Module 3: Arrow to the Sun

SLIS 5420 / Module 3 / January 28-February 3

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale

By Gerald McDermott

Bibliography: McDermott, G. (1974). Arrow to the sun. New York: The Viking Press Inc.

Summary:
Arrow to the Sun tells the story of The Boy whose father the Lord of the Sun sent the spark of life to earth. The Boy is different from the other children in the village and they won't let him join in their games. Because of this The Boy leaves his mother and goes to seek his father. In a play on "Are You My Mother" The Boy asks many different people if they are his father, but none of them are. The Arrow Maker, however, fashions him into an arrow and shoots him towards his father the Sun. The Boy then goes through several trials to prove to his father that he is his son and is transformed. After his transformation he is sent back to earth by his father to "bring his father's spirit to the world of men".

Impressions:
I was drawn to this book because of the fabulous illustrations. They are incredibly different from many of the books that I read this week. The illustrations are blocky, brightly colored, and reflective of Native American culture. I think that this book is interesting to read. Because at heart it is observably a creation story, but from a different culture's perspective. It amazes me the parallels that can be drawn to the story of Jesus, Greek creation with Uranus, Assyrian creation myths, and many others. I think that it is obvious why this story won the Caldecott Award. This is definitely a book that makes a reader look twice after it has been pulled down off of the shelf.

Review:
Kirkus Review

The gold, ochre and black of the stylized pueblo, the Boy's transformation from a Kachina-like silhouette into an arrow strong enough to reach his father the Sun and, finally, the explosion of color as Boy enters the Sun's four chambers to confront monster lions, serpents, bees and lightning -- all add up to a richer, more kinetic, more functional balance between story and visual effects than were to be found in McDermott's highly praised Anansi the Spider. In this spare, simple form the tale of the Boy who leaves the earth to pass the tests set by his immortal father and then returns to earth where the people celebrate his presence with a Dance of Life has obvious Christian and other parallels. McDermott's fusion of primitive costumes, motifs and legend with contemporary design and color sense is highly ambitious -- and, in this instance, explosively, elementally beautiful.

Library Setting:
This would be an excellent book to use in a display for Native American Heritage Month in November. It could be paired with other books about Native American tribes, myths, and books by Native American authors. This book could also be used to spark a discussion about creation stories and how people all over the world have similar and yet different stories explaining creation.

Review Reference: Kirkus Media LLC. (2012, May 3). Arrow to the sun. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gerald-mcdermott/arrow-to-the-sun/

Image: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eyaE0DryL._SL500_SS500_.jpg