long, making it great for a quick read in between assignments or books. Listed with each story is the title and the tribe it originates from.
I originally picked it up thinking I could use some of the stories in a class someday. Before using it in the classroom be sure to analyze it for adult content. Many of the stories are about sex. Despite the mature content, there were a number that I found had potential for including in lesson plans.
Each story ranges from half a page to five pages long, making it great for a quick read in between assignments or books. Listed with each story is the title and the tribe it originates from.
I originally picked it up thinking I could use some of the stories in a class someday. Before using it in the classroom be sure to analyze it for adult content. Many of the stories are about sex. Despite the mature content, there were a number that I found had potential for including in lesson plans.
July 7, 2016
I became interested in learning more about American Indian tricksters because I was reading the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs, so good job to those books for making me want to learn stuff. Some of this book is great. Some of it is weird. Some is gross (there are a lot of stories about tricksters tricking people into sleeping with them, and a lot of stories about poop). I read another review that said this book would have benefited from some cultural and/or historical context, and I agree. I didn't always like the stories (see: gross), but I think I would have appreciated them more if I knew more about the people who told them and why.
December 13, 2015
American Indian Trickster Tales
Coyote, Iktome the spider, and Raven are classic tricksters, but the trick is sometimes played on them.
Gluskap, culture hero of the northeast, is a mighty warrior, but mighty Wasis defeats him.
Rabbit may be the most subtle of all the trickster characters, but even he is outsmarted at times.
Veeho is more fool than trickster, and his name is synonymous with White Man.
Tricksters with many other names appear in this book.
The trickster hero is an enigma, perhaps a reflection of man himself.
Coyote, Iktome the spider, and Raven are classic tricksters, but the trick is sometimes played on them.
Gluskap, culture hero of the northeast, is a mighty warrior, but mighty Wasis defeats him.
Rabbit may be the most subtle of all the trickster characters, but even he is outsmarted at times.
Veeho is more fool than trickster, and his name is synonymous with White Man.
Tricksters with many other names appear in this book.
The trickster hero is an enigma, perhaps a reflection of man himself.
June 10, 2025
Another great breakfast book. Read over 100's of breakfasts, I liked how the stories felt like dictation - I was reading how they were actually told. There were several bangers, but I forgot to note them (most of them from the Coyote stories). The last one, a Raven story, was a good encapsulation of the best of them - the surreal awfulness of the Trickster making the world turn.
September 16, 2017
I am pretty sure that this is where Bugs Bunny came from... minus the naughty bits. ;-)
If you want to seriously laugh out loud, this is some of the best material you'll find. It stands the test of time.
If you want to seriously laugh out loud, this is some of the best material you'll find. It stands the test of time.
June 22, 2017
OK, but a little repetitive.
January 17, 2012
Read this and tell me American Indians don't have a sense of humor. It was fun and lovely.
February 4, 2012
Recommended for college students due to bawdy nature of some of the characters and situations. Some individual stories might be of interest at the high school level. Use caution.
September 28, 2013
Full of some lovely and hilarious stories, but I could have done without some of the repetition. There may be two slightly different versions of a particular tale, but I don't need to read both.
August 11, 2013
In the oral tradition, these stories are raw, funny, entertaining and enlightening. If you like folklore and mythology pick it up.
July 16, 2012
Love reading teaching stories...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews