Turquoise Boy

This is a well written book with great illustrations about Navajo belief couched in a simplistic tale. I would recommend it, not only for children to read, but for adults as well. It also appeals to those who may not be familiar with any Navajo belief/"mythology" or are looking to learn more.

I see the Earth I am looking at Her and smile Because She makes me happy. The Earth, looking back at me Is smiling too. May I walk happily And lightly Upon her. The Navajo legend of Turquoise Boy tells the story of young Navajo who saw his people working hard in the fields and searching long in the desert for food, and who wanted to do something to make their life easier. To prove himself worthy he went on a journey to try and find his answer with the Talking Gods of the White Shell Mountains of the East. But this proves to be only the first stop on a long journey, for each time Turquoise Boy asks for something to make the lives of his people easier the Talking Gods send him along to their brothers of the sacred Turquoise Mountain or the Yellow Abalone Shell Mountain in the west or the Black Jet Mountain of the north. It is only when he returns to his mother, Changing Woman, that she sends him across a rainbow bridge to the great hogan of his father, Sun Bearer. What is interesting about "Turquoise Boy: A Navajo Legend" adapted by Terri Cohlene with illustrations by Charles Reasoner, is how Turquoise Boy's long journey leads him to come up with a way in which the lives of his people can be made earlier. Knowing from experience that walking is slow and tiring, Turquoise Boy wants a better way to get from place to place. It is then that he finds a ladder sticking up from a hole in the ground that leads to a kiva in which he meets Mirage Man, who shows the young man what to do with the shells and stones he collected on his journey. If young readers pay attention to the cover design of this book, then they will know what the great gift is going to be. But this story not only explains how this great gift came to the Navajo people, but what they had to do to deserve it and to continue to deserve it. Then in the back of the book young readers will find an informative section on the Navajo with photographs (mostly black & white) of the masks and costumes representing gods and powerful beings that they were in tribal ceremonies, sand paintings, and rugs. There are also illustrations showing three different ways of constructing a hogan, the structures in which the Navajos lived. The accompanying text covers the Navajo homeland, people, beliefs, and their lives today. The watercolor illustrations by Reasoner often incorporate traditional Navajo designs into the artwork, and if you compare the his illustrations with the photographs in the back of the book you will see that attention is paid to depicting the native garb of the Navajo and other aspects of their culture. One of the strengths of this series is how it combines stories that are fairly detailed and complex with information on the history and customs of the Native Americans from which the story comes, which makes it stand out from other similar series. Other volumes in the Native American Legends series by Cohlene and Reasoner includes "Dancing Drum: A Cherokee Legend," "Ka-h

"Turquoise Boy: A Navajo Legend" is a part of the "Native American Legends" series. The presentation of the legend makes it accessible to readers while maintaining an accurate image of the Navajo culture. The illustrations use warm colors and geometric shapes and symbols common in the Navajo world. The text is a delightful retelling of a traditional Navajo legend. Turquoise Boy, the son of Sun Bearer and Changing Woman (Navajo spirits of creation), goes in search of a way to make the life of his people easier. He travels across the Navajo world and implores the Holy Ones, his father above (Sun Bearer-the sun), and Mirage Man below to help the People. Mirage Man shows Turquoise Boy a secret gift, and the People participate in a ceremony to bring the gift forth. This book is a beautiful way to learn about the Navajo culture. The retelling of traditional legends are such an important part of preserving any culture, and this series has made us all participants in a wider American culture. I would recommend the whole series as well as the books from the "Legends of the World" series.