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How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books) Paperback – Picture Book, March 3, 1996
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This retelling of a Navajo folktale explains how First Woman tried to write the laws of the land using stars in the sky, only to be thwarted by the trickster Coyote.
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Lexile measureAD780L
- Dimensions7.75 x 0.12 x 10 inches
- PublisherClarion Books
- Publication dateMarch 3, 1996
- ISBN-100395779383
- ISBN-13978-0395779385
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Oughton's fine debut provides Desimini with the best vehicle she's had for her spare, powerful style . . . A dramatically handsome setting for an especially noble Native American tale." Kirkus Reviews with Pointers —
About the Author
Jerrie Oughton has written several novels for young adults. Her first, Music From a Place Called Half Moon. was awarded the Bank Street College Children's Book Award. She lives with her husband in Lexington, Kentucky.
Product details
- Publisher : Clarion Books; Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books edition (March 3, 1996)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0395779383
- ISBN-13 : 978-0395779385
- Reading age : 3 - 9 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : AD780L
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 5.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 7.75 x 0.12 x 10 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #86,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #45 in Children's Native American Books
- #72 in Children's Multicultural Literature
- #2,424 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Lisa Desimini is the author and/or illustrator of over 35 books for children. Her book My House was one of the New York Time's Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Some of her most successful title are: Dot the Fire Dog, Anansi Does the Impossible, How the Stars Fell into the Sky, She Sang Promise, and The Great Big Green.
Lisa also illustrated the covers for the Sookie Stackhouse Series, and Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven and The Bean Trees.
A second grader once wrote: "Dear Ms. Desimini, Your books are exciting. I love your books because I can't stop thinking about them."
Lisa and her husband live in southern CA.
www.lisadesimini.com
Jerrie Preston Oughton, a Georgia native, grew up in North Carolina where she graduated from Broughton High School. The English teacher who inspired noted novelist and Duke University Professor, Reynolds Price, Armistead Maupin, and novelist Anne Tyler, also touched a chord deep within Oughton. Jerrie dedicated her first book, How The Stars Fell Into The Sky to Phyllis Peacock. After graduation from Meredith College, where she was chosen Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year, Oughton taught elementary school in Raleigh.
Literary dreams for Oughton may have begun in Raleigh classrooms in the late 50's, but it took her tenacity to make it pay off almost 40 years later when she became a published author. The Magic Weaver of Rugs, her 2nd book was published spring of 1994 by Houghton Mifflin Co. and was also named by the National Council for Social Studies as one of the notable books of the year. Both picture books were featured in Smithsonian Magazine in their year-end celebration of the best in children's books.
Oughton's first novel for young adults, Music from a Place Called Half Moon, takes place in the mountains of North Carolina. This novel won the 1995 Bank Street College Award for exceptional literature for young people and was nominated for the South Carolina Junior Book Award for 1997-98. The War In Georgia, Jerrie Oughton's second novel for young adults was honored by the American Library Association by being placed on the 1998 list of Recommended Books for Young Adults. Perfect Family, a novel of teen problems, is a favorite among teenage girls. A gripping story of teen love gone awry in the fifties, its subtle message is one of empowerment for young women in today’s world.
Since publication of her first book in 1992, Jerrie has made author visits to over three hundred schools and universities in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, and Ohio. Jerrie delights in visiting schools and sharing her message of hope and hard work paying off.
The Good Hostage is Jerrie's first adult novel
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The illustrations are amazing; they feel warm, soft, and alive--not harsh or garish at all. Each image underscores the emotions and actions of this story of First Woman who wants to communicate laws to her people---present and future--in such away as the laws would always be accessible and always be remembered. She carefully places stars in certain patterns until the impatient, meddling Coyote offers to help--which eventually brings the woman grief and human beings confusion.
What's interesting about this story is the dynamic comparison / contrast that occurs with the main characters: First Man, First Woman, and Coyote. The First Man and the Coyote (Man and animal) are both extremely impatient to be getting onto other here and now "Life" activities while the First Woman considers the future, believing that writing the laws is necessary. Writing the laws requires time and careful efforts. It is a sacred duty she takes seriously. Thus, in this tale, the woman is the respectable, responsible, beyond-the-moment person and the dedicated law giver. (Some world legends and myths tend to place women in subservient roles and / or vilify them.) Her only mistake is trusting the Coyote to help her. [Perhaps, this is the warning embedded in the story: beware of "animal instincts," "urges," and haste because they can cause unhappiness, discord, and disorder.]
"How the Stars Fell into the Sky" contains the following collection of universal themes that can be examined and discussed in group / class settings:
First Woman is compelled to write the laws of her people. (Her mission, her divine calling)
First Woman cares for her people and their welfare. (Identification with a Group)
Coyote enters the scene (Animals with human characteristic--talents and flaws.)
First Woman trusts the Coyote at first. (Innocence)
First Woman witnesses the Coyote's tragic deed. (Experience)
First Woman respects the world, nature, and all its cycles (Acceptance)
Humanity has often looked to the heavens / stars for guidance.
Stars are jewels of the sky
trust / distrust
impatience and haste
darkness and light
organization; chaos (confusion)
Top reviews from other countries
This book was a bit of a tough read though for younger readers, I found myself simplifying it, making it more to their level.
THAT said! For older readers it was nice to read a different culture's myth about the stars.