What do you think?
Rate this book
The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story
In this Native American variant of a familiar story, some turkeys make a gown of feathers for the poor girl who tends them so that she can participate in a sacred dance, but they desert her when she fails to return as promised.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1996
4 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 17, 2020
A poor orphan with no friends and no possessions, Turkey Girl eked out a living by caring for the turkeys which belonged to the more affluent families in her Zuni settlement, given scraps of food and rags in payment. When the Dance of the Sacred Bird is announced, she grieves that she is unable to attend, until the turkeys magically provide her with jewels and a beautiful dress. They warn her that she must return to them before sundown, or she will lose them forever, and she promises, but dancing can be addictive...
Adapted from a story in Frank Hamilton Cushing's 1901 Zuñi Folk Tales , this Zuni variant on the 'persecuted heroine' tale type (sometimes known as the 'Cinderella story') is quite unusual. It is more of a pourquoi story, explaining how turkeys came to live separately from humans, than it is a tale of a mistreated but kind girl getting her just reward, and it is quite atypical, in its unhappy ending. Penny Pollock's retelling here was engaging enough, although it didn't strike a strong chord with me. Similarly, the accompanying pastel and oil crayon illustrations from Ed Young didn't do much for me. I found them interesting, on the whole, but also thought them a little too blurry and indistinct. Tastes vary of course, so I'd still recommend The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story to young folktale lovers, as well as to readers interested in the Cinderella tale type in world folklore.
Adapted from a story in Frank Hamilton Cushing's 1901 Zuñi Folk Tales , this Zuni variant on the 'persecuted heroine' tale type (sometimes known as the 'Cinderella story') is quite unusual. It is more of a pourquoi story, explaining how turkeys came to live separately from humans, than it is a tale of a mistreated but kind girl getting her just reward, and it is quite atypical, in its unhappy ending. Penny Pollock's retelling here was engaging enough, although it didn't strike a strong chord with me. Similarly, the accompanying pastel and oil crayon illustrations from Ed Young didn't do much for me. I found them interesting, on the whole, but also thought them a little too blurry and indistinct. Tastes vary of course, so I'd still recommend The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story to young folktale lovers, as well as to readers interested in the Cinderella tale type in world folklore.
March 21, 2013
I CANNOT take this book seriously.
As a Native American version, there is this element of quiet, dignified, solemnity inherent in the story. So as I'm reading this to my kids, I sort of blew the mood when the otherwise normal farmyard turkeys unexpectedly started talking:
'Willingly, the young girl followed them straight into their pen.
"Welcome to our home," said the old turkey. Without a further word, he directed the other birds to encircle the Turkey Girl. Breaking into song, with their heads held high and their wings fluttering, they danced round the young maiden, dusting her with the soft tips of their wings. Dirt and twigs fell from her black hair, which began to shine like a starlit night. Brighter still glowed her dark eyes.
Satisfied with her cleanliness, the turkeys again encircled the Turkey Girl. With their heads turned away, they fanned out their beautiful tails and entwined their wings to give her a small room in which to undress.
"Lay your clothes on the ground," said the big gobbler.
The Turkey Girl spread her tattered dress and ragged shawl on the ground next to her yucca sandals.
Swaying up and down, the turkeys treaded and tapped new life into her old clothes. They sang while they worked...'
The turkey dancing magically transforms her clothes into some pretty fine duds, trimmed, of course, with turkey feathers. The Old Turkey tells her she needs jewels, which she doubts is possible, but "the gobbler tosse[s] his head in a superior way" and explains how the turkeys have been collecting treasures the careless humans drop for many moons and storing them in their gullets. What a lovely visual. But wait, it gets better:
They tell her to stand still, while they fly above her head, "circling slowly, gurgling softly, as they coughed up their treasures."
Magical. That's the word you were thinking, right?
Now, to solidify how just how petty turkeys really are, they tell her:
"We ask no thanks...you have given us much. We wish to repay your kindness. All we ask is that you don't forget us. For if you do, we will understand that you are mean of spirit and deserve the hard life that is yours."
So instead of having to be back by midnight because the magic runs out, the turkeys tell her she has to be back to prove her loyalty.
The story then returns to its former dignified manner.
I fully admit it was rather unbecoming to giggle and snort, especially if this is a legitimate Zuni tale. But can you see what I mean?
Honestly-- snotty turkeys!
As a Native American version, there is this element of quiet, dignified, solemnity inherent in the story. So as I'm reading this to my kids, I sort of blew the mood when the otherwise normal farmyard turkeys unexpectedly started talking:
'Willingly, the young girl followed them straight into their pen.
"Welcome to our home," said the old turkey. Without a further word, he directed the other birds to encircle the Turkey Girl. Breaking into song, with their heads held high and their wings fluttering, they danced round the young maiden, dusting her with the soft tips of their wings. Dirt and twigs fell from her black hair, which began to shine like a starlit night. Brighter still glowed her dark eyes.
