Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)

Customer Reviews:

Story of trials drawn in a rectangular style.......2007-01-12

To those who pay attention to the myths of various cultures, the fundamental premise of this book comes as no surprise. The Sun, in this case a god to the Pueblo Indians, sends a spark of life down to Earth and impregnates a woman. The child is a boy who is ridiculed by the other boys because he has no father. He then goes on a search for his father and gets no results until he consults the arrow maker.
The arrow maker understands the situation and turns the boy into an arrow. He then shoots him into the sky so that the boy can converse with the Sun. After he claims to be to be the son of the Sun, the boy is given a series of trials, which he passes. He is then returned to the Earth and acknowledged by all as the son of the Sun. There is great rejoicing among the people as they now appreciate who the boy really is.
This is a delightful tale that is illustrated in the style of the Pueblo Indians. The drawings are made using almost exclusively lines drawn at right angles. Most shapes are made from a combination of rectangular figures, yet so well done that it is still possible to detect the emotions of the characters. It is an excellent story for young children, it will teach them something about another culture and that is always a good thing.

Arrow to the Sun : A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin).......2006-01-15

Children in my classroom didnt enjoy this story but it was worth reading.

Arrow To The Sun By Gerald McDermont.......2004-11-18

This is an inside look about Indian heritage and the kinds of myths they had in their times. The reader really gets a feel for how the strange boy feels when he gets picked on because he is different. This is a fictional and adventurous book with such great details that it almost seems real as you're reading it.
This story is set in a little pueblo where a mother is giving birth. Suddenly the God of the Sun sent down an arrow to the women and she gave birth to his son. As the little boy grows up, all the other boys make fun of him because he looks different and has no father. Then finally one day he sets off to find his father and to truly know who he is.
The author does such a fantastic job on his voice and sentence fluency that when you're reading the book it seems like you are the strange little boy. This is my favorite children's book because I read it over and over since I was a kid and I enjoy Indian myths. I also enjoy this book because the pictures are phenomenal and the colors are amazing.
People who like adventure and can relate to the little boy would love this outstanding book. This book is very inspiring and shows that you can do anything you want to if you try. I gave this book five out of five stars and I hope you'll like this awesome book just as much as I did.
By Tanner

Level 5: Escape the serpents and the room of lightning.......2004-11-10

I don't think I can judge Gerald McDermott's 1975 Caldecott winning picture book, "Arrow to the Sun" fairly. You see, I am a child of the 80s. I remember the early days of Colico Vision and Atari. I have very clear images in my head of some of the first arcade games, like Q-Bert, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Brothers. Why do I invoke such images when I'm (supposedly) reviewing "Arrow to the Sun"? Because like these games, "Arrow to the Sun" suffers for its time period. Author/illustrator Gerald McDermott strived very hard to make this story both deeply original and timeless. In many ways, he has succeeded. But if you, like myself, played a single pixilated arcade game in the late 70s or early to mid 80s then you'll take one look at this book and notice its video game aspects. It's a beautiful story. It's just tainted in the eyes of the children of the 80s.

In this retelling of an ancient legend (or so the bookflap assures me), we learn about a boy unlike any other. When the Lord of the Sun sent a "spark of life" to earth, it found a young woman in a pueblo. The woman then gave birth to a son who found himself desperate to know his father. The boy leaves home and finally comes to realize from whom he is descended. To prove himself to the Lord of the Sun he withstands numerous video game-like trials and finally is transformed so that he may bring the Sun's spirit to the world of men.

Echoes of this story have been found around the world in everything from the birth of Christianity to ancient Zeus-appears-as-a-shaft-of-light type tales. This particular rendition of such a story is a little more tasteful in its presentation. McDermott has always had a keen sense of storytelling. This is apparent in everything from his fan-freakin'-tastic, "Zomo the Trickster Rabbit" to the more contemporary "Creation". "Arrow to the Sun" has just the right tone of voice and increasing urgency one needs in a good story.

As for the pictures, they look like characters from a Commodore 64 game. According to all-knowing bookflap, this tale, "captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art". I'm fairly certain I've seen Pueblo Indian art before. And I'm almost certain it didn't give me urges to go play Load Runner or Frogger. While much of the art in this book is very beautiful (the design on our hero's chest is a lovely geometric shape) it suffers from its form. The colors are beautiful, no question. The designs on many of the pictures is great. But the odd blocky pixel-like look is jarring and (to my mind) overly familiar.

So unfortunately, McDermott ended up doing something he didn't want to. His intentions, I'm certain, were to create something timeless. Instead, he make a picture book that remains firmly stuck in the age of Pac-Man. If arcade settings and characters don't disturb you, you may be the perfect consumer for this tale. If, on the other hand, you prefer your picture books to be a little lovelier and a little less circa 1983, you might want to pass this puppy by. Just a warning to you Gen X parents out there.

Why I love Arrow to the Sun.......2004-02-12

This book just calls to me. I love the words, I love the pictures. Most of the time when I read a book over and over I get bored with the book. But every time I read this book I love it even more. I give it 5 stars. I think it is the best book ever.

