The Deetkatoo: Native American Stories About Little People

The Deetkatoo: Native American Stories About Little People

If you ever see them, don't be afraid. Talk to them, be nice to them, and they will bring you luck. The world of the little people is no farther than the patch of woods beyond the last house. Yet it is a place of mystery, closely connected to nature. From the little people come rain and wind. From their cooking pots comes food that never runs out. They themselves are small, but their strength and wisdom are great, providing a source of lasting power for average-size humans. Here are twenty-two not-quite-folktales in an unusual collection gathered from the Mohawk, the Cherokee, the Zuni, the Inuit, the Maya, and other Native American groups. Though each tale is different, the little people themselves are recognizable from one story to the next. They are capable of playing tricks, yet offer help when someone is in trouble. They run and hide, yet want to make friends, even propose marriage. Are the little people real? Or do they live only in stories? The answer to both questions is a resounding yes, as explained by folklorist John Bierhorst in a fascinating introduction exploring the history and meaning of the little people in Native American culture. Complementing the tales are perceptive illustrations by Native American artist Hilbert Coy, demonstrating that the helpful (and sometimes not so helpful) little people are everywhere -- at least to those who have eyes to see them. Grade 3-7-This collection of tales is gathered from the native peoples of the Americas, from Greenland west to California, and Canada south to Argentina. Falling somewhere between passed-down personal reminiscences and full-blown fairy stories, the 22 selections are short and simply told. They reveal incidents from the lives of the little people and their interactions with the average-sized folk before the Europeans arrived. The brevity adds to the ease of reading or telling these tales. The extensive introduction discusses their place in world literature, as well as specifics from the stories. Black-and-white linoleum prints depict multiple images and scenes with simple outline figures. An interesting and unusual addition for Native American and folktale collections. Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 6^-12. Bierhorst presents 22 tales, varying in length and complexity, about little people, from 14 Native American groups, including the Inuit, Aztec, and Maya cultures. Although folklorists don't consider these stories to be folktales in the ordinary sense (they "are called memorates, implying that they have been taken straight from the memory despite their extraordinary subject matter"), readers will still enjoy their depiction of the power and influence the little people exert over humans and everyday events. Bierhorst provides an excellent introduction to the tales and an unusual "Guide to the Lore of Little People," which groups the stories by theme--food, rain, helpfulness, personal traits, etc. Tribal information as well as extensive source notes are appended; the illustrations were not seen. Karen Hutt Bierhorst (The Dancing Fox, 1997, etc.) has gathered 22 tales from the First Peoples of America, from the Inuit to the Maya, Cherokee, Zuni, Seneca, and Lenape, among others, focusing on the little people. Children who have loved tales of gnomes and dwarves from European folklore will find a bit of treasure here. Bierhorst describes the stories as midway between hearsay and the true folktale: These short, unpolished tales celebrate ``the idea that the powerless can be made powerful.'' Little people reward both kindness and generosity; they sometimes marry regular folk; and they often provide food and more, e.g., in ``How the Dark Dance Began,'' a Seneca boy named Snow is taken by stealth to the little people, who serve him strawberry soup and teach him the songs and ceremony of the Dark Dance to bring back to his people. In addition to offering sources and lists of stories by theme, Bierhorst imbues the tellings with a sense of the immediacy: Their raw charm shines through. (b&w illustrations, not seen; bibliography, notes) (Folklore. 10-12) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. With a blend of magic and realism, renowned folklorist John Bierhorst presents twenty-two tales of little people from fourteen different Native American cultures. Whether they be guardians or tricksters, the little people remind us that even the smallest beings can be powerful. Includes a comprehensive bibliography and source notes. John Bierhorst, author of many acclaimed works about Native American cultures, lives in West Shokan, New York.Z Used Book in Good Condition