Satisfied with her cleanliness, the turkeys again encircled the Turkey Girl. With their heads turned away, they fanned out their beautiful tails and entwined their wings to give her a small room in which to undress.
"Lay your clothes on the ground," said the big gobbler.
The Turkey Girl spread her tattered dress and ragged shawl on the ground next to her yucca sandals.
Swaying up and down, the turkeys treaded and tapped new life into her old clothes. They sang while they worked...'
The turkey dancing magically transforms her clothes into some pretty fine duds, trimmed, of course, with turkey feathers. The Old Turkey tells her she needs jewels, which she doubts is possible, but "the gobbler tosse[s] his head in a superior way" and explains how the turkeys have been collecting treasures the careless humans drop for many moons and storing them in their gullets. What a lovely visual. But wait, it gets better:
They tell her to stand still, while they fly above her head, "circling slowly, gurgling softly, as they coughed up their treasures."
Magical. That's the word you were thinking, right?
Now, to solidify how just how petty turkeys really are, they tell her:
"We ask no thanks...you have given us much. We wish to repay your kindness. All we ask is that you don't forget us. For if you do, we will understand that you are mean of spirit and deserve the hard life that is yours."
So instead of having to be back by midnight because the magic runs out, the turkeys tell her she has to be back to prove her loyalty.
The story then returns to its former dignified manner.
I fully admit it was rather unbecoming to giggle and snort, especially if this is a legitimate Zuni tale. But can you see what I mean?
Honestly-- snotty turkeys!
October 13, 2010
Most Cinderella stories end the way we expect them to. However, this Zuni version of Cinderella, The Turkey Girl, ends differently. The story is retold by Penny Pollock, who was inspired by the Native American version of CInderella. The story takes place in the American Southwest and the illustrator captures the warmth of the climate through the drawings.
The Native American Cinderella story is similar to the European version in that there is a poor girl who desires to attend a festival but cannot go because she is restricted in some way. The Cinderella of this story, The Turkey Girl, is named because of her responsibility to care for the town's turkeys. After many long days of caring for the turkeys, she finds that the town's festival will be taking place. Her only chance of going to the Dance of the Sacred Bird is when one of her turkeys surprisingly responds to her wishes. She never knew that all the time she cared for the turkeys, they were listening to her and appreciated her loyalty. The turkeys were able to give her clothes and jewels to wear so she could attend the festival. The turkeys only request was that she make it back before the sun sets. So Turkey Girl accepted the donations and promised to return. However, Turkey Girl was enjoying the festival too much that she did not make it back before the sun set and the turkeys stayed true to their promise. The Turkey Girl returned to find them gone. Read the book to find out what the Native American culture believes may happen when a human breaks a bond with nature.
This story would be a wonderful story to read aloud in elementary classes especially when learning about the different regions of America. It could also be useful as a way to show children how authors find their vision for a story. There is an informative Author's note that is important to read prior to the story. The author shares important background information and sets the tone for the Zuni version of Cinderella.
The Native American Cinderella story is similar to the European version in that there is a poor girl who desires to attend a festival but cannot go because she is restricted in some way. The Cinderella of this story, The Turkey Girl, is named because of her responsibility to care for the town's turkeys. After many long days of caring for the turkeys, she finds that the town's festival will be taking place. Her only chance of going to the Dance of the Sacred Bird is when one of her turkeys surprisingly responds to her wishes. She never knew that all the time she cared for the turkeys, they were listening to her and appreciated her loyalty. The turkeys were able to give her clothes and jewels to wear so she could attend the festival. The turkeys only request was that she make it back before the sun sets. So Turkey Girl accepted the donations and promised to return. However, Turkey Girl was enjoying the festival too much that she did not make it back before the sun set and the turkeys stayed true to their promise. The Turkey Girl returned to find them gone. Read the book to find out what the Native American culture believes may happen when a human breaks a bond with nature.
This story would be a wonderful story to read aloud in elementary classes especially when learning about the different regions of America. It could also be useful as a way to show children how authors find their vision for a story. There is an informative Author's note that is important to read prior to the story. The author shares important background information and sets the tone for the Zuni version of Cinderella.
October 27, 2020
After learning about this book in the article Proceed with Caution: Using Native American Folktales in the Classroom by Debbie Reese, I was very interested to read it. The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story has many similarities when compared to the Disney's Cinderella story we know today. It is about a poor young girl, whose name is Turkey Girl, who does not have any family to care for her. She works for another family and tends to their turkeys while the whole community is unkind to her. She wants to go to the Dance of the Sacred Bird but is conflicted when she knows she does not have the means to go to the dance. When the turkeys hear her concerns, they make her a dress and jewelry to repay her for all that she has done for them. She promises to return before "Sun-Father returns to his sacred place" to prove she won't forget the turkeys. Just like in Disney's Cinderella, she breaks her promise. I don't want to create any spoilers, so I will not share what happens next- although it is different from the Disney version!
After reading the assigned article, I was curious to see if I would enjoy reading this picture book. Even with Reese's comments in mind, I thought it was interesting and I still liked the twist at the end. I expected it to end similarly to the Disney Cinderella, and it did not at all so I enjoyed this unforeseen change of events. On the other hand, I found the illustrations a little confusing. I felt that the pictures did not compliment what was in the text. The readers are never able to see the beautiful dress, jewelry or feasts. I also felt that the use of the very dark colors did not match the mood of the text. Especially when they were at the dance, I expected to see more bright colors, yet it was still mainly dark. I also felt that the illustrations did not have much detail, so it did not bring the story to life like I was hoping for.
Along with the illustrations, I chose to give this book two starts because of the lack of accurate information presented in the text. As Reese explains, many parts of this book do not relate to the Zuni culture. For example, people in the Pueblo culture are very close and children are born into extended families. In this story, our main character, Turkey Girl, is an orphan. This would never happen in this culture, and is therefore extremely inaccurate. Reese also addresses how the ending does not come to a close with any mention of forming of the land. This is a major component of the original story, so the fact that Pollock left this out is alarming. Although I enjoyed the story itself, with these concerns in mind, I could not fully respect this story. In order to appreciate traditional literature, the story must present accurate information regarding the culture of the book. I would not share this book with my class due to this issue. If it was necessary, though, I would pair it with another book showing the Zuni culture so students would have a better understanding of the culture.
I could not find this book anywhere in my public library, so I looked on YouTube and found a video of a teacher reading it aloud. In my opinion, the teacher used his hands too much while reading, so it was a little distracting. Other than that though I enjoyed listening to the teacher who was reading it aloud.
After reading the assigned article, I was curious to see if I would enjoy reading this picture book. Even with Reese's comments in mind, I thought it was interesting and I still liked the twist at the end. I expected it to end similarly to the Disney Cinderella, and it did not at all so I enjoyed this unforeseen change of events. On the other hand, I found the illustrations a little confusing. I felt that the pictures did not compliment what was in the text. The readers are never able to see the beautiful dress, jewelry or feasts. I also felt that the use of the very dark colors did not match the mood of the text. Especially when they were at the dance, I expected to see more bright colors, yet it was still mainly dark. I also felt that the illustrations did not have much detail, so it did not bring the story to life like I was hoping for.
Along with the illustrations, I chose to give this book two starts because of the lack of accurate information presented in the text. As Reese explains, many parts of this book do not relate to the Zuni culture. For example, people in the Pueblo culture are very close and children are born into extended families. In this story, our main character, Turkey Girl, is an orphan. This would never happen in this culture, and is therefore extremely inaccurate. Reese also addresses how the ending does not come to a close with any mention of forming of the land. This is a major component of the original story, so the fact that Pollock left this out is alarming. Although I enjoyed the story itself, with these concerns in mind, I could not fully respect this story. In order to appreciate traditional literature, the story must present accurate information regarding the culture of the book. I would not share this book with my class due to this issue. If it was necessary, though, I would pair it with another book showing the Zuni culture so students would have a better understanding of the culture.
I could not find this book anywhere in my public library, so I looked on YouTube and found a video of a teacher reading it aloud. In my opinion, the teacher used his hands too much while reading, so it was a little distracting. Other than that though I enjoyed listening to the teacher who was reading it aloud.
June 13, 2018
A Cinderella story with a completely different ending.
October 15, 2009
The Turkey Girl, by Penny Pollock, is a Zuni rendition of the traditional Cinderella tale. In this story, the main character is a young and poor girl who spends her days caring for turkeys. The Turkey Girl has always hoped and dreamed of going to the Dance of the Sacred Bird, but knows that she would never get the chance. One day, the Turkey Girl is surprised as the turkeys she tends to begin to speak and thank her for the dedication and kindness she has shown them over the years. The turkeys magically changed her old rags into a beautiful doeskin dress, and showered her with beautiful jewelry. The one thing the turkeys ask is that the Turkey Girl returns in time to take care of them. They warn the young girl that if she does not, they will leave her and she will have no source of income. The Turkey Girl vows to return as she feels forever indebted to her beloved turkeys. However, the Turkey Girl has so much fun at the dance that she decides that the turkeys are just birds and not very important. When she returns, her turkeys are gone and she is left in a pile of rags.
One of the reasons that I really liked this version of Cinderella is that it did not have the “traditional” happy ending. I thought that it was interesting that the Turkey Girl did not fall in love in the end and live happily ever after. I liked that this culture’s version of the story was used as a way to teach life lessons and morals to their children. I think that using this book in the classroom would be a good way to introduce students to cultural variations to the stories they know and love. I also think that it would be helpful in teaching young children about the importance of keeping your word and promises. Another thing that stood out to me in this book was Ed Young’s illustrations. I thought that they enriched the text very much as they reflected traditional Native American art.
One of the reasons that I really liked this version of Cinderella is that it did not have the “traditional” happy ending. I thought that it was interesting that the Turkey Girl did not fall in love in the end and live happily ever after. I liked that this culture’s version of the story was used as a way to teach life lessons and morals to their children. I think that using this book in the classroom would be a good way to introduce students to cultural variations to the stories they know and love. I also think that it would be helpful in teaching young children about the importance of keeping your word and promises. Another thing that stood out to me in this book was Ed Young’s illustrations. I thought that they enriched the text very much as they reflected traditional Native American art.
July 14, 2012
A very different version of Cinderella, The Turkey Girl is a Zuni tale that emphasizes the importance of respecting the promises we make to nature. Ed Young's illustrations are lovely washes of color, but it is also hard to figure out what is being depicted in each one, and moments in the story, which might make for lovely visuals (turquoise necklaces and bracelets falling from the sky in one instance) makes the reader left wanting. As well, there seemed to be little thought given to the way the text interacts with the illustrations, and there are many occasions in which is hard to read what is printed on the page because of the way it blends in with the pictures. The story itself is an interesting one about a young turkey herder, who is enabled to attend a festival, by the magic of the turkeys she cares for. The caveat is that she return to them before dark, otherwise the turkeys will be granted their freedom, and she will be left with nothing. The girl gets carried away by the music and dancing at the festival and returns after dark to find the turkeys gone, along with her livelihood. The story's moral, about respecting the promises we make to the earth, is a good one, but the interaction between the illustrations and the text make it an unlikely book of interest for many readers.
November 22, 2014
This book offers a Zuni version of the classic tale of Cinderella. We've read several different versions of the story from various locations and highlighting different cultures. Shirley Climo has written at least four of these books (one of them featuring a male lead character).
This story is a bit different, though, and takes a harsher look at the lure of fancy dress and popularity. As the author's note at the beginning of the story states, "In contrast [to the European versions of the story], the various Native American versions end with the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price."
The story is somewhat heartbreaking, but does help to depict life on the Pueblo for the Zunis. The oil crayon and pastel illustrations are softly muted and have a melancholy feel, with more nuances in the coloration than in detail. Overall, it's a very interesting story and we really enjoyed reading it together.
This story is a bit different, though, and takes a harsher look at the lure of fancy dress and popularity. As the author's note at the beginning of the story states, "In contrast [to the European versions of the story], the various Native American versions end with the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price."
The story is somewhat heartbreaking, but does help to depict life on the Pueblo for the Zunis. The oil crayon and pastel illustrations are softly muted and have a melancholy feel, with more nuances in the coloration than in detail. Overall, it's a very interesting story and we really enjoyed reading it together.
October 12, 2009
As the author notes in the beginning, the Zuni version of Cinderella differs from many others in that it does not have a happy ending. The unmistakable elements are there: a poor, hardworking girl is transformed by magical intervention (by a gobbler turkey instead of a godmother) in order to attend a special event (the Dance of the Sacred Bird). However, this Cinderella, the "Turkey Girl", does not come home before the sun rises and loses what little companionship she had with the turkeys.
The illustrations appear to be chalk or oil pastel drawings and are hauntingly beautiful and evocative of the desert and the native culture. The turkey motif is embedded in the illustrations throughout the book.
The illustrations appear to be chalk or oil pastel drawings and are hauntingly beautiful and evocative of the desert and the native culture. The turkey motif is embedded in the illustrations throughout the book.
February 10, 2011
This American Indian Cinderella tale should come with a Debbie Downer sticker and "WHAAAA...waaa" soundtrack. The pictures made me sleepy, there was a lot of writing that seemed cheesy to me, and I didn't feel a lot happened, except my disappointment at the end. I wouldn't use this story in the classroom, because I didn't like it -- and students would know I didn't.
February 23, 2017
Interesting "Cinderella" story...as the author herself notes, there's no happy ending here. I did not like the Ed Young paintings. Their hazy abstraction makes this tale even more remote to the children who might read it. Not recommended.
March 23, 2015
Not impressed by Ed Young. Bland illustrations with not much to them. Design of the pages sometimes difficult to read - black text on the darkest part of the page.
January 18, 2020
I enjoy Cinderella stories from all over the world and thus collect them. While this has many elements of the “Cinderella” tradition: an isolated/desolate girl, a great community event, magical mentor, a transformation, and a deadline; it reads more like a fable and creation story; albeit a good one.
“The Turkey Girl” is an orphan who takes care of the village’s turkeys. She is shunned by the townsfolk, who repay her care of the turkeys by giving her cast-off clothes and corn. Other than that, there is no interaction with anyone other than her turkeys, who she takes good care of. However, other than this, there is nothing else of kindness, inner beauty, or goodness about her as with other Cinderellas. In fact, she references how the others leave her out more than we actually see that they do.
When a dance is announced, she wants to go but decides she can’t because of her appearance; a little shortsighted on her part once again, because no one actually forbids her to go or teases her. She just decides she can’t.
The next part progresses like a normal Cinderella story. Her kindness to the turkeys is returned by them when they suddenly begin to talk to her and provide her everything she needs to go to the dance, the beautiful dress and jewels but with no specific special trinket. This omission isn’t significant in this version of the tale; because, the real lesson from the book is to not be caught up in material goods and impressing others so much that you forget your promises and your friends.
The turkeys tell her to be back before sunset or they will abandon her altogether, because they will realize that she is “mean-spirited” like her other “tall brothers.”
From the start of the dance, her intention is to prove that she can be included. As the dance progresses, she constantly puts off leaving. Finally, she leaves the party but does not get home in time. The turkeys we gone.
The story ends with an explanation of this being the reason turkeys are wild.
As a Cinderella story, I find it weak. However, as a beautiful and illustrative folk tale about important values, this is an excellent story. The Turkey Girl is a realistic character who wants to be included and wants what others have. While she is loyal at first to her turkey friends, she is caught up in the admiration and fun at the party. Even other Cinderellas miss the deadline. However, she misses the deadline even knowing that dire consequences would happen if she did. No other Cinderellas faced this. Still, this is a more humanistic story, as many know things are dangerous and irresponsible but do them anyway.
The Turkey Girl is no exception.
By the end of the story, we can hope that she has learned her lesson, but the story has an ambiguous ending as many oral tradition stories do. The point is in the lesson and not the character. It’s just not an underdog story.
The retelling is poignant and appropriately styled for the culture. The illustrations are colorful, surreal, and vibrant. Sometimes, the illustrations are a bit too abstract and make it difficult to read the text. Still, it’s a well crafted tale but not a Cinderella story, at least in my opinion.
“The Turkey Girl” is an orphan who takes care of the village’s turkeys. She is shunned by the townsfolk, who repay her care of the turkeys by giving her cast-off clothes and corn. Other than that, there is no interaction with anyone other than her turkeys, who she takes good care of. However, other than this, there is nothing else of kindness, inner beauty, or goodness about her as with other Cinderellas. In fact, she references how the others leave her out more than we actually see that they do.
When a dance is announced, she wants to go but decides she can’t because of her appearance; a little shortsighted on her part once again, because no one actually forbids her to go or teases her. She just decides she can’t.
The next part progresses like a normal Cinderella story. Her kindness to the turkeys is returned by them when they suddenly begin to talk to her and provide her everything she needs to go to the dance, the beautiful dress and jewels but with no specific special trinket. This omission isn’t significant in this version of the tale; because, the real lesson from the book is to not be caught up in material goods and impressing others so much that you forget your promises and your friends.
The turkeys tell her to be back before sunset or they will abandon her altogether, because they will realize that she is “mean-spirited” like her other “tall brothers.”
From the start of the dance, her intention is to prove that she can be included. As the dance progresses, she constantly puts off leaving. Finally, she leaves the party but does not get home in time. The turkeys we gone.
The story ends with an explanation of this being the reason turkeys are wild.
As a Cinderella story, I find it weak. However, as a beautiful and illustrative folk tale about important values, this is an excellent story. The Turkey Girl is a realistic character who wants to be included and wants what others have. While she is loyal at first to her turkey friends, she is caught up in the admiration and fun at the party. Even other Cinderellas miss the deadline. However, she misses the deadline even knowing that dire consequences would happen if she did. No other Cinderellas faced this. Still, this is a more humanistic story, as many know things are dangerous and irresponsible but do them anyway.
The Turkey Girl is no exception.
By the end of the story, we can hope that she has learned her lesson, but the story has an ambiguous ending as many oral tradition stories do. The point is in the lesson and not the character. It’s just not an underdog story.
The retelling is poignant and appropriately styled for the culture. The illustrations are colorful, surreal, and vibrant. Sometimes, the illustrations are a bit too abstract and make it difficult to read the text. Still, it’s a well crafted tale but not a Cinderella story, at least in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2023
Very unique interpretation of the Cinderella story. No father, stepmother, or stepsisters in this version, just a poor Zuni girl who cares for the turkeys of the village. When a dance is announced, she mourns her inability to attend only to have the turkeys come to her aid and help her clean up, create a beautiful dress and shoes for her, and send her to the dance. They only ask that she remember them and return before sundown. She makes the promise and runs to the dance. So caught up does she become in the dance that soon her promise is ignored and her turkey friends belittled in her mind in favor of the charming young people she is dancing with. When finally the sun sets and she runs back to her turkeys, she finds their stall empty and her clothes and shoes turned back into the paupers rags she earlier possessed. This message was more akin to Native American tales where promises broken between nature and man often have man suffering the justly deserved consequences. I love this version!
September 20, 2021
A different take on the Cinderella story told by the Zuni people and beautifully illustrated by Ed Young. This Cinderella story has the traditional orphaned girl who was given a role as the caretaker for the turkeys. When it is time for a festival, the young girl is given gifts by the turkeys she has cared for, but is asked to promise not to forget her turkeys and to return before sunrise. If she fails to return home at the appointed time, she would be punished by the turkeys leaving and never returning. In the author's note, the author explains that in Native American Cinderella stories, the tale usually "ends with the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price."
