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[CCBC-Net] Folktales
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From: Debbie Reese <debreese>
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 15:24:03 -0500
A couple of things I want to toss into this discussion of picture books. First, Gerald McDermott's ARROW TO THE SUN can not, in my view, be called a "Pueblo" story. It is too filled with bias and error. In a certain way, it's kind of like LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. A cool story, but highly problematic.
ARROW, along with Penny Pollock's TURKEY GIRL and Rodanas' DRAGONFLY'S TALE, are all so deeply misrepresentative of Pueblo ways, that they provide the perfect example of why I think publishers should not publish Native traditional stories, especially as "folktales." It irks me no end that our stories, which are every bit as sacred to us as Genesis is to Christians, are shelved over in folktales instead of with world religions.
Stories I like? A few days ago, as a gift, I chose Scieszka's TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. I think it is terrific for teaching perspective, and makes space for teachers and librarians to teach about why, for example, a Pueblo person would object to the ways that Pueblo stories are mistold.
I also really like Joy Harjo's GOOD LUCK CAT and Cynthia Leitich Smith's JINGLE DANCER. For the most part, Native writers write realistic stories like these two. Bruchac has done some traditional stories. I especially like the way he and Gayle Ross did the one about the Milky Way. It opens with a modern-day setting, kids and a grandparent who is going to tell them a traditional story. Framing it that way tells readers that we are still here, and that these are our stories, and that we tell them in our homes today. This isn't a long-ago-far-away kind of thing.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Debbie A. Reese (Namb? O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese at illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
Received on Thu 14 May 2009 03:24:03 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 15:24:03 -0500
A couple of things I want to toss into this discussion of picture books. First, Gerald McDermott's ARROW TO THE SUN can not, in my view, be called a "Pueblo" story. It is too filled with bias and error. In a certain way, it's kind of like LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. A cool story, but highly problematic.
ARROW, along with Penny Pollock's TURKEY GIRL and Rodanas' DRAGONFLY'S TALE, are all so deeply misrepresentative of Pueblo ways, that they provide the perfect example of why I think publishers should not publish Native traditional stories, especially as "folktales." It irks me no end that our stories, which are every bit as sacred to us as Genesis is to Christians, are shelved over in folktales instead of with world religions.
Stories I like? A few days ago, as a gift, I chose Scieszka's TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. I think it is terrific for teaching perspective, and makes space for teachers and librarians to teach about why, for example, a Pueblo person would object to the ways that Pueblo stories are mistold.
I also really like Joy Harjo's GOOD LUCK CAT and Cynthia Leitich Smith's JINGLE DANCER. For the most part, Native writers write realistic stories like these two. Bruchac has done some traditional stories. I especially like the way he and Gayle Ross did the one about the Milky Way. It opens with a modern-day setting, kids and a grandparent who is going to tell them a traditional story. Framing it that way tells readers that we are still here, and that these are our stories, and that we tell them in our homes today. This isn't a long-ago-far-away kind of thing.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Debbie A. Reese (Namb? O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese at illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
Received on Thu 14 May 2009 03:24:03 PM CDT
