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Coyote Walks on Two Legs: A Book of Navajo Myths and Legends
Four Navajo creation myths chronicle the exploits, antics, and adventures of Coyote the Trickster as he abducts the Water Monster's babies and starts the Great Flood, tries to steal corn from the horned toad, and attempts to exchange his fur for that of a spotted fawn.
30 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 1995
24 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Hausman
124Ìýbooks18ÌýfollowersGerald Andrews Hausman is a storyteller and award-winning author of books about Native America, animals, mythology, and West Indian culture. Hausman comes from a long line of storytellers and educators, and has published over seventy books for both children and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 11, 2021
An interesting book about the Navajo creation myths about the trickster the Coyote. A fast read with some interesting stories about who the Coyote is and the tricks he played. A very easy read.
April 2, 2009
Gerald Hausman recounts these Coyote stories as they were told to him by his Navajo friend, Bluejay DeGroat, whose father was a Navajo medicine man. In an Author's Note on the title page, Hausman explains how sacred these Native American myths are and points out some of the origins and cultural references found in the tales. In the first story, Coyote causes a great flood by stealing two water-monster babies. The Animal People are forced to escape to a new world where First Man knows what is best for the animal people and gives the Coyote a new name. Then Coyote learns a new trick from Magpie, but doesn't quite get it right, which is how he ends up with yellow, pine-sap eyes. He asks a Deer mother how her fawns got such lovely white spots and loses some fur which he now sheds each year just before winter. Coyote also meets the guardian of the corn one hungry day, and in his greed, discovers just how seriously Horned Toad takes that job.
Hausmans' renditions of these Coyote tales maintain the feel of their oral versions. The text is presented in a free-verse poetry style which helps capture the cadence of the storyteller. There is rhythm and repetition of phrase and the reader is addressed directly. The tales have an obvious lesson, whether Coyote learns it or not, and the plots are quick to unfold and resolve. Coyote and the other characters become known through their actions rather than physical traits and each story is brief and action packed. The illustrations by Floyd Cooper, who is part Creek Indian, are as rich as the language. They are done in saturated earth tones and cover the entire page. The reader is welcomed into the tale and shares various vantage points with Coyote and his friends. The details of the characters are muted with soft edges giving them a dream-like quality that evokes tales told around a campfire that return during sleep.
Hausmans' renditions of these Coyote tales maintain the feel of their oral versions. The text is presented in a free-verse poetry style which helps capture the cadence of the storyteller. There is rhythm and repetition of phrase and the reader is addressed directly. The tales have an obvious lesson, whether Coyote learns it or not, and the plots are quick to unfold and resolve. Coyote and the other characters become known through their actions rather than physical traits and each story is brief and action packed. The illustrations by Floyd Cooper, who is part Creek Indian, are as rich as the language. They are done in saturated earth tones and cover the entire page. The reader is welcomed into the tale and shares various vantage points with Coyote and his friends. The details of the characters are muted with soft edges giving them a dream-like quality that evokes tales told around a campfire that return during sleep.
June 7, 2020
"We generally think of Coyote as a harmless, good-natured goof... Coyote's interference can also do harm. I remember asking Jay [author's Navajo friend, Bluejay] if he thought Coyote... was a 'bad guy.' He answered, 'Coyote brings change; sometimes good, sometimes bad. But always his mischief causes us to experience new ways of doing things, new ways of knowing. This is his great gift to The People.'... It is good, then, to remember that Coyote, in these myths, walks on two legs and shares the same world that we do. We are not strangers and the Navajos say that we once spoke the same language. We should also realize that while Coyote's bravery is often foolery, his love of leaping into the unknown is what encourages us to be alive. Long live Coyote the foolish, Coyote the brave." - Gerald Hausman, author
Audience: Upper Elementary (8-11)
Book type: mythology (Navajo)
Myths included:
The Great Flood
"This was the world that the Animal People knew. Among them lived one who was brave and foolish. He was named First Angry, but that is another story. We will call him Coyote."
Summary:
In the beginning, there were three Dawns. Coyote was sent to discover them but he found two water-monster babies instead and stole them which caused the Great Flood. The Animal People had to find high ground to escape the flood and kept going higher and higher. Locust had to fire into the sky and created a passageway that the Animal People went through and created a New World.
First Angry
"As everyone knows, Coyote caused The Great Flood. First Man knew he could not stop Coyote from going anywhere he pleased."
Summary: "Two-Legged People" (humans) told the Animal People where to live. He also needed to stop Coyote, so he gave him a name that Coyote didn't like which made Coyote mad. This was how he became "First Angry."
The Day Magipie Tricked Coyote
"Some People say those soot-streaks remind Coyote of the day that Magpie tricked him. They say he learned his lessons and he now takes care of his yellow pine-sap eyes."
Summary: Coyote saw Magpie play a game called Throw Away Eyes and wanted to learn how to play it. In exchange for learning the game, Coyote sang the Magpie song. Although Magpie warned Coyote he had to catch his eyes, Coyote did not and went blind. Blue Jay was kind and made Coyote some new eyes from sap, but Coyote was too excited about his new eyes he began to dance in the sun. His eyes began to melt and he ran off to protect them.
Coyote's New Coat
"Coyote was out walking one day when he saw Mother Deer and two spotted fawns."
Summary: Coyote asks Mother Deer how her fawns got their spots because he wanted them as well. Unfortunately, the process left him with burns on his coat, and this is why Coyote has to shed his old fur and get a new coat every year.