Read
January 21, 2022Oh my god, what a depressing children's story. Geez, and you know, they sort of had me up until, "For if you do [forget us], we will understand that you are mean of spirit and deserve the hard life that is yours." .... wtf??? This is literally 'You deserve to be poor and lonely and unhappy and if you had literally one night of fun in your entire life, then you are a mean-spirited person and shall be damned to this life forever' Like, fuck you turkeys.
Also, up until the ending, I think something that could've helped this story is a different art style. I think the illustrations are beautiful, but I think something more engaging is better for a children's book. Some of the images are literally just landscapes of the desert.
Also, up until the ending, I think something that could've helped this story is a different art style. I think the illustrations are beautiful, but I think something more engaging is better for a children's book. Some of the images are literally just landscapes of the desert.
August 3, 2018
I've read The Turkey Girl before, though I remember it slightly different -- where the Turkey Girl chases after the turkeys, through canyons, but fails to catch them. It's a really lovely story. I love that it doesn't have a happy ending. There are consequences. The art is by the same artist who illustrated Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, another classic fairy tale picture book. It's sort of a hazy, abstract art, which I wouldn't think would be good for children, but my daughter loves it.
September 24, 2019
Not your typical happily ever after fairy tale. A Native American version of Cinderella wherein our Cinderella character , the Turkey girl, ends up with nothing, no friends, no prince and most importantly no turkeys.
I knew from the author's note going in there wouldn't be a happy ending. But I wasn't all on board with it. I get the moral of the story "keep your promises" but this isn't one of my favorites.
Recommended? Yes because I still enjoy different cultural takes on the same basic premise
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
I knew from the author's note going in there wouldn't be a happy ending. But I wasn't all on board with it. I get the moral of the story "keep your promises" but this isn't one of my favorites.
Recommended? Yes because I still enjoy different cultural takes on the same basic premise
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
March 6, 2018
This is a Zuni version of Cinderella. There are several similarities (poor, orphaned girl, animal friends, big dance) but the big difference is it doesn’t have a happy ending. Turkey Girl has been selfish by not returning by midnight like she promised, so she loses her turkey friends forever. Not my favorite Cinderella variation… The illustrations by Ed Young have a dreamlike quality to them, and are a mix of really beautiful and really drab. Several pages have dark backgrounds with black text that are extremely difficult to read.
Materials used: oil crayon and pastel
Materials used: oil crayon and pastel
May 27, 2022
Art was artsy, not illustrative... imo, awful.
Author's right to the tale questionable... she claims descent from Chief Tarhe, a Wyandotte. But he'd be Wyandot, and he died in 1818, so the connection would be tenuous at best. And the claim that her family owns land on Rainier is not substantiated by my google searches.
And story is mean. The girl was given a nearly impossible task, and only one chance to accomplish it. And failure to perform it led to a life even more miserable than the one before the 'ball.'
Author's right to the tale questionable... she claims descent from Chief Tarhe, a Wyandotte. But he'd be Wyandot, and he died in 1818, so the connection would be tenuous at best. And the claim that her family owns land on Rainier is not substantiated by my google searches.
And story is mean. The girl was given a nearly impossible task, and only one chance to accomplish it. And failure to perform it led to a life even more miserable than the one before the 'ball.'
June 4, 2018
This was a story about a girl who did not fit in she only had turkey friends well one day a big festival was coming and she was crying she could not go well the turkeys made her a dress and to look beautiful but they made her promise to be back before father son rised or they would leave so when she did not return before the son the turkeys have left and that is why turkeys always stay away from their tall brothers because she broke her promise
January 31, 2014
Booklist (Vol. 92, No. 16 (April 15, 1996))
Gr. 4-6. A young Turkey Girl forgets her debt to her loving flock and ends up with nothing in this retelling of a Zuni tale. Turkey Girl, outcast and poor, goes to a great feast with the help of her turkeys, who dance her a becoming costume and rich jewels. But she forgets her promise to return before the sun sets, and when she finally does remember, it is too late: the turkeys have gone, and nothing remains. The bleakness of the tale is softened by Young's elegantly evocative pastel and oil crayon illustrations. Desert violets and rich reds complement one another against the spacious backdrop of the southwestern sky. The changing light, a constant indication of the emotional tenor of the plot, glows with reflected firelight, the sun's setting rays, and the chill twilight shadows. Pollock's retelling is steady and solid, and her source is clearly indicated in an author's note that gives some background on the tale.
Horn Book starred (September, 1996)
This unusual version with its rather abrupt ending provides an interesting contrast to European variations of the Cinderella story. In an introductory note, Pollock contends that the "various Native American versions end with the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price." Moody, textured pastel and oil-crayon illustrations evoke the southwestern desert.
