This is a story about how the Native Americans got their fire. It starts off with the Native Americans not having any fire because there were a lot of evil creatures around it. One day the sisters and coyote worked together to somehow steal the fire from the evil creatures. They were successful and the fire was passed down from one animal to the next. It was a team effort to obtain the fire and the coyote teachers them how to get fire from rubbing to branches together. The Native American use the fire for warmth and to cook. ( )

This is a tale about how the native americans got their fire. At the beginning of the story they did not have any fire since their were evil creatures guarding it. Then the Coyote and his sisters worked together to figure out a way to steal the fire from the creatures and they did. The fire stick passed from animal to animal and then into a tree until the evil creatures went away. then the coyote had taught all of them how to create fire from the branches of the tree that caught fire.

Love the pictures and the graceful telling of the story. Especially love the careful notes by author and illustrator explaining how they strived for authenticity and respect. Not sure why the other animals helped Coyote bring Fire to the People, though. And, interestingly, this Prometheus incarnation is not punished. ( )

I enjoyed reading this story (especially since I am also taking an Intro. to Native American Studies course this term). I think that Native American creation stories such as this one are very clever (e.g. I like how they toss the fire-stick from animal to animal). I also like the unique art style of the illustrations.

Goldin, Barbara. Coyote and the Firestick, a Pacific Northwest Indian Tale. (1996). San Diego: Gulliver Books.

The is retelling of a Pacific Northwest Native American legend takes place in early days, before the People had fire. When Coyote comes to visit the People one snowy winter day, they praise him for his wisdom and for all the things he has taught them, and they ask him to get Fire for them. He is pleased by all the praise and plans with his sisters how to get Fire away from the 3 evil spirits who guard it. Coyote sneaks up to the tip of the mountain where Fire sits and grabs a stick whose end burns with Fire. As he is chased down the mountain by the 3 spirits, he tosses it to Lion, who tosses it to Deer, who tosses it so Squirrel. It burns a black spot on her neck. She tosses it to Frog, but the spirits grab his tail and yak it off. Frog tosses the Fire stick onto a tree, where it burns, and the spirits can’t get at it. Coyote can get out of the tree, by rubbing two sticks of wood from the tree until sparks fly. He uses the sparks to build a bigger fire with pieces of wood and gives it to the People, who use it for warmth and to cook. Again, they praise Coyote for his help.

This is a beautifully illustrated book. The story is long and complex and it ma be too difficult for very young elementary students. Older students, however, will enjoy it detail and rich descriptions. It is this beautiful use of language that makes this unique book unique. It is also delightful how its main theme is to explain how people got fire, but those readers who notice will see that it also gives explanations for how squirrels are marked with black on their chest and why frogs have no tail. ( )