How Raven Brought Light to People

by Ann Dixon

Raven gives the sun, the moon, and the stars to the people of the world by tricking the great chief who is hoarding them in three boxes

Genres: Folklore, Picture Books

30 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 1992

Reviews

[❀angela]

The raven thought the world was entitled to what the Chief owned...wtf? I guess I'm selfish, but I believe that my possessions are mine and I choose whether I share them or not. I'm not saying people shouldn't share, I'm saying that people have a choice. The Chief loved the raven but the raven kept stealing the Chief's possessions even though the Chief kept forgiving him & continuing to love him each time.

[Bre Scott]

Folktale, Alaska, Creation, Picture Storybook

Dixon, Ann. How Raven Brought Light to People. Illustrated by James Watts. NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1992. Unp. Primary

Ann Dixon retells this informative folktale of how the world received its sun, moon, and stars by a raven who turned himself into a needle that was swallowed by the daughter of the chief and then she gave birth to a smart and strong baby boy. Illustrations on every page show how stubborn and mischievous Raven is and just how upset the chief gets when Raven unleashes his most prized treasures.

Alaska Connection: Raven, Inuit People, Totem Poles

Related Activity: Like the illustrations in the book, draw how you would want the story to go

[Kortney Rupprecht]

Set in the lush wilderness of Southeast Alaska, darkness encompasses the world and Raven has had enough of it. He notices that a Tlingit chief has the sun, moon, and stars locked up in three wooden crates, and through a series of mischievous events is able to release them into the sky. The informative text and vivid watercolor illustrations highlight the contrasting moods while the third-person point of view and the scheming tone add dimension to this classic Tlingit folktale.

AK: Tlingit Folktale, Chief, Totem Pole, Traditional Clothing, Transformation

Activity: Ask students: “If could lock away any three things in the world to keep all for yourself, what would they be?”, and have them draw a picture of their three boxes.

[Kristin]

In this simple Tlingit narrative from Southeast Alaska, Raven tricks the great chief who is hiding light in three boxes in order to give the light of the stars, moon, and sun to the world. Told in the oral tradition of storytelling, Raven’s daring adventure is depicted perfectly by James Watts’ bold watercolor and acrylic drawings.

[Linda]

I loved the art in this book. The depiction makes the people seem even older than most Raven books. Although I can't approve of the way Raven tricked the leader, it is a wonderful story. Use in a classroom to discuss other cultures and beliefs.

[Kelly]

An adaptation of a legend told by the Tlingit Indians of southeastern Alaska

[Jean-Marie]

We read this to complement our history lesson about the Northern Native Americans in North America. This is an adaptation of a legend told by the Tlingit Indians of southeastern Alaska.