Module 3 - Arrow to the Sun

Summary:

McDermott created this book with bright illustrations and bold colors.  The story is about a maiden that was touched by the rays of the Lord of the Sun and gave birth to a little boy.  He was raised by his mother but he had no father.  He was teased by the other children he was around.  He told his mother that he had to find his father and left home.  He asked many people where he might be able to find him and they said nothing.  However, he finally ran into a wise man that made him into an arrow and shot him to the sun. There he met the Lord of the Sun and told him that he was his son.  The Lord said that he would have to prove himself by passing through four tests.  Once he passed the tests the Lord shot him back to his own world.  Everyone was joyous.


APA Reference:


McDermott, G. (1974). Arrow to the sun:  A Pueblo Indian tale. New York, NY:  The Viking Press.

My Impressions:

This story was short and to the point.  Personally I did not really care for this story.  I know some Indians and they do not care for it either.  They are actually offended by this book.  It is highly inaccurate and considered to be disrespectful to the true accounts of Pueblo Indian tales.  As I learned this I discovered that there are many others that feel the same way.  There are websites dedicated to teaching people about the inaccuracies of this book.  I do think that the illustrations are very bold and unique.  I can appreciate them. 

Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 4- Like the author’s Anansi the Spiker: a Tale from the Ashanti (1972) and The Magic Tree:  a Tale from the Congo (1973, both Holt), this Pueblo Indian tale is also available as an animated film and the geometric designs strongly suggest constant motion.  Sparse prose tells the story of Boy, who sets out on a quest for his father, Lord of the Sun.  His search leads him to wise Arrow Maker who transforms him into an arrow and shoots him into the heavens.  There the Lord of the Sun requires that the Boy undergo four trials to prove his relationship.  Upon completing the tasks, Boy returns to Earth to imbue men with his father’s spirit.  The vibrant, 11 ½” x 10” size illustrations, done in orange and yellow tones which are appropriate to the story’s Southwest origins, offer a bold interpretation of this Pueblo legend. – Judith S. Kronick, Simsbury Public Library, Conn.

Kronick, J. S. (1974). Arrow to the sun (Book Review). School Library Journal, 21(1), 66.

Library Uses:

a.       I would say that the illustrations in this story could be used for inspiration in an art class lesson.

b.      I think that this book could be used to teach about Indians but paired with more true accounts and compared.