Sweet Medicine: The Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred Buffalo Hat in Northern Cheyenne History (Civilization of the American Indian Series)

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A Special Book About the Cheyenne
An Exceptional Work
Authoritative work
A "don't buy this book" kinda Book
Sweet Medicine is beautiful, sensitive, and scholarly

Sweet Medicine: The Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred Buffalo Hat in Northern Cheyenne History (Civilization of the American Indian Series)
Peter J. Powell
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0806130288

Customer Reviews:

A Special Book About the Cheyenne .......2007-03-22

Father Peter J. Powell's work with the Cheyenne is in a class by itself. His telling of stories in the mythic past of the Cheyenne have a depth of understanding worthy of Campbell, Zimmer and Eliade. So many books on the Native Americans are not satisfying because the authors do not know enough to ask the right questions and they merely repeat what other authors have written. Father Powell lived among the Cheyenne, became a very trusted informant and tells the stories with an uncommon grasp of the subject. His list of primary sources is impressive, more so as we learn who many of these people are and who their fathers, mothers and grandparents were. The way he moves from present to near past to distant past to mythic past and back to present reinforces Cheyenne belief that the distance between them is much shorter than our culture thinks. A wonderful source book, it fills in so many gaps between Grinnell, Hyde, Bent and Lavender--and takes us deeper than any of them.

An Exceptional Work.......2004-02-19

One way of regarding what Father Powell accomplished in his epic treatise on Northern Cheyenne history is look at Vine Deloria's appraisal in "God Is Red." Deloria states: "Powell's work, particularly his style of exposition, was based primarily on conversations with reservation people and reflected their language. An Anglican priest who operated St. Augustine's Indian Center in Chicago, Powell viewed all religious expressions as sacred and consequently treated the Cheyenne tradition with respect. His book did not take the superficial approach of listing the quaint beliefs of the Cheyennes as if the reader and the author were beyond such superstitions. 'Sweet Medicine' impressed Indians with the validity of their own traditions." Deloria's comments on Powell's work deserve serious consideration. After all, Deloria set the tone in Chpt. 4 of "Custer Died For Your Sins" for criticizing the historical relationship between anthropology (be it of the professional or self-taught variety) and American Indian communities. The fact that Deloria points to "Sweet Medicine" as an exceptional work is an indication that the study of American Indian culture and history is possible--even by non-Indians--when the resulting discourse is driven by indigenous sources of knowledge, as opposed to forcing research to fit the expectations of a largely non-Indian Academy.

Authoritative work.......2003-08-15

Some people don't like the idea of a priest writing a book about Cheyenne myth and ritual. Too bad for them. Who better to understand it than one who is completely accepted by the Cheyenne people and, indeed, one of the holders of the sacred regalia of the Arrows and Medicine Hat? Peter Powell has done the world an undying favor by meticulously recording, with the utmost exactitude, in both words and pictures the sacred rites (and their meaning!) of the Cheyenne people? Ignore the reviews of those who just don't -or can't- get the point of this magistral work and instead buy it and enter into a magical world.

A "don't buy this book" kinda Book.......2001-05-20

when I saw it's non-authenticity, I returned it for full credit. Fr. Powell has been duped!

Sweet Medicine is beautiful, sensitive, and scholarly.......1998-11-16

Father Peter J. Powell (who, contrary to the misinformation passed in another reader's review, is an Episcopalian priest) is the premium scholar of Cheyenne culture and religion. A Sun Dance priest himself, adopted by the Cheyenne, Father Powell renders the beautiful story of Sweet Medicine in evocative prose. After reading his work, I was privileged to meet Father Powell on a sad, but touching occasion, when he presided over the funeral of the great Cheyenne educator Bill Tall Bull in Lame Deer, Montana several years ago. Father Powell is held in great reverence by the Northern Cheyenne people, and on that day was sought out after the service by countless members of the tribe with greetings, hugs, and thanks. I can recommend SWEET MEDICINE without reservation to anyone with interest in Plains Indian culture.

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Must Read
Must Read
Must Read

Arrows of the Sun (Avaryan Rising)
Judith Tarr
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312852630

Customer Reviews:

Must Read.......2001-08-09

For anyone who enjoyed the first three volumes of Avaryan Rising, this is a must read. Judith Tarr continues to write a captivating story that keeps you enthralled from start to finish. Just like the first three, you want to keep reading until you reach the end. And when you get to the end you want to start all over again! (From the very first volume!!)

Must Read.......2001-08-09

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Arrow to the Sun (Picture Puffins)
Gerald McDermott
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Arrow to the Sun 30th Anniversary Editio

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Arrow to the Sun 30th Anniversary Editio
Gerald McDermott
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0670059382

Book Description

Viking is proud to announce a special 30th anniversary hardcover edition of Arrow to the Sun, Gerald McDermott's powerful rendering of an ancient Pueblo Indian legend. A true classic that has taken its place in the pantheon of children's literature, this book vividly evokes the Native American reverence for the source of all life--the Solar Fire. Acclaimed for its bold and vibrant illustrations, Arrow to the Sun was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1975.

