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How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet: Native American Animal Origin Stories
Long ago animals could walk and talk like human beings, and they were not as they appear today: Possum didn't always have a a skinny tail, nor Coyote yellow eyes. Horse wasn't always fast, and, believe it or not, Chipmunk did not always have tiny feet. These seven animal origin stories explain how the animals went through difficult life lessons and, with Mother Earth's help, came to be the animals we know today.
Gerald Hausman, a noted scholar of Native American culture, has drawn from Koasati Creek, Navajo and Tsimshian traditions to retell this rich mythology. Illustrated with stunning artwork by Ashley Wolff, every story has a message, and always the message is the same: Here is the world.... We must live in it together, not apart.
Gerald Hausman, a noted scholar of Native American culture, has drawn from Koasati Creek, Navajo and Tsimshian traditions to retell this rich mythology. Illustrated with stunning artwork by Ashley Wolff, every story has a message, and always the message is the same: Here is the world.... We must live in it together, not apart.
41 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1995
18 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Hausman
131 books18 followersGerald Andrews Hausman is a storyteller and award-winning author of books about Native America, animals, mythology, and West Indian culture. Hausman comes from a long line of storytellers and educators, and has published over seventy books for both children and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 19, 2025
Same illustrator as Miss Bindergarten AND they’re all linocuts w watercolor 🤯
August 28, 2022
This was one book that caught my eye since it is suppose to be about some of the origin myths of the Native Americans. Although there are some stories that I had heard before there was an extra character included in the stories that wasn't in the originals that I heard of or if she was than I must not have been paying close attention to.
Otherwise the stories were told in quick and easy reading format while continuing to present the world with the charming animal characters that can be found in Native American tales. Their personalities carried on a tribute of course to the original story including those times when Mother Nature was included in the all the stories as replacing the Great Spirit.
Finally it is the pictures that make this a wonderful and beautiful book to enjoy. Flipping the pages and seeing the bright colors capturing the scene helped to convey the reader back to the time when the Animal People were one with the People while deserving all the respect that was provided to them.
For those who are starting to look into Native American stories this is a good collection to start on as a stepping stone but please be aware most of the stories are told slightly different than what you have presented here.
Otherwise the stories were told in quick and easy reading format while continuing to present the world with the charming animal characters that can be found in Native American tales. Their personalities carried on a tribute of course to the original story including those times when Mother Nature was included in the all the stories as replacing the Great Spirit.
Finally it is the pictures that make this a wonderful and beautiful book to enjoy. Flipping the pages and seeing the bright colors capturing the scene helped to convey the reader back to the time when the Animal People were one with the People while deserving all the respect that was provided to them.
For those who are starting to look into Native American stories this is a good collection to start on as a stepping stone but please be aware most of the stories are told slightly different than what you have presented here.
September 12, 2008
Genre: Legend
Grades:4-6
How Chipmunk got tiny feet is a compilation of seven different Native American Legends that explain how different animals got their features. I will share only a few of the legends with you. The first legend, “How Coyote Got Yellow Eyes”, tells the story of a blind coyote who received the gift of pine-gum eyes from mother earth. Rather than appreciating his gift, the coyote spent all of his time harassing other animals. His behavior made mother earth very mad at the coyote so she used the sun to melt his eyes. The coyotes pine-gum eyes then melted into yellow sap and that is why coyote’s have yellow eyes.
The next legend, “How Horse Got Fast” tells the story of a light hearted, heavy footed horse who dreamed of flying like an eagle. His dream never seemed like it would come true until Mother Earth sent him a caterpillar named “Wind Dancer” With the help of the “Wind Dancer” the horse had magic flint placed in each of his feet. From that point on, the horse could dance, leap, jump, and run very fast.
Finally, the legend, “How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet”, tells the story of a working chipmunk who was stealing corn from his monster master’s garden. When the monster discovered what the chipmunk was doing, he was very angry. One day Mother Earth visited chipmunk and told him that he must confess his sins to the monster. When chipmunk confessed to the monster he put a spell on him that shrunk his entire body. Finally, after much pleading, the monster changed the chipmunk’s body back to normal size. The catch was that the monster left the chipmunk’s feet small so that he would remember never to steal again.
Activities:
1.Each student will draw a cartoon of their favorite legend from the book.
2.The student’s will be divided into seven groups; each group will select a legend. The student’s will then each construct a map of each legend’s setting. The student’s will then present their maps to the rest of the class.
Grades:4-6
How Chipmunk got tiny feet is a compilation of seven different Native American Legends that explain how different animals got their features. I will share only a few of the legends with you. The first legend, “How Coyote Got Yellow Eyes”, tells the story of a blind coyote who received the gift of pine-gum eyes from mother earth. Rather than appreciating his gift, the coyote spent all of his time harassing other animals. His behavior made mother earth very mad at the coyote so she used the sun to melt his eyes. The coyotes pine-gum eyes then melted into yellow sap and that is why coyote’s have yellow eyes.
The next legend, “How Horse Got Fast” tells the story of a light hearted, heavy footed horse who dreamed of flying like an eagle. His dream never seemed like it would come true until Mother Earth sent him a caterpillar named “Wind Dancer” With the help of the “Wind Dancer” the horse had magic flint placed in each of his feet. From that point on, the horse could dance, leap, jump, and run very fast.
Finally, the legend, “How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet”, tells the story of a working chipmunk who was stealing corn from his monster master’s garden. When the monster discovered what the chipmunk was doing, he was very angry. One day Mother Earth visited chipmunk and told him that he must confess his sins to the monster. When chipmunk confessed to the monster he put a spell on him that shrunk his entire body. Finally, after much pleading, the monster changed the chipmunk’s body back to normal size. The catch was that the monster left the chipmunk’s feet small so that he would remember never to steal again.
Activities:
1.Each student will draw a cartoon of their favorite legend from the book.
2.The student’s will be divided into seven groups; each group will select a legend. The student’s will then each construct a map of each legend’s setting. The student’s will then present their maps to the rest of the class.
October 4, 2014
This collection of seven Native American animal origin stories features tales about chipmunk, bat, coyote and horse. Mother Earth works with each animal to help him develop characteristic traits.
This book would be appropriate as a read aloud for readers between six and eight. Some children in this age range may also be able to read the book independently. Young readers with shorter attention spans could explore one story at a time. Children that enjoy animal stories and folktales may also enjoy this book. It would be appropriate for helping children develop narrative retelling skills.
This book would be appropriate as a read aloud for readers between six and eight. Some children in this age range may also be able to read the book independently. Young readers with shorter attention spans could explore one story at a time. Children that enjoy animal stories and folktales may also enjoy this book. It would be appropriate for helping children develop narrative retelling skills.
April 1, 2013
The stories are beautifully enhanced by Ashley Wolff's linoleum block prints painted with watercolors. Stories are well told.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews