What do you think?
Rate this book
The Legend of the Windigo: a Tale from Native North America
Although the Windigo is said to be a horrid monster that walks the earth, is made of stone, stands taller than the trees, and is a ferocious cannibal, the fearful villagers decide not to run away but instead bravely choose to stand their ground.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1996
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 16, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book, and I think it would be a good one to use in elementary schools. It is a story that centers around Native American culture, and it would be a great way to introduce kids to another way of life. It also puts a creative twist on explaining natural occurrences, such as how mosquitoes came to be. It is also important for elementary students to be educated on the importance of other cultures because they have just as much significance as their own, even if they don't practice it.
The Legend of the Windigo has many aspects that are unique and educational. For example, when the villagers realized there was a monstrous Windigo on the loose in the forest, they didn't all want to leave their homes. They were determined to find a way to defeat the evil creature, so they turned to their faith. A child then figured out that the people of the village could burn the Windigo, and its stone would crack. These events in the book teach kids that they should never give up on their goals, because there is always a way to reach them.
I also really loved the pictures in this book. They were beautifully drawn and added more emotion and detail to the story. Children books are not always the most descriptive, but the illustrations really helped me picture what was going on. The facial expressions of the villagers expressed their fear and desire to defeat the Windigo, so I was able to relate to how they were feeling. The pictures were also very colorful, which lessened the darkness of the tale. Overall this is a very good book to include in an elementary school curriculum because it has life lessons as well as information about other cultures.
The Legend of the Windigo has many aspects that are unique and educational. For example, when the villagers realized there was a monstrous Windigo on the loose in the forest, they didn't all want to leave their homes. They were determined to find a way to defeat the evil creature, so they turned to their faith. A child then figured out that the people of the village could burn the Windigo, and its stone would crack. These events in the book teach kids that they should never give up on their goals, because there is always a way to reach them.
I also really loved the pictures in this book. They were beautifully drawn and added more emotion and detail to the story. Children books are not always the most descriptive, but the illustrations really helped me picture what was going on. The facial expressions of the villagers expressed their fear and desire to defeat the Windigo, so I was able to relate to how they were feeling. The pictures were also very colorful, which lessened the darkness of the tale. Overall this is a very good book to include in an elementary school curriculum because it has life lessons as well as information about other cultures.
June 2, 2026
SO interesting!
February 11, 2015
This story smacks of authenticity, in contrast to the surface reliability of Gail Haley's A Story A Story, which I just completed as well.
The tale is a compilation of many different versions of the Windigo tales, told by a member of the Cherokee nation, and skillfully weaves them into an eerily spooky and surprisingly humorous tale. I did *not* know where it was going, and gave a very hearty chuckle and a smile at the end out of sheer surprise and a feeling that all was right with the world - now that *that* was explained.
The paintings are dark in color palette, but not forbidding. The Windigo is scary looking, and combined with the dark colors, some small children may get frightened, so keep that in mind. However, with the victory of the good people and the somewhat humorous ending, some children will enjoy the deliciousness of danger-less fear.
The author's note at the back was a very nice capstone on the story that allowed for some explanation of the text and the creation of the story.
The tale is a compilation of many different versions of the Windigo tales, told by a member of the Cherokee nation, and skillfully weaves them into an eerily spooky and surprisingly humorous tale. I did *not* know where it was going, and gave a very hearty chuckle and a smile at the end out of sheer surprise and a feeling that all was right with the world - now that *that* was explained.
The paintings are dark in color palette, but not forbidding. The Windigo is scary looking, and combined with the dark colors, some small children may get frightened, so keep that in mind. However, with the victory of the good people and the somewhat humorous ending, some children will enjoy the deliciousness of danger-less fear.
The author's note at the back was a very nice capstone on the story that allowed for some explanation of the text and the creation of the story.
March 26, 2013
The Wendigo, the Wendigo
I saw it just a friend ago
Last night it lurked in Canada
Tonight on your veranada!
— Ogden Nash
I always think of this poem when I hear or read about a Wendigo (or Windigo, as in this book's spelling). Murv Jacob's impressionistic acrylic paintings also feature some pointilism in parts of the illustrations, such as for the sky and the design on the Windigo's body. The author created this particular telling by drawing from several Native cultures' legends. It is a well-told story about how the tribe in this story were able to out-smart the terrible, cannibalistic Windigo.
I saw it just a friend ago
Last night it lurked in Canada
Tonight on your veranada!
— Ogden Nash
I always think of this poem when I hear or read about a Wendigo (or Windigo, as in this book's spelling). Murv Jacob's impressionistic acrylic paintings also feature some pointilism in parts of the illustrations, such as for the sky and the design on the Windigo's body. The author created this particular telling by drawing from several Native cultures' legends. It is a well-told story about how the tribe in this story were able to out-smart the terrible, cannibalistic Windigo.
September 11, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! It was such a great story with awesome illustrations. The story is kind of a dark scary story in the beginning but it had aspects of family and culture as well as some history. I do not want to spoil the ending but at the very end there is a surprise and it definitely completed the book!
October 16, 2013
The author combined many different native tales to create her version of legend of the Windigo. Upon the windigo's fiery destruction, the resulting ash becomes the pesky mosquito. The dark colors add to the dark nature of the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews