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Folktales of the World
The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales
Welcome the second book in the Folktales of the World series! Engaging, inspirational, and above all entertaining, these legends come from Native American peoples across the U.S. Richly illustrated with original art, they capture a wide range of belief systems and wisdom from the Cherokee, Cheyenne, Hopi, Lenape, Maidu, Seminole, Seneca, and other tribes. The beautifully retold tales, all with informative introductions, range from creation myths to animal fables to stirring accounts of bravery and sacrifice. Find out how stories first came to be, and how the People came to the upper world. Meet Rabbit, the clever and irresistible Creek trickster. See how the buffalo saved the Lakota people, and why the Pawnee continue to do the Bear Dance to this very day.
Stefano Vitale’s art showcases a stunning array of animal figures, masks, totems, and Navajo-style rug patterns, all done in nature’s palette of brilliant turquoises, earth browns, shimmering sun-yellow, vivid fire-orange, and the deep blues of a dark night.
Stefano Vitale’s art showcases a stunning array of animal figures, masks, totems, and Navajo-style rug patterns, all done in nature’s palette of brilliant turquoises, earth browns, shimmering sun-yellow, vivid fire-orange, and the deep blues of a dark night.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2008
9 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Bruchac
279 books597 followersJoseph Bruchac lives with his wife, Carol, in the Adirondack mountain foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, in the same house where his maternal grandparents raised him. Much of his writing draws on that land and his Abenaki ancestry. Although his American Indian heritage is only one part of an ethnic background that includes Slovak and English blood, those Native roots are the ones by which he has been most nourished. He, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively in projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills, including performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki music with the Dawnland Singers.
He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.
As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.
He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.
As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 4, 2022
This collection of stories is organized by broad region, and each section is prefaced with a helpful description of what geographic area is included, the main groups of Native Americans, and basic anthropological data. Very useful.
May 19, 2019
The second in Sterling's new Folktales of the World series (following upon Peninnah Schram's
The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales
), this collection of Native American legends presents twenty-four tales from the different regions of the United States. Retold by Joseph Bruchac, a prolific children's author of Abenaki descent, together with his son James, The Girl Who Helped Thunder is an engaging book, sure to please young folklore enthusiasts.
The first section, devoted to the northeast, includes three tales, taken from the Seneca, Lenape and Wampanoag traditions. How Stories Came To Be (Seneca) offers an explanation of the first storyteller and how he learned his craft, emphasizing both the importance of storytelling as a communal activity, and the need to listen carefully.
The Girl Who Helped Thunder (Lenape), tells the story of Pretty Face, who ignores her parents' advice in choosing her mate, finding herself married to the terrible snake-monster Amankamek as a result.
Maushop, the Good Giant (Wampanoag) tells of a time when the People lived with a benevolent giant, who did much of their work for them, until he realized that his kindness was making them lazy. As Bruchac notes in his introductory comment, this tale emphasizes the importance that the Wampanoag attach to the virtue of self-reliance.
The second section is devoted to the southeast, and includes stories from the Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, and Choctaw traditions. The Ball Game Between the Birds and Animals (Cherokee) relates the story of an epic contest between the creatures of the land and of the sky. Like many folktales, it has a dual function, explaining how bat and flying squirrel came to have wings, and also teaching the important lesson that even the small have an important contribution to make.
Turtle's Race With Wolf (Seminole) is the tale of Box Turtle and his cousins, who outwit boastful Wolf. Although similar in content to The Tortoise and the Hare type tales, this story emphasizes cunning, rather than steady persistence, as the means of achieving victory.
How Rabbit Got Wisdom (Creek) tells the story of clever Rabbit, who, when he goes to the Master of Life to ask for wisdom, is taught that he already has it. Bruchac notes that this wide-spread tale has many variants, both in Native North America and Africa, and speculates that it may have been influenced by the folklore of slaves brought from Africa. For my part, I was reminded of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , in which many characters (the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, etc.) discover that they already possess the thing they seek.
Finally, The Coming of Corn (Choctaw) explains how the people were first taught to cultivate corn by Crow, and serves as a reminder that they must share the fruit of the field with the birds.
The third section, devoted to the great plains, includes tales from Cheyenne, Lakota, Blackfeet, and Pawnee lore. The Sister and Her Seven Brothers (Cheyenne) tells the story of Red Leaf and her seven adoptive brothers, who must rescue her from Great Buffalo Bull. This tale, also retold by Paul Goble in his Her Seven Brothers , makes an appearance in the TV miniseries The Dreamkeeper , and explains the existence of the Big Dipper.
How the Buffalo Came to Be (Lakota) explains the emergence of the people into the upper world, and the sacrifice of the medicine man Tatanka, who turned himself into the first buffalo, in order to provide them with food.
Old Man and the Rolling Rock (Blackfeet) tells the story of a deceitful man who retracts gifts he has given and goes back on his word, paying the price in the end. As Bruchac notes, this is a cautionary tale, meant to provide an example of how not to behave.
The Bear Man (Pawnee) relates the tale of a hunter who spares a young bear cub, and is rewarded when his own son is saved by the bears, and given many blessings. This story emphasizes the close relationship between the human and animal worlds.
The fourth section is devoted to the southwest, and includes tales from the Hopi, Navajo and Isleta Pueblo nations. How the People Came to the Upper World (Hopi) is the story of how the people emerged into a new world of light and hope, with the help of many of the birds and animals.
The Hero Twins (Navajo) tells the tale of Monster Slayer and Child Born of Water, two brothers who appeal to their father, the Sun, for aid in their quest to rid the world of monsters. I had not encountered them before, but Bruchac's commentary indicates that the twin-heroes are important figures in many of the folk traditions of Native North America.
Why Moon Has One Eye (Isleta Pueblo) explains the existence of night and day, and the waning and waxing of the moon, emphasizing the need for balance in all things.
The fifth section is devoted to California, one of the most densely populated regions of Native North America before contact with Europeans, and includes stories from the Maidu, Miwok, Pomo, and Wiyot traditions. Moon and Frog Old Woman (Maidu) relates the tale of Frog Old Woman, who rescues her abducted grandchild from the Moon. This tale offers an explanation of why the moon is in the sky, and why he waxes and wanes. Atypically, the moon is characterized as masculine here, something I had only seen before in Lithuanian folklore.
The Story of Tu-tak-a-nu-la (Miwok) is the tale of how little Measuring Worm manages to rescue a trapped mother bear and her cubs, giving his name to the famous stone in Yosemite (El Capitan).
How Earth Elder Made the Oak Tree (Pomo) relates the story of the creation of the all-important acorn, which provided the central food source for the indigenous peoples of California.
Finally, Why Owl Lives Away from the People (Wiyot) provides an explanation for owl's solitary existence, and offers an important moral on the evils of selfishness.
The sixth section is devoted to the northwest, and includes tales from the Salish, Yakama and Wasco peoples. In How the Drum Came to the People (Salish), the Sun dispatches clever Coyote to find a way for humans to "call forth the sound in their hearts," resulting in the creation of the first drum. This tales emphasizes the importance of music and dance, both as a means for individual emotional expression, and for communal happiness.
The Two Sisters Who Married Stars (Yakama) relates the tale of two sisters who wish to marry stars, and are transported to the sky land. But a longing for home soon consumes them, and they eventually find their way back to earth, one of them bringing her son along with her. This story explains the origin of the Yakama people, who believe that they are descended from the son of Bright Star.
In The Boy Who Went With the Seals (Wasco), a young boy disappears while his father is absorbed in his work, only to reappear years later with the seals. Temporarily taken back into his human family, the boy still longs for the seals... This tale of a child raised by seals reminded me of recent discussions I have had about the theme of feral children, and also recalled the Scots tradition of selkies, or seal-people.
The seventh and final section is devoted to the "far north," and contains stories from the Aluutiq, Inuit and Koyukon Alhabascan traditions. The Beluga-Skin Bedaarka follows the story of a solitary young hunter who sets out to find a wife, and must compete in many contests of strength and skill when he finally does encounter the maiden he wants. The generosity of the hunter, in his many victories, is clearly meant to impart a moral lesson to the listener/reader.
In The Blind Boy and the Loon (Inuit), a skilled young hunter is blinded by his spiteful stepmother, who is too lazy to cure the meat and tan the hides of the animals he brings home.
And finally, How Raven Brought Back the Sun (Koyukon Alhabascan), in which the trickster raven must steal back the sun and moon from the village which is holding them hostage.
I enjoyed The Girl Who Helped Thunder, which I read Thanksgiving Day, immensely. Some of the tales were already familiar to me, and others were completely unknown, but all were engaging stories, offering a fascinating glimpse of the diverse folk traditions of Native North America. Stefano Vitale's colorful, folk-motif illustrations added to the sense of enchantment. I do sometimes wonder, why it is that series of folklore collections will devote entire books to one culture group, if it is European, but expect to encompass all of North America's diverse native cultures in one volume. It's a trend I have noticed before, and Sterling seems to be reproducing it with their first three volumes, devoted to Jewish, Native American, and Irish folklore. But whatever qualms I may have about this publishing trend, I still enjoyed the collection.
The first section, devoted to the northeast, includes three tales, taken from the Seneca, Lenape and Wampanoag traditions. How Stories Came To Be (Seneca) offers an explanation of the first storyteller and how he learned his craft, emphasizing both the importance of storytelling as a communal activity, and the need to listen carefully.
The Girl Who Helped Thunder (Lenape), tells the story of Pretty Face, who ignores her parents' advice in choosing her mate, finding herself married to the terrible snake-monster Amankamek as a result.
Maushop, the Good Giant (Wampanoag) tells of a time when the People lived with a benevolent giant, who did much of their work for them, until he realized that his kindness was making them lazy. As Bruchac notes in his introductory comment, this tale emphasizes the importance that the Wampanoag attach to the virtue of self-reliance.
