Big Turtle

Gr 2-6—Before the Earth was formed, the world had two parts. People lived in the sky world and the animals lived in the water world. Then one day, a young woman who was pregnant with twins fell from the sky. Caught by swans, she was taken to the wisest of creatures, Big Turtle, who devised a plan to fetch soil from the bottom of the water to build a new home for Sky Girl. The animals vied to be the one to fetch it but only one was successful, and at great cost. The Earth was formed on Big Turtle's back, where it remains today. Occasionally, when he stretches, it rumbles and quakes. Deep blacks accented with bold color beautifully reflect Native American art motifs in this re-created Huron myth. McLimans's use of bold inks and clean edges have a woodcut feel. The animals are deftly accented with neonlike colors and patterns, bright round eyes, and simple detail. Unfortunately, the text falls short. The narrative begins well enough but the dialogue feels forced and uncharacteristically contemporary. Sky Girl, whose descendants became the Earth's First People, speaks a bit too much like a Valley Girl, and the animals sound childlike. This dichotomy tends to distract readers from the beauty of the story. A lovely, artist offering that just misses the mark.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY