Black Sheep, White Crow and Other Windmill Tales: Stories from Navajo Country

by Jim Kristofic, Nolan Karras James (Illustrator)

Overview

Winner of the 2018 Southwest Book Award from the Border Regional Library Association
Winner of the 2018 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Multicultural and International Books

When Kameron moves to his grandma's sheep camp on the Navajo Reservation, he leaves behind his cell phone reception and his friends. The young boy's world becomes even stranger when Kameron takes the sheep out to the local windmill and meets an old storyteller. As the seasons turn, the old man weaves eight tales that teach the deeper story of the Diné country and the Diné people.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826358196
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	08/15/2017
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

Jim Kristofic has worked on and off the "Rez" for more than ten years as a river guide, ranch hand, journalist, park ranger, and oral historian. He is the author of The Hero Twins: A Navajo-English Story of the Monster Slayers and Navajos Wear Nikes: A Reservation Life, both published by UNM Press. He currently teaches in northern New Mexico.


Nolan Karras James is an artist, songwriter, powwow dancer, guitarist, and former rodeo cowboy from Pinon, Arizona. His father is Many Goats Clan and his mother is Apache.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Shiico-Summer

Black Sheep, White Crow 9

The Animals Who Wanted to Be What They Were Not 18

'Aak'eego-Autumn

The Rattling Bones 29

The Ring with Three Stones 37

Haigo-Winter

The Heart of a Rider 53

The Ugly Dog 64

Daago-Spring

The Boy Who Became Coyote 77

The Flint Bear 90

Author's Notes 103

Notes on Navajo Pronunciation 107

Editorial Reviews

"The tales plunge readers into Navajo lore. . . . Chapterbook readers will devour it, but don't overlook the opportunity to read it out loud, preferably while snuggling."

—New Mexico Magazine

"This collection of stories is reminiscent of Aesop's fables."

—Cibola Citizen

"Delightful."—Roundup

"These tales capture the humor and themes of traditional Diné literature. . . . The collection resonates with deep cultural authenticity."—Enrique Lamadrid, author of Juan the Bear and the Water of Life: La Acequia de Juan del Oso

"A wonderful set of stories that encompass the past, present, and future of the Navajos. It encourages [readers] to be determined, disciplined, and motivated as they move through life and make stories of their own."—Edison Eskeets, Diné runner, artist, educator, and first Diné trader at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

From the Publisher