The Legend of Michigan

by Trinka Hakes Noble

Long ago, "Michigane" was covered with snow and ice - until a young boy and an old warrior brought hope and warmth to the frozen land.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2006

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful & of course I love a book about my home state as much as the next person. That said, this book is lying about what is.

As far as I've been able to find, there is no actual legend of how Michigan got its shape, so this story is a fabrication. Which ok, that's fine, it's a picture book, but a white person making up a story using bits & pieces of Pottawatomie lore for color is so not cool. Relations with & education about indigenous peoples is rough enough, you don't need to start making things up, slapping the word legend on there like it's a real thing.

One, it's not very nice, and two, you're confusing children.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really liked this telling of the legend of the Mitten state. I never thought I cared about legends, but there really is something about them that I enjoy. Maybe it's because the subject is Michigan!

[Danielle Purlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in the category of traditional literature. I think it would be best for 2nd grade through 4th grade, but could also be read as a read aloud book for younger children. One thing I enjoyed about this book was that it told a story and how Michigan got the four seasons as well as the mitten shape.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover was different on the version I read. But the story was interesting and enticing. This land first belonged to the North American Indigenous Indians. We need to tell more stories like this.

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Native American legend about Michigan - why it is shaped like a mitten? A story about seasons

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!