The second section is devoted to the southeast, and includes stories from the Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, and Choctaw traditions. The Ball Game Between the Birds and Animals (Cherokee) relates the story of an epic contest between the creatures of the land and of the sky. Like many folktales, it has a dual function, explaining how bat and flying squirrel came to have wings, and also teaching the important lesson that even the small have an important contribution to make.
Turtle's Race With Wolf (Seminole) is the tale of Box Turtle and his cousins, who outwit boastful Wolf. Although similar in content to The Tortoise and the Hare type tales, this story emphasizes cunning, rather than steady persistence, as the means of achieving victory.
How Rabbit Got Wisdom (Creek) tells the story of clever Rabbit, who, when he goes to the Master of Life to ask for wisdom, is taught that he already has it. Bruchac notes that this wide-spread tale has many variants, both in Native North America and Africa, and speculates that it may have been influenced by the folklore of slaves brought from Africa. For my part, I was reminded of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , in which many characters (the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, etc.) discover that they already possess the thing they seek.
Finally, The Coming of Corn (Choctaw) explains how the people were first taught to cultivate corn by Crow, and serves as a reminder that they must share the fruit of the field with the birds.
The third section, devoted to the great plains, includes tales from Cheyenne, Lakota, Blackfeet, and Pawnee lore. The Sister and Her Seven Brothers (Cheyenne) tells the story of Red Leaf and her seven adoptive brothers, who must rescue her from Great Buffalo Bull. This tale, also retold by Paul Goble in his Her Seven Brothers , makes an appearance in the TV miniseries The Dreamkeeper , and explains the existence of the Big Dipper.
How the Buffalo Came to Be (Lakota) explains the emergence of the people into the upper world, and the sacrifice of the medicine man Tatanka, who turned himself into the first buffalo, in order to provide them with food.
Old Man and the Rolling Rock (Blackfeet) tells the story of a deceitful man who retracts gifts he has given and goes back on his word, paying the price in the end. As Bruchac notes, this is a cautionary tale, meant to provide an example of how not to behave.
The Bear Man (Pawnee) relates the tale of a hunter who spares a young bear cub, and is rewarded when his own son is saved by the bears, and given many blessings. This story emphasizes the close relationship between the human and animal worlds.
The fourth section is devoted to the southwest, and includes tales from the Hopi, Navajo and Isleta Pueblo nations. How the People Came to the Upper World (Hopi) is the story of how the people emerged into a new world of light and hope, with the help of many of the birds and animals.
The Hero Twins (Navajo) tells the tale of Monster Slayer and Child Born of Water, two brothers who appeal to their father, the Sun, for aid in their quest to rid the world of monsters. I had not encountered them before, but Bruchac's commentary indicates that the twin-heroes are important figures in many of the folk traditions of Native North America.
Why Moon Has One Eye (Isleta Pueblo) explains the existence of night and day, and the waning and waxing of the moon, emphasizing the need for balance in all things.
The fifth section is devoted to California, one of the most densely populated regions of Native North America before contact with Europeans, and includes stories from the Maidu, Miwok, Pomo, and Wiyot traditions. Moon and Frog Old Woman (Maidu) relates the tale of Frog Old Woman, who rescues her abducted grandchild from the Moon. This tale offers an explanation of why the moon is in the sky, and why he waxes and wanes. Atypically, the moon is characterized as masculine here, something I had only seen before in Lithuanian folklore.
The Story of Tu-tak-a-nu-la (Miwok) is the tale of how little Measuring Worm manages to rescue a trapped mother bear and her cubs, giving his name to the famous stone in Yosemite (El Capitan).
How Earth Elder Made the Oak Tree (Pomo) relates the story of the creation of the all-important acorn, which provided the central food source for the indigenous peoples of California.
Finally, Why Owl Lives Away from the People (Wiyot) provides an explanation for owl's solitary existence, and offers an important moral on the evils of selfishness.
The sixth section is devoted to the northwest, and includes tales from the Salish, Yakama and Wasco peoples. In How the Drum Came to the People (Salish), the Sun dispatches clever Coyote to find a way for humans to "call forth the sound in their hearts," resulting in the creation of the first drum. This tales emphasizes the importance of music and dance, both as a means for individual emotional expression, and for communal happiness.
The Two Sisters Who Married Stars (Yakama) relates the tale of two sisters who wish to marry stars, and are transported to the sky land. But a longing for home soon consumes them, and they eventually find their way back to earth, one of them bringing her son along with her. This story explains the origin of the Yakama people, who believe that they are descended from the son of Bright Star.
In The Boy Who Went With the Seals (Wasco), a young boy disappears while his father is absorbed in his work, only to reappear years later with the seals. Temporarily taken back into his human family, the boy still longs for the seals... This tale of a child raised by seals reminded me of recent discussions I have had about the theme of feral children, and also recalled the Scots tradition of selkies, or seal-people.
