Arrow to the Sun: a Pueblo Indian tale

McDermott, Gerald, Arrow to the Sun: a Pueblo Indian tale, Puffin, 1977, 40 pgs.

Summary: The legend begins with the Sun sending the Spark of Life to the Earth many years ago. This spark landed in the hut of a maiden and became a boy and then a man. The boy grew into a fine man, but seeing how all the other young men had fathers, and he did not, he always wondered who his father was. So the young man began to search for his father. He asked many different people if they knew where his father was. Finally the arrow maker said he did and made the boy into an arrow and shot him to the sun. The boy landed on the Sun and asked the Sun Lord if he was his father. The Lord told the boy if passed four different trials then he was indeed his son. The boy endures the trials of lions, snakes, bees, and lightning. He survives and discovers he is indeed the son of the Lord and returns to Earth to bring the spirit to all.

Evaluation: The illustrations in this book really make this legend very visual. The vibrant colors used and the block designs really clearly show the Pueblo Indian art. The legend itself is a very simple legend that most if not all cultures have some version off, but the artwork really adds another element to this tale. I enjoyed this tale even if it has an older publication date. I think this is a good example of a book that is a classic.

Annotation: Could you endure trials of lions, snakes, bees, and lightning?

Significance of Book: Any tale of folklore about a culture that originated in North America is significant. The illustrations in this particular tale are very vibrant and unique.

Genre/subject: fiction, folklore, Native American Indian

Awards:

National:

• Caldecott Medal: 1975

Why I selected the book: I have noticed that a good number of early Caldecott winners were legends or mythical tales. I was interested in this particular tale because it was focused on an Indian tribe.

Price: $18.37