On the Trail Made of Dawn: American Indian Creation Myths

Webster, M. L.

ISBN 10: 0208024972 ISBN 13: 9780208024978

Publisher: Linnet Books, 2001

Synopsis

Presents thirteen creation stories from Native American tribes, putting them in the context of the culture and beliefs of the tribes.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4 Up-Thirteen stories from traditions ranging from the Makah to the Aztec tell of the origin of the world and of humans; why we have daylight, night, stars, the wind, seasons, rainbows; and how fire came to humankind. The reteller grew up hearing tales told by elders of the Ojibway and so, as she writes in the introduction, has "a deep appreciation of Native American culture and heritage, which I hope to foster in others with this book." Her sources, carefully cited at the end, include older texts based on "material collected orally from the people themselves." Each legend is preceded by quotations and poems from various Native American sources (not usually the same as the legend) and is followed by a description of the tribe from which the legend comes. The brief tales are told in short sentences, creating a rhythmic flow. Webster uses repetition to add an almost poetic feel to several of the selections. They work well as read-alouds, stories to tell, as a basis for creative writing or skits, for folklore assignments, or for pleasure reading.

Sally Bates Goodroe, formerly at Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

Creation tales of Eskimo, Cherokee, Cree, and 10 other native cultures are retold in M.L. Webster's On the Trail Made of Dawn: Native American Creation Stories. Drawing on older texts and oral histories collected by the U.S. Government Bureau of American Ethnology, Webster introduces each story with a Native American saying. A brief history of the tribe from which the story springs is included at the end.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Linnet Books
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0208024972
• ISBN 13: 9780208024978
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 96