The seventh and final section is devoted to the "far north," and contains stories from the Aluutiq, Inuit and Koyukon Alhabascan traditions. The Beluga-Skin Bedaarka follows the story of a solitary young hunter who sets out to find a wife, and must compete in many contests of strength and skill when he finally does encounter the maiden he wants. The generosity of the hunter, in his many victories, is clearly meant to impart a moral lesson to the listener/reader.
In The Blind Boy and the Loon (Inuit), a skilled young hunter is blinded by his spiteful stepmother, who is too lazy to cure the meat and tan the hides of the animals he brings home.
And finally, How Raven Brought Back the Sun (Koyukon Alhabascan), in which the trickster raven must steal back the sun and moon from the village which is holding them hostage.
I enjoyed The Girl Who Helped Thunder, which I read Thanksgiving Day, immensely. Some of the tales were already familiar to me, and others were completely unknown, but all were engaging stories, offering a fascinating glimpse of the diverse folk traditions of Native North America. Stefano Vitale's colorful, folk-motif illustrations added to the sense of enchantment. I do sometimes wonder, why it is that series of folklore collections will devote entire books to one culture group, if it is European, but expect to encompass all of North America's diverse native cultures in one volume. It's a trend I have noticed before, and Sterling seems to be reproducing it with their first three volumes, devoted to Jewish, Native American, and Irish folklore. But whatever qualms I may have about this publishing trend, I still enjoyed the collection.
July 5, 2017
When it comes to collections of Native American stories they either hit the target really good or they plummet to the ground. Surprisingly there aren't many that seem to ever stick in the middle ground when it comes to these compilations.
Fortunately this was one of those that hit the mark and for so many reasons. First of all knowing that there are so many tribes to cover this book has done a wonderful job in showcasing so many. What the compiler does is to break the book down into regional locations and then gives a broad summary of the groups that lived in the area, some of their lifestyle, how they may have related to other tribes and even what influenced their lifestyles. And then each story started off with a summary that gave even more information about the nation that it came from and what lesson may have been learned from the story to those who heard it.
The stories were given in easy to read and understand format. Each were only a few pages long but kept the tribal elements that makes them unique to each other. And then the illustrations which were bright, beautiful and full of colors. Some were uniquely Native American-like in their presentation.
Finally the last thing that I enjoyed was the sources that were listed in the back of the book. Most of the time I don't read them but this time it caught my eye. Each source gave where the story could be found or was first published at as well as where the author got the story whether from a book or even a storyteller. Knowing this adds a personal touch to the stories instead of just we collected them.
All in all for those who like the Native American stories I would highly recommend this book to be read. You will enjoy the artwork and the stories while knowing how important they are to the continuing spirit of storytelling now as in the present.
Fortunately this was one of those that hit the mark and for so many reasons. First of all knowing that there are so many tribes to cover this book has done a wonderful job in showcasing so many. What the compiler does is to break the book down into regional locations and then gives a broad summary of the groups that lived in the area, some of their lifestyle, how they may have related to other tribes and even what influenced their lifestyles. And then each story started off with a summary that gave even more information about the nation that it came from and what lesson may have been learned from the story to those who heard it.
The stories were given in easy to read and understand format. Each were only a few pages long but kept the tribal elements that makes them unique to each other. And then the illustrations which were bright, beautiful and full of colors. Some were uniquely Native American-like in their presentation.
Finally the last thing that I enjoyed was the sources that were listed in the back of the book. Most of the time I don't read them but this time it caught my eye. Each source gave where the story could be found or was first published at as well as where the author got the story whether from a book or even a storyteller. Knowing this adds a personal touch to the stories instead of just we collected them.
All in all for those who like the Native American stories I would highly recommend this book to be read. You will enjoy the artwork and the stories while knowing how important they are to the continuing spirit of storytelling now as in the present.
November 13, 2020
A short but thorough collection of stories from throughout the modern-day continental United States (and potentially some parts of what is now Canada) accompanied by lovely artwork. The author selected 3-5 stories representative of different tribes by geographical area. Each area was discussed and each story's importance was also briefly mentioned. A great collection for younger readers!
January 10, 2022
The stories in this collection of folk tales are collected from native tribes across the United States. The book is divided into geographic regions and subdivided by language group. The introduction to the section explains the common theme in the tales and each tale is also annotated with an introduction the origins and significance of the tale. Being from the northeast, I was most interested in this section. The focus is largely on the more common Iroquoian speaking peoples and less on the Algonquin speaking peoples which disappointed me greatly. The Wampanoag tale "Maushup the Good Giant" SHOULD be familiar to me. I grew up in a small southern point of former Wampanoag territory. My uncle lives near the Mashpee Wampaoag meeting house. I've been to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Connecticut a few times. (HIGHLY recommended, especially if you are traveling with someone who wants to hit the casino and it's not your scene). I enjoyed learning more about the places I've lived at and near my whole life through this origin story. According to the research I did, apparently Maushup lived in Martha's Vineyard and made the island of Nantucket.
"How Stories Came to Be" (Senecca) is a great story. I liked the emphasis on how the bullied underdog becoming a great man. The Lenape tale, "The Girl Who Helped Thunder" is a little creepy. Caution to those who might be afraid of snakes! However, it is full of good advice on how NOT to choose a life partner.
Section two covers the Southeast, from Virginia to Florida. The indigenous peoples there inclue Cherokee, Choctaw, Chicsaw, Muskogee and Seminole and also people who ran away from the whites. I loved these tales the most because they are about surviving using your wits. The heroes are small and overlooked. The Seminole story "Turtle's Race with Wolf" is far more interesting the Aesop's more familiar "The Tortoise and the Hare." Instead of a lazy hare, we now have a turtle who recruits his family to outwit the wolf and survive. "How Rabbit Got Wisdom", from the Creek, is a trickster tale which may have been influenced by Br'er Rabbit (or vice versa).
The Great Plains Indian cultures are familiar from movies and TV and the history books. The Cheyenne story "The Sister and Her Seven Brothers" is a lovely story, both a cautionary tale and an origin story. It also shows what skills were important for a woman to have and what men desired from their women. This section includes other origin tales such as "How the Buffalo Came to Be" from the Lakota. The Blackfeet tale "The Old Man and the Rolling Rock" is really funny and cringe-worthy at the same time. The old man is horrible. He's lazy, stupid, rude and constantly changes his story to make himself seem like less of an idiot. Naturally, he has to learn a valuable lesson! I'm sure parents love telling their children this story to teach them how NOT to behave. The Pawnee tale, "The Bear Man" is a little violent but very sweet in the end. It emphasizes how the Pawnee lived in harmony with nature.
The Southwest, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and part of Colorado and Utah. These stories all tell tales about worlds that came before this one. In the time before the Hopi came to this world, their world was full of cheating, quaralling and gossip. There was no longer any happiness. Fortunately, there was a way out. With help from the animals and plants in their land, the Hopi made it out to a better world. "Why Moon Has One Eye" from the Isleta Pueblo is a cute story explaining why the moon waxes and wanes. Also, a cautionary tale on what going without sleep does to humans.
California gets a section all by itself. "Moon and Frog Old Woman" (Maidu) is scary! Children are kidnapped and Frog Old Woman must outwit the evil Moon to get them back. I love how the hero of the story is both a small animal and a woman! Some of the other stories are origin tales for geographical features of California. "Why Owl Lives Away From the People" (Wiyot) features a selfish husband and wise wife. I like her very much and feel so bad for her and their sons. She did the right thing and banishes her good-for-nothing husband, hence the reason owl lives away from people!
The Northwest includes origin tales. "How the Drum Came to the People" (Salish) is a lovely story about the importance of music and drums in Salish culture. It would be wise for everyone to know this story.
The stories of the Far North are full of harsh landscapes and the exotic animals that populate the land. In these stories, the people who respect the animals and call on them for help are rewarded. Raven stories are also common in the cultures of the Far North and included here is "How the Raven Brought Back the Sun." This is a trickster tale I didn't quite like. The raven is devious and sly in order to save the day.
The illustrations, by Italian artist Stefano Vitale are nice pieces of folk art. I can not say whether they are accurate but some do resemble the artwork I've seen from those cultures.
An annotated list of sources is in the back.
"How Stories Came to Be" (Senecca) is a great story. I liked the emphasis on how the bullied underdog becoming a great man. The Lenape tale, "The Girl Who Helped Thunder" is a little creepy. Caution to those who might be afraid of snakes! However, it is full of good advice on how NOT to choose a life partner.
Section two covers the Southeast, from Virginia to Florida. The indigenous peoples there inclue Cherokee, Choctaw, Chicsaw, Muskogee and Seminole and also people who ran away from the whites. I loved these tales the most because they are about surviving using your wits. The heroes are small and overlooked. The Seminole story "Turtle's Race with Wolf" is far more interesting the Aesop's more familiar "The Tortoise and the Hare." Instead of a lazy hare, we now have a turtle who recruits his family to outwit the wolf and survive. "How Rabbit Got Wisdom", from the Creek, is a trickster tale which may have been influenced by Br'er Rabbit (or vice versa).
The Great Plains Indian cultures are familiar from movies and TV and the history books. The Cheyenne story "The Sister and Her Seven Brothers" is a lovely story, both a cautionary tale and an origin story. It also shows what skills were important for a woman to have and what men desired from their women. This section includes other origin tales such as "How the Buffalo Came to Be" from the Lakota. The Blackfeet tale "The Old Man and the Rolling Rock" is really funny and cringe-worthy at the same time. The old man is horrible. He's lazy, stupid, rude and constantly changes his story to make himself seem like less of an idiot. Naturally, he has to learn a valuable lesson! I'm sure parents love telling their children this story to teach them how NOT to behave. The Pawnee tale, "The Bear Man" is a little violent but very sweet in the end. It emphasizes how the Pawnee lived in harmony with nature.
