Maria Williams (1)

This is a retelling of a Tlingit Tale that tells of how Raven used to be white and how there was only darkness in the world. The Chief of the tribe is greedy and keeping the stars, sun and moon to himself. The cunning Raven comes up with a plan to trick the chief into releasing the treasures. Raven disguises himself as the Chief's grandson and releases each treasure. After releasing the stars, moon and sun, he decides to turn back into a Raven. When the Chief sees this he is furious and traps Raven in his home. Raven flies through the smoke hole in the ceiling and turns from white to back with soot in the process.
This is a beautiful story and would be perfect to use in a unit on myths. This book also includes a glossary of Tlingit words, photographs, and information on the Tlingit people.… (mehr)

Clever Raven figures out how to trick the greedy Chief out of the celestial treasures he keeps to himself: the stars, moon, and sun. Raven disguises himself as the Chief's infant grandson and points to the boxes where the treasures are kept; Raven opens the boxes one after another and the stars, moon, and sun escape up into the sky. To escape the Chief's anger, Raven flies out through the smoke hole in the ceiling, turning from white to black in the process.

A gorgeous, nearly full-page painting in an air frame occupies the recto of each double page spread, with text on the verso; back matter includes information about Raven, a glossary of Tlingit words (but without a pronunciation guide), photographs, information on the Tlingit people, about the author, about the illustrator.

Tales of the People, Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.… (mehr)