This retelling of a Hopi folktale is similar to, but different from, the Zuni myth that the late Tony Hillerman retold, The Boy Who Made Dragonfly. In the Hopi version, no reason is given for the crop failures. The little boy and girl's parents leave them behind when they join the villagers' search for food elsewhere. The little boy makes the hummingbird figure and gives it to his little sister. The rest of the story is about how the magic hummingbird saves the children and their people.

The illustrations are colorful and based on traditional designs. I would recommend this book to parents who like good stories and are willing to have their children exposed to more than just European-based folklore. ( )