The Southwest, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and part of Colorado and Utah. These stories all tell tales about worlds that came before this one. In the time before the Hopi came to this world, their world was full of cheating, quaralling and gossip. There was no longer any happiness. Fortunately, there was a way out. With help from the animals and plants in their land, the Hopi made it out to a better world. "Why Moon Has One Eye" from the Isleta Pueblo is a cute story explaining why the moon waxes and wanes. Also, a cautionary tale on what going without sleep does to humans.
California gets a section all by itself. "Moon and Frog Old Woman" (Maidu) is scary! Children are kidnapped and Frog Old Woman must outwit the evil Moon to get them back. I love how the hero of the story is both a small animal and a woman! Some of the other stories are origin tales for geographical features of California. "Why Owl Lives Away From the People" (Wiyot) features a selfish husband and wise wife. I like her very much and feel so bad for her and their sons. She did the right thing and banishes her good-for-nothing husband, hence the reason owl lives away from people!
The Northwest includes origin tales. "How the Drum Came to the People" (Salish) is a lovely story about the importance of music and drums in Salish culture. It would be wise for everyone to know this story.
The stories of the Far North are full of harsh landscapes and the exotic animals that populate the land. In these stories, the people who respect the animals and call on them for help are rewarded. Raven stories are also common in the cultures of the Far North and included here is "How the Raven Brought Back the Sun." This is a trickster tale I didn't quite like. The raven is devious and sly in order to save the day.
The illustrations, by Italian artist Stefano Vitale are nice pieces of folk art. I can not say whether they are accurate but some do resemble the artwork I've seen from those cultures.
An annotated list of sources is in the back.
November 3, 2019
There were some stories I didn't understand because of difference in tribes, (I'm Lakota/Oglala) but otherwise I enjoyed them!
May 10, 2011
This is one of the most attractively designed and illustrated books of Indian folktales I have seen. The dazzling illustrations, by Stefano Vitale, appear to be pen and oil on boards. They have a folkloric quality, though a few illustrations seem to have a touch of South America (e.g. p. 54). However, he does try to capture the flavor of the different regions: compare, for instance, the illustration (p. 51)to the Hopi tale "How the People Came to the Upper World" to the illustration (p. 83) to the Aluutiq story "The Beluga-Skin Bedaarka." The tales are winsomely re-told by the prolific Joseph Bruchac, who has included notes about each region from which tales have been collected (Northeast, Southeast, Great Plains, Southwest, California, Northwest, Far North) and source notes for each story. These two features alone make it a much more valuable collection for the teacher or storyteller. Lexile measure is 820, ages 8-12. Younger for reading aloud, but there are some violent episodes. All in all, an excellent collection.
November 21, 2024
My kids (5 and 8) really enjoyed having this book read to them over the past few months. We paired it with Evan Moor's "History Pockets" for a unit on Native Americans, but I think it's the stories that give the best glimpses of what different cultures value most. This book highlights the diversity of Indigenous peoples in North America, with settings ranging from the Arctic, to the plains, to the forests. Most involve different animals and other aspects of nature. Some are "just so" stories explaining why a certain thing came to be, while others are more complicated and make observations about human nature. They were all simply told and were well within my kids' attention spans as far as length goes. A couple were a bit scary for my toddler who listened in (such as "Old Man and Rolling Rock"), but I thought the few "scary parts" were handled appropriately for the intended age bracket.
July 27, 2009
Gorgeous, adventurous, and funny. Not a "spinach" book of folktales at all. A school library must-have.
April 9, 2021
I think many of us in the United States do not understand the diversity and distinct characteristics of the various native tribes of this land. I loved that this book provided an overview of each region and then selected a sample of stories to introduce readers to. There were a few stories that fell a little short, but overall, I was excited to keep returning to this book as a read-aloud for my children - who at just shy of 4 and 6, don't often sit still for long. But, these stories kept them engaged and listening attentively.
I will definitely be checking out the two other books in this series (which I had some trouble identifying at first, so I'm including them here): The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales and The King with Horse's Ears and Other Irish Folktales.
I will definitely be checking out the two other books in this series (which I had some trouble identifying at first, so I'm including them here): The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales and The King with Horse's Ears and Other Irish Folktales.
February 23, 2019
used for assignment 2
In this variation of the Tortoise and the Hare, Wolf challenges Box Turtle to a race and threatened to jump on him if he denied or lost. With the help of his cousins, Box Turtle was able to trick Wolf into thinking he ran the entire race. When Box Turtle finishes first, Wolf challenges him again, but ends up running himself to death because Box Turtle continues to trick him.
This book would be nice to use to compare different countries similar stories to the well known United States version. This book differs in the way that Box Turtle uses trickery to make Wolf think he beat him and Wolf kills himself trying to win. It also emphasizes the importance of family in one's life.
In this variation of the Tortoise and the Hare, Wolf challenges Box Turtle to a race and threatened to jump on him if he denied or lost. With the help of his cousins, Box Turtle was able to trick Wolf into thinking he ran the entire race. When Box Turtle finishes first, Wolf challenges him again, but ends up running himself to death because Box Turtle continues to trick him.
This book would be nice to use to compare different countries similar stories to the well known United States version. This book differs in the way that Box Turtle uses trickery to make Wolf think he beat him and Wolf kills himself trying to win. It also emphasizes the importance of family in one's life.
March 11, 2021
I don't really know how to evaluate a book like this, because it's a compilation of folklore for a culture entirely different from my own, so it's hardly as if I'm going to be critiquing the stories themselves, and I have no basis for comparison as to whether or not these are accurate, respectful adaptations of the tales. I enjoyed the illustrations, and the layout of the book throughout, divided into regions as well as indicating which specific nations' lore was the source of each individual story, was good. We read this as part of my kid's Torchlight curriculum and they also said they enjoyed the book.
March 29, 2023
In the book The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales the audience is taken to the stories and worlds the Native Americans of today, tomorrow, and yesterday believe to be true. The stories told in this book come from the tribes of the Senecca, Lenape, Wampanoag, Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Choctaw, Cheyenne, Lakota, Blackfeet, Pawnee, Hopi, Navajo, Isleta Pueblo, Maidu, Miwok, Pomo, Wiyot, Salish, Yakama, Wasco, Aluutiq, Inuit, and Koyukon Alhabascan. The sub-genre this book falls under is folktales because they are stories popular within their community and told from word of mouth.
January 12, 2020
A transitional book between a picture book and a middle-grade chapter book. Offers a few facts about the people of a region as a preface to their stories. Lots of beautiful hand-painted illustrations on wood panels, in the style of Native American art. The stories themselves capture the humor of a tale told out loud, with some slapstick elements and some wry elements. I laughed quite a bit. The tale of the invention of storytelling begins with, "before there were stories, people sat around at night wishing someone would say something interesting."
December 18, 2019
A beautifully written and illustrated collection. I love that the book is divided into sections based on region. Each section begins with a brief description of the people of that region and each story specifies which nation the tale comes from with an additional brief explanation of the significance of that story to those people.
August 12, 2021
This was one of the books I slated for Grandma Camp this year, and it was an instant favorite for all. The authors have made an effort to be diverse geographically, which offers many points of entry. The stories are on the short side, well-told and engaging. And, the illustrations are captivating. Grandma read the rest of the book after the end of camp. A great choice for reading aloud.
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December 22, 2022My girls (7 and 9yo) reas these short stories together and really enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed the story from the Miwok tribe about El Capitan in Yosemite, which is the tribe on whose lands we are on. It was nice to see a collection of different tribes’ stories and from what regions they live.
October 13, 2023
Really enjoyed this book with my 8 year old as part of his Torchlight Curriculum. We try to study Native American History by region when we are studying our states and this book goes by region so I'm sure we will return to it. The illustrations were beautiful and the stories were entertaining! This is going to be a treasured book in our family for a long time.
July 13, 2024
I enjoyed the collection of folktales from various regions of the U.S. The stories are varied and interesting. The writing is good, and it is a nice quick read.
It is a bit weird that the series devotes books to single groups for Europe (like Irish folktales) while the vast array of Native American groups are squished into one book, perhaps that would be remedied in future editions.
It is a bit weird that the series devotes books to single groups for Europe (like Irish folktales) while the vast array of Native American groups are squished into one book, perhaps that would be remedied in future editions.
May 8, 2020
Four stars because I genuinely enjoyed it, but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Still glad to have it and to have read it. The stories are lovely and good to know even if they are not those of my specific nation.
September 22, 2020
We enjoyed this collection a lot. It's divided by region and we used the California section as part of our fourth grade homeschool curriculum, and I only spot read the other stories. The selections are short and engaging and each includes a very brief introduction to the people and place from which it originated.
March 21, 2021
Native stories are told in culture groups . A short page with information explaining the cultures prefaces the stories. Illustrations are interspersed throughout the stories. The stories teach and entertain.
August 11, 2022
We're really enjoying these tales. They're well-written and interesting and go along with our study of people native to America before the Europeans arrived. Kids really like the story about clever rabbit!
April 8, 2024
Really cool collection. Plenty of awesome cultural notes that make it clear how much indigenous culture can be tied to the land they inhabit. Source notes are included, and even made kid-friendly!
December 20, 2018
Very readable and has beautiful illustrations as well. I liked that the stories were categorized by region, with a short description of the region at the start of the section. Lovely book.
December 14, 2019
Really good short collection of Native American stories from around the US. Beautiful illustrations.
December 14, 2019
This was a really great collection of folktales. It read easily and the artwork was amazing and captivating. A really great read!
June 8, 2022
library borrow
December 19, 2025
I enjoyed reading 📚 ☺️ the different American Indian stories.
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October 13, 2015Title: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and other Native American folktales
Author: James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, Ph.D.
Illustrator: Stefano Vitale
Genre: Folktales, Native American
Theme(s): Native Americans, North America
Opening line/sentence: "Northeast: the northeastern area of the continent stretches from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and from the southern woodlands of eastern Canada south to the northern Appalachian Mountains.”