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Arrow in the Sun = Soldier Blue

Arrow in the Sun
Theodore V. Olsen
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Arrow in the Sun = Soldier Blue.......2002-04-27

Acutally just a note: This book was eventually titled "Soldier Blue" after the movie of the same name (Candice Bergan, Peter Strauss - late night TV, etc.). So, if you own Soldier Blue, you own Arrow in the Sun.

Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars

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Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars
Mae & Ira Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc, NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O7WEU8

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Arrow Book of Space Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars
Mae; Freeman, Ira Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0590004050

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Arrow book of space: Sun, moon, planets, and stars
Mae Blacker Freeman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006X9FHK

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Arrow in the Sun
Carl Kidwell
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0670133655

Book Description

Selected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses offer guidance and inspiration in a time of great doubt. These are ardent and lucid sermons that provide a compassionate vision of Christianity.

Customer Reviews:

Provocative collection of sermons and essays.......2007-06-06

This is a very fine set of sermons, short articles, and addresses by Lewis, each of them taking up a different and interesting topic but also somehow relating to its fellows. As much as I enjoy longer sustained pieces by Lewis, these little kernels of thought, so concise and self-sufficient, are especially pleasurable to read. Indeed, I found them a little addictive, which is no doubt why I read the book so quickly.

"The Weight of Glory" is C. S. Lewis considering heaven again, something he does very well (as in The Problem of Pain), here trying to make sense of the promises of the "glory" beyond earthly life. In some ways, a complementary piece with "Transposition."

"Learning in War-Time" and "Why I Am Not a Pacifist" were both delivered in the context of World War Two. Of the two I like the first best, which features Lewis arguments to students at Oxford why the crisis of war does not make their academic studies less important. A great celebration of learning and liberal arts, passions of Lewis which readers of his Christian works might be apt to overlook. The second piece is as it sounds, a defense of fighting for one's country from a Christian perspective. Less convincing, still stirring stuff.

"Transposition" is one of my faves in the book. Why do "religious" experiences yield themselves to other, simpler explanations so easily--why may not mystical experiences simply be erotic love mischanneled, and so forth? Lewis postulates the theory that we "transpose" higher emotional experiences into our only available means of expressing them, so that the same physiological signs are called upon to represent a wide range of experiences, including religious ones. This is an elegant, analogy-rich explanation of the sort that will keep the mind buzzing for days.

"Is Theology Poetry?" is another great essay, both clever and amusing. To the idea that Christian theology might "merely" be poetic feeling, aesthetic pleasure, Lewis cleverly notes that if it is, it is very poor poetry--not half so aesthetically pleasing as Norse myth, for instance. My favorite part of this essay is Lewis's parodic presentation of the Big Bang theory as a romantic story, demonstrating that the presentation of any theory of origins can be manipulated and diminished in dignity.

After the heady stuff of the beginning essays, "The Inner Ring" is surprisingly modest in scope. The ring of the title is the coveted, half-imaginary circle of confidence within any social group--the top group, the exclusive club, the most influential clique. Lewis here counsels a group of graduates not to spend their lives hankering after membership in these rings, pointing out the rewards of tending to one's affairs and passions to the best of one's ability. A satisfying and encouraging address.

"Membership" is another relatively simple idea that Lewis follows to very interesting places. He points out the typical secular understanding of "member," denoting a more or less uniform member of a set, and contrasts this idea with the Christian understanding of the "members" of the Body of Christ. Within Christianity, he is arguing, members are meant to differ, to have different traits and "functions," like the organs of a body. Elegant.

The last and shortest pieces in the set, "On Forgiveness" and "A Slip of the Tongue," were the least interesting for me, though certainly worth reading and reviewing. "Forgiveness" makes a distinction between what we ask from God and what we seem to expect (not to be forgiven but "excused"). "A Slip of the Tongue" shows how a misquotation in prayer leads Lewis to consider how believers reserve temporal, secular pleasures and comforts to themselves while ostensibly requesting/desiring eternal gifts. A good critique of complacency and "practical" Christianity.

Overall a very fine collection, and probably a great place to begin sampling Lewis's writings for Christians.

Beautiful Insights.......2007-04-24

In the title track of this book, a sermon, Lewis argues that the problem with humanity is not that we desire too much but too little. Should we pursue wholeheartedly the deepest desires of our hearts, we would be lead towards, rather than distracted from, God. He spends some time rebuffing the challenge that pursuing God for the sake of fulfilling our desires is immature. Instead, he says, we need to pursue temporary rewards at the beginning of our education in order to lead us to greater and more sublime fulfillment later on. What is promised in Scripture are five things: being with Christ, being like him, glory, entertainment, and position in the universe. He focuses especially on some misconceptions of "glory," preferring the idea of being acknowledged or recognized by God. He closes on the challenge that we spend time thinking about the potential glory of our neighbors, leading them, eternal beings that they are, to become what they are meant to be. For those who have not read this essay, it is a refreshing reversal of what many people think Christianity to be.

Of the remaining essays in the book, two of them, "Learning in War-Time" and "Why I Am Not a Pacifist," address issues that arose during Lewis' experience of WWII (having fought in the first war). He rebuffs