Dragonfly's Tale

by Kristina Rodanas

When the Ashiwi people of the Southwest proudly show off their prosperity by staging a mock battle with food, the spirits who had given them their bounty become offended and withdraw their blessings.

Genres: Native American, Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 1992

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zuni ancestors, the Ashiwi

The tale, the art, the pacing ... I enjoyed it all. I have only a few children's books about the Zuni, so appreciate this addition to my shelves.

I'd like to read comments from people who understand Zuni culture.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-told child's version of a Zuni myth

This story is based on an ancient Zuni myth that was first translated in 1884 by Frank Hamilton Cushing. As with many complex tales, this needed to be simplified in a context, and with pictures for children could understand and appreciate. Kristina Rodanas did an excellent adjustment to the story adding some of her slants on the tale, and beautiful color drawings. The drawings were accurate in the depiction of the pre-Zuni environment. This is geared towards children Ages 5-8.

People known as the Ashiwi were blessed with a bounty of food. They decided to show off to their neighbors and devised a food fight to show that they had more than enough to waste. The corn maidens responsible for this surplus were snubbed during a visit. They decided the people were not worthy of such gifts and removed them. Only two children, a brother, and a sister devised a way to make amends with the corn maidens.

When the child reaches 10 and up it is time to open the Tony Hillerman version which is a bit more complex and has much clearer morals more of a bible story. The title "The Boy Who Made Dragon Fly"

[Danni Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book from my childhood that I had the pleasure to re-read during a short illness.

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragonfly's Tale is about A tribe named Ashiwi, that lived in a village called Hawikuh. The Ashiwi tribe were blessed from the Maidens of the White and Yellow Corn with lots of corn to make food with.mThey had so much wealth in food that the elders decided to brag about how much food they had by displaying a food fight amongst other neighboring tribes. The Maidens were present when this display was going on and were disappointed and felt like he elders had taken for granted what they were given. The Maidens had disguised themselves as poor women and two children offered them food and the elders did not let them do so. All of this angered the Maidens and they decided to take back the gift they had given the tribe because they did not appreciate it. The tribe ended up having to search for food and did not even know that they had left those same two children behind. The little boy made a toy, trying to make a butterfly but instead made a dragonfly, for his sister to make her feel better about the tribe leaving them behind and how they had no food. The little girl asked her toy if it could please find them food, magically the toy had come to life and flew to the maidens. Since the maidens had remembered the children they blessed them with the gift of corn again. The tribe returned to see that the children. Hd been left behind and that the Maidens have blessed with the the gift of corn and worked hard to show how much they really did appreciate the gifts from the maidens. This book is great in teaching that just because you have a lot of something doesn't mean you should brag about it. It also teaches us that you should never take a gift or anything you have for granted because it can be taken away very easily and you should appreciate any little thing that you have in life. This book is meant for kids who are 6-9 years old, I really think the kids in this age range would understand the messages in this book as well as appreciate the beautiful illustrations in this book as well.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story! Whenever I read it to kids I always preface it by saying that this story explains why it's not a good idea to have a food fight (waste food). This is my favorite of Rodanas' books.

[Cindy D]

I enjoyed this Native American folktale. It is fun and children enjoy the story while it teaches character of being grateful for what we have and never taking anything for granted. Journal response writing works well with this tale.