Brief Book Summary: This book is a collection of Native American Folktales from all across America. The book takes the read from the Northeast to Southeast, to the Great Plaines, to the Southwest, to California, to the Northwest, and final to the Far North. Each are has 3-4 folktales that are particular to tribes from that area.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Horn Book) 96 pp. Sterling 2008. ISBN 978-1-4207-3263-8
(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Folktales of the World series. This collection is divided into major culture zones. A prefatory note describes the people and ways of life of each area. Three or four tales follow, with brief introductions; some of the stories' plots are heavily Europeanized. The book is illustrated with fanciful adaptations of Native American styles and motifs, deftly done (if hardly genuine).
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:(School Library Journal)
Gr 3-6
The Bruchacs retell Native North American folktales in a clear yet bold voice. The anthology is arranged geographically, a logical organization that reveals the diversity of Native peoples, from the corn planters of the East to the buffalo hunters of the plains to the gatherers of California. Descriptions of each region introduce the original inhabitants of those places, as the authors provide succinct yet enriching historical and cultural context for the stories that follow; unifying themes are also discussed. And every tale, in turn, begins with a brief background and credit to the Nation from which it is derived. The individual stories are concise, spanning only a few pages, allowing them to be read in a single sitting, while the many animal personalities found within-some mischievous, some heroic-will capture the imagination of storytime audiences. A current of subtle profundity runs through these stories. Vitale's stylized oil-on-wood illustrations vividly reveal the colorful spirit of the tales, as bright blues and reds complement the earth tones found throughout. An annotated bibliography provides source notes and comparative analyses to other folktales from around the world. Similar to Margaret Mayo's When the World Was Young (S & S, 1996), Girl is effective in the amount of cultural background it provides, the simplicity of the text, and the beauty of the paintings.-Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews make note of the how the authors describe each area before sharing the folktales from that region. That is a great addition to the book and really adds to reader’s previous knowledge. The second review talks about the books use of illustrations to help convey the Native American stories, which they do.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book has many literary elements that help make this book flow. The first is the source notes in the back that allows the reader to understand where the stories came from. Also, the illustrations are done beautifully and add to the richness of each story.
Consideration of Instructional Application:This book could be used in a middle-upper elementary school classroom. The students could learn about the different types of Native American folktales. They could compare and contrast the stories based on geography. Also, the teacher could have students compare and contrast folktales from different parts of the world.
Author: James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, Ph.D.
Illustrator: Stefano Vitale
Genre: Folktales, Native American
Theme(s): Native Americans, North America
Opening line/sentence: "Northeast: the northeastern area of the continent stretches from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and from the southern woodlands of eastern Canada south to the northern Appalachian Mountains.”
Brief Book Summary: This book is a collection of Native American Folktales from all across America. The book takes the read from the Northeast to Southeast, to the Great Plaines, to the Southwest, to California, to the Northwest, and final to the Far North. Each are has 3-4 folktales that are particular to tribes from that area.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Horn Book) 96 pp. Sterling 2008. ISBN 978-1-4207-3263-8
(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Folktales of the World series. This collection is divided into major culture zones. A prefatory note describes the people and ways of life of each area. Three or four tales follow, with brief introductions; some of the stories' plots are heavily Europeanized. The book is illustrated with fanciful adaptations of Native American styles and motifs, deftly done (if hardly genuine).
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:(School Library Journal)
Gr 3-6
The Bruchacs retell Native North American folktales in a clear yet bold voice. The anthology is arranged geographically, a logical organization that reveals the diversity of Native peoples, from the corn planters of the East to the buffalo hunters of the plains to the gatherers of California. Descriptions of each region introduce the original inhabitants of those places, as the authors provide succinct yet enriching historical and cultural context for the stories that follow; unifying themes are also discussed. And every tale, in turn, begins with a brief background and credit to the Nation from which it is derived. The individual stories are concise, spanning only a few pages, allowing them to be read in a single sitting, while the many animal personalities found within-some mischievous, some heroic-will capture the imagination of storytime audiences. A current of subtle profundity runs through these stories. Vitale's stylized oil-on-wood illustrations vividly reveal the colorful spirit of the tales, as bright blues and reds complement the earth tones found throughout. An annotated bibliography provides source notes and comparative analyses to other folktales from around the world. Similar to Margaret Mayo's When the World Was Young (S & S, 1996), Girl is effective in the amount of cultural background it provides, the simplicity of the text, and the beauty of the paintings.-Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews make note of the how the authors describe each area before sharing the folktales from that region. That is a great addition to the book and really adds to reader’s previous knowledge. The second review talks about the books use of illustrations to help convey the Native American stories, which they do.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book has many literary elements that help make this book flow. The first is the source notes in the back that allows the reader to understand where the stories came from. Also, the illustrations are done beautifully and add to the richness of each story.
Consideration of Instructional Application:This book could be used in a middle-upper elementary school classroom. The students could learn about the different types of Native American folktales. They could compare and contrast the stories based on geography. Also, the teacher could have students compare and contrast folktales from different parts of the world.
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