The Guardian of the Corn
"Coyote pretended to sniff at the Wind, then he snatched up The Guardian of the Corn and swallowed her whole."
Summary: Coyote was hungry and asked Horned Toad, who was The Guardian of the Corn, for some of her best corn. She refused and told him to grow his own corn. He replied it took too long and then swallowed her so that he could eat as much corn as he pleased. As he lay there, Raven asked him for some corn and he refused and told him to grow his own. As this was happening, Horned Toad began to poke him from inside which caused him to get sick and throw her and the corn up.
This was a great introduction to Navajo myths as they explain many reasons why coyotes look the way they do and have lessons as well. The illustrations were beautiful with very soft lines and muted colors. Also, the myths were written in a poetic form with stanzas and lines. However, I wish this had been written by an actual Navajo author instead of a person of non-Navajo descent. While I do appreciate the author's note in the beginning of the book to explain how Coyote is in Navajo legends, it feels inauthentic to have someone else write these stories and publish them. The proceeds are not going to the Navajo nation and we do not know how much these stories were changed for publication. In addition, I am left with the question: were these stories given to the author for publication with a blessing? He explains that it takes years between the tellings of these stories because "it is necessary, in the Navajo way, to wait for the proper time to tell a tale." As much as I appreciate this introduction to the Navajo myths, I'm wondering if this would be a case of cultural appropriation. We do not know if the author was given permission to tell these stories. We do not know if any of the proceeds go to benefit the Navajo nation. Is it improper for us to read these stories? Is it respectful for us to know these stories from a white author?
Audience: Upper Elementary (8-11)
Book type: mythology (Navajo)
Myths included:
The Great Flood
"This was the world that the Animal People knew. Among them lived one who was brave and foolish. He was named First Angry, but that is another story. We will call him Coyote."
Summary:
In the beginning, there were three Dawns. Coyote was sent to discover them but he found two water-monster babies instead and stole them which caused the Great Flood. The Animal People had to find high ground to escape the flood and kept going higher and higher. Locust had to fire into the sky and created a passageway that the Animal People went through and created a New World.
First Angry
"As everyone knows, Coyote caused The Great Flood. First Man knew he could not stop Coyote from going anywhere he pleased."
Summary: "Two-Legged People" (humans) told the Animal People where to live. He also needed to stop Coyote, so he gave him a name that Coyote didn't like which made Coyote mad. This was how he became "First Angry."
The Day Magipie Tricked Coyote
"Some People say those soot-streaks remind Coyote of the day that Magpie tricked him. They say he learned his lessons and he now takes care of his yellow pine-sap eyes."
Summary: Coyote saw Magpie play a game called Throw Away Eyes and wanted to learn how to play it. In exchange for learning the game, Coyote sang the Magpie song. Although Magpie warned Coyote he had to catch his eyes, Coyote did not and went blind. Blue Jay was kind and made Coyote some new eyes from sap, but Coyote was too excited about his new eyes he began to dance in the sun. His eyes began to melt and he ran off to protect them.
Coyote's New Coat
"Coyote was out walking one day when he saw Mother Deer and two spotted fawns."
Summary: Coyote asks Mother Deer how her fawns got their spots because he wanted them as well. Unfortunately, the process left him with burns on his coat, and this is why Coyote has to shed his old fur and get a new coat every year.
The Guardian of the Corn
"Coyote pretended to sniff at the Wind, then he snatched up The Guardian of the Corn and swallowed her whole."
Summary: Coyote was hungry and asked Horned Toad, who was The Guardian of the Corn, for some of her best corn. She refused and told him to grow his own corn. He replied it took too long and then swallowed her so that he could eat as much corn as he pleased. As he lay there, Raven asked him for some corn and he refused and told him to grow his own. As this was happening, Horned Toad began to poke him from inside which caused him to get sick and throw her and the corn up.
This was a great introduction to Navajo myths as they explain many reasons why coyotes look the way they do and have lessons as well. The illustrations were beautiful with very soft lines and muted colors. Also, the myths were written in a poetic form with stanzas and lines. However, I wish this had been written by an actual Navajo author instead of a person of non-Navajo descent. While I do appreciate the author's note in the beginning of the book to explain how Coyote is in Navajo legends, it feels inauthentic to have someone else write these stories and publish them. The proceeds are not going to the Navajo nation and we do not know how much these stories were changed for publication. In addition, I am left with the question: were these stories given to the author for publication with a blessing? He explains that it takes years between the tellings of these stories because "it is necessary, in the Navajo way, to wait for the proper time to tell a tale." As much as I appreciate this introduction to the Navajo myths, I'm wondering if this would be a case of cultural appropriation. We do not know if the author was given permission to tell these stories. We do not know if any of the proceeds go to benefit the Navajo nation. Is it improper for us to read these stories? Is it respectful for us to know these stories from a white author?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2009
I like this book of five stories about Coyote. The artwork is very pretty.
Read
December 15, 2009The book is about navajo myths and legends about the coyote. It explains how the coyote is a trickster and how he himself is tricked by other animals.
November 27, 2013
Charming stories and wonderful illustrations
August 8, 2016
We read this book to complement our history lesson about the Native North Americans from the Southwest United States called the Navajos.
October 21, 2012
Cool book of legends about coyotes and other animals. Very fun storys.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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