Navaho Folk Tales

by Franc Johnson Newcomb

When Water Monster caused the Great Flood, the thirty-two clans of the first people left the summer land of the Fourth World and migrated to the fifth World through an enormous hollow reed. In this marvelous collection, Franc Newcomb recounts some of the many such tales she heard during long winter evenings at Blue Mesa, tales that describe the journey of the Diné to the present world and the efforts of the People to establish themselves here. Every person, animal, and insect who made the difficult ascent was expected to bring some tangible magic, skill, or knowledge to help make the new world a place of harmony and beauty. Their stories fill this book. The accounts of Hosteen Coyote's endless mischief and the contributions of First Man and Woman, Spider Woman, the Red Ant People, Pollen Boy, and many others portray much about the Navajo attitude toward all life.

Genres: Mythology

229 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1990

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me you enjoy learning about other cultures, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. As an added bonus I think it has great read-aloud material for elementary school teachers and grandparents.

Note that Dine, rather than Navaho, is the preferred name for this group of people. National Park Service FAQ

The 17 Dine Folk Tales included in this book explain the colonization of our world, the fifth, and the relationship between humans and animals. My favorite describes how the tenacious turkey saves the day by saving seeds and is rewarded with a beautiful tail. There are other tales of the mischievous coyote and his pal the badger, a brave little snail who brings our world pure water and a daring bat who delivers fire.

If like me you prefer validated information – no worries the book is sanctioned by The Museum of Navaho Ceremonial Art now The Wheelwright Museum of Santa Fe NM

This book is definitely worth picking up for a quick read.

[C.C. Yager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these tales as before sleep reading. They represent a different belief system or mythology regarding humans and is specific to the Navajo, as I understand it. Years ago, I really enjoyed Tony Hillerman's mystery novels set in Navajo country with Navajo characters. And when I was a child, I enjoyed listening to my grandmother talk about her time among the Navajo, teaching them to read and write in the 1890's.

Full of action and adventure, these folk tales take the reader along with First Man and First Woman and their people as they rise through the different worlds and experience a tremendous flood, encounter monsters, and find ways to solve problems they encounter in living with help from animals, birds, insects, and others. Coyote features prominently, of course. Sometimes he helps, but most of the time he works hard to find someone else to solve the problems and he's not going to be the first to volunteer for something.

One of the clear messages in these stories is the interdependence of all creatures and things. The importance of treating all with respect. And these tales are written to be enjoyed by children of all ages. I found them soothing before turning out the light at night.

I would recommend this collection of folk tales to readers interested in folk tales in general, but also in the mythologies of different indigenous peoples.

[Marc Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this books story telling of several different folk tales. This book has helped me gain a small insight to the tales and how they relate to how animals appear now days. Such as, the reasoning why ducks has small curly tail feathers and why coyote has a darker fur on the tip of his tale. The illustrations are great starting points for the imagination to take over. The book was clear in its ability to give the reader a linear progress of the tales in relationship to the creation of the Diné, sacred mountains, every animal and even other native tribes. This book would be great to read to young children.

[BlueInk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this, and perhaps if I knew more about Navaho legends and the collections that have been published I would rate this higher, but I felt like the actual writing and the way this book was organized was less strong than other legend collections (not Navaho legends, other cultures). I still felt like this was a really good look at Navaho mythology, and I really enjoyed it.

This book is really readable, and does a great job of orienting you in the world of Navaho myth. If you enjoy mythology, Native American or otherwise, this is worth picking up.

[Max Ostrovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm conflicted.
I loved the stories. The origins. The mythologies.
The writing style of the translation - not so much. Dull for such interesting stories. There were some Aesop Fables aspects to some of the stories, which could have been better dramatized, without sacrificing the source material.

Or maybe, something is just lost when you take an oral tradition and transpose it to reading.
...worked for Homer though...

[Trinie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first edition cover of this book is way cooler, but regardless this creatioin myth is so profound and elaborate it is really mindblowing!

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. It was told in a way that one speaks, the way an elder would say it. It was a fun read and has opened the gates for more creation stories from other cultures for me.

[Doug Weiser]

I enjoyed this book. It is not just a collection of folk tales but rather a continuous narrative which tells the story of how the Navaho see and interact with the world and why.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Franc Newcome