Kirkus Reviews (1996)
Unlike most Cinderella variants, this retelling of a Zuni story ends unhappily, and hinges on the main character's unfaithfulness. When the ragged turkey herder hears that a Dance of the Sacred Bird is to be held in nearby Hawikuh, she weeps--until her avian friends magic her clothes into splendid garments, hawk up silver and jewelry that they've collected in their crops for years, and send her off, charging her to return before sunset or prove herself "mean of spirit." Enthralled by the music and the men, she delays too long, and loses turkeys, fine clothing, and any hope of respect from her peers. Pollock (Garlanda, 1980, etc.) tells the tale in formal, flowing style, with long sentences and polite dialogue; Young's large, impressionistic scenes only hint of place, dress, or culture, but fully capture the story's changing moods with floating, indistinct figures and strongly colored light. A graceful, dreamy episode.
Publishers Weekly (April 29, 1996)
In this sobering Native American variation of the Cinderella story, the focus is not on finding true love but on remaining true to one's promises. To repay the kindness of the poor orphan girl who tends them, the tribe's turkeys dress her in a fine doeskin robe so she can attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. So enthralled is she with the dancing that she breaks her promise to return to the turkeys before dawn and consequently loses her friends forever. Pollock frequently interrupts the narrative with references to Zuni clothing and dwellings-the girl's yucca sandals, her "turquoise necklaces and earrings of delicate beauty." In contrast, Young's (Lon Po Po) characteristically abstract illustrations evoke the sunlight and heat of the pueblo villages with few visual clues about the story itself. Except for the heroine's beautiful face, the characters and setting are hazy shadows, often appearing simply as dark silhouettes. The reader never sees the celebrated gown, which is shrouded in a mantle; the dancers at the festival are barely visible smudges seen through the pueblo's doorways. Like the music of story hour radio shows, these illustrations set a mood, forcing the reader to fill in the visual details. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
School Library Journal (May 1996)
K-Gr 3--In this version of the Cinderella story, a poor outcast Zuni girl who tends turkeys longs to attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. Observing her suffering, the turkeys outfit her in a white doeskin dress adorned with rare shells, as well as turquoise necklaces and earrings, and silver bracelets. To prove that she remembers them, she promises to return from the dance "before Sun-Father returns to his sacred place." As in other retellings, she does not keep her word. At this point, the story diverges greatly from the version with which most American children will be familiar: when she finally returns home, the turkeys have abandoned her forever. As an author's note points out, the story symbolically reinforces the moral that "when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price." Pollock explains that she found this story in a collection of Zuni folktales collected by Frank Hamilton Cushing, but does not provide the source. Young's spare oil crayon and pastel illustrations contain almost elemental forms that sometimes merely suggest the objects they depict. The artist makes the most of the desert's dramatic lighting, creating shadowy backgrounds that draw attention to the story's spiritual underpinnings. While his palette jumps wildly from pale shades to the most vibrant pinks, blues, and golds of a vivid desert sunset, the illustrations do not detract from Pollock's thoughtful retelling, which itself gracefully captures the Zuni landscape. Unfortunately, many pages are difficult to read due to a lack of contrast between the illustrations and the words placed on top of them.--Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Gr. 4-6. A young Turkey Girl forgets her debt to her loving flock and ends up with nothing in this retelling of a Zuni tale. Turkey Girl, outcast and poor, goes to a great feast with the help of her turkeys, who dance her a becoming costume and rich jewels. But she forgets her promise to return before the sun sets, and when she finally does remember, it is too late: the turkeys have gone, and nothing remains. The bleakness of the tale is softened by Young's elegantly evocative pastel and oil crayon illustrations. Desert violets and rich reds complement one another against the spacious backdrop of the southwestern sky. The changing light, a constant indication of the emotional tenor of the plot, glows with reflected firelight, the sun's setting rays, and the chill twilight shadows. Pollock's retelling is steady and solid, and her source is clearly indicated in an author's note that gives some background on the tale.
Horn Book starred (September, 1996)
This unusual version with its rather abrupt ending provides an interesting contrast to European variations of the Cinderella story. In an introductory note, Pollock contends that the "various Native American versions end with the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price." Moody, textured pastel and oil-crayon illustrations evoke the southwestern desert.
Kirkus Reviews (1996)
Unlike most Cinderella variants, this retelling of a Zuni story ends unhappily, and hinges on the main character's unfaithfulness. When the ragged turkey herder hears that a Dance of the Sacred Bird is to be held in nearby Hawikuh, she weeps--until her avian friends magic her clothes into splendid garments, hawk up silver and jewelry that they've collected in their crops for years, and send her off, charging her to return before sunset or prove herself "mean of spirit." Enthralled by the music and the men, she delays too long, and loses turkeys, fine clothing, and any hope of respect from her peers. Pollock (Garlanda, 1980, etc.) tells the tale in formal, flowing style, with long sentences and polite dialogue; Young's large, impressionistic scenes only hint of place, dress, or culture, but fully capture the story's changing moods with floating, indistinct figures and strongly colored light. A graceful, dreamy episode.
Publishers Weekly (April 29, 1996)
In this sobering Native American variation of the Cinderella story, the focus is not on finding true love but on remaining true to one's promises. To repay the kindness of the poor orphan girl who tends them, the tribe's turkeys dress her in a fine doeskin robe so she can attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. So enthralled is she with the dancing that she breaks her promise to return to the turkeys before dawn and consequently loses her friends forever. Pollock frequently interrupts the narrative with references to Zuni clothing and dwellings-the girl's yucca sandals, her "turquoise necklaces and earrings of delicate beauty." In contrast, Young's (Lon Po Po) characteristically abstract illustrations evoke the sunlight and heat of the pueblo villages with few visual clues about the story itself. Except for the heroine's beautiful face, the characters and setting are hazy shadows, often appearing simply as dark silhouettes. The reader never sees the celebrated gown, which is shrouded in a mantle; the dancers at the festival are barely visible smudges seen through the pueblo's doorways. Like the music of story hour radio shows, these illustrations set a mood, forcing the reader to fill in the visual details. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
School Library Journal (May 1996)
K-Gr 3--In this version of the Cinderella story, a poor outcast Zuni girl who tends turkeys longs to attend the Dance of the Sacred Bird. Observing her suffering, the turkeys outfit her in a white doeskin dress adorned with rare shells, as well as turquoise necklaces and earrings, and silver bracelets. To prove that she remembers them, she promises to return from the dance "before Sun-Father returns to his sacred place." As in other retellings, she does not keep her word. At this point, the story diverges greatly from the version with which most American children will be familiar: when she finally returns home, the turkeys have abandoned her forever. As an author's note points out, the story symbolically reinforces the moral that "when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price." Pollock explains that she found this story in a collection of Zuni folktales collected by Frank Hamilton Cushing, but does not provide the source. Young's spare oil crayon and pastel illustrations contain almost elemental forms that sometimes merely suggest the objects they depict. The artist makes the most of the desert's dramatic lighting, creating shadowy backgrounds that draw attention to the story's spiritual underpinnings. While his palette jumps wildly from pale shades to the most vibrant pinks, blues, and golds of a vivid desert sunset, the illustrations do not detract from Pollock's thoughtful retelling, which itself gracefully captures the Zuni landscape. Unfortunately, many pages are difficult to read due to a lack of contrast between the illustrations and the words placed on top of them.--Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2021
A better version of a Cinderella-type story with an outcome that affects our connection with nature. As silly as parts of the story may be—and it is a fairy tale, after all—it does remind us that both humans and animals come from the same place; when we forget that, we cause irreparable harm to the world. Stories like this one become more imperative the more we damage our environment.
May 24, 2021
I liked Ed Young's illustrations, but I did not like the sad ending. However, it does teach a good lesson about not breaking promises or forgetting where you came from. The girl started to think she was better than her friends who had helped her, so she paid the price. Upsetting, but understandable.
August 30, 2023
In this Zuni “Cinderella” tale, turkeys act as the fairy godmother for the Turkey Girl, an orphan who lives alone in a mud-walled hut, herding the flocks of wealthy families as a living (Pollock, 1996). Like other “Cinderella” stories, the Turkey Girl forgets her promise to return at the appointed time; at this point, however, the story “diverges greatly from the version with which most American children will be familiar” (Fader, 1996). Finally returning to keep her promise, the Turkey Girl discovers she “is too late: the turkeys have gone, and nothing remains” (Del Negro, 1996).
Selection Sources:
• Del Negro, J. (1996). The turkey girl: A Zuni Cinderella story [Book
Review]. Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com.libsrv....
• Fader, E. (1996). Preschool & primary grades: Nonfiction. School Library Journal, 42(5), 107.
Selection Sources:
• Del Negro, J. (1996). The turkey girl: A Zuni Cinderella story [Book
Review]. Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com.libsrv....
• Fader, E. (1996). Preschool & primary grades: Nonfiction. School Library Journal, 42(5), 107.
June 26, 2024
Gorgeous pastel artwork makes this retelling of the traditional Cinderella folktale a feast for the eyes. The story features a Native American heroine who learns an unforgettable lesson about the importance of keeping one’s word and the necessity of making personal sacrifices for the sake of the tribe. The poetic text is beautifully rendered, yet it might be too sophisticated for young language learners.
November 23, 2024
This is a good retelling of a folktale that is very similar to Cinderella. It also reminds one of the bargains and importance of keeping your word.
I will say, in my copy at least, while the artwork is beautiful, on some pages it overwhelmed the wording, making it difficult to read.
I will say, in my copy at least, while the artwork is beautiful, on some pages it overwhelmed the wording, making it difficult to read.
September 26, 2018
Not what one would expect, but it is a realistic take on the consequences we might face based on the choices we make.
February 2, 2019
For some reason I remember finding the ending to this one really sad as a kid.
June 4, 2019
Kind of a sad story with illustrations so abstract it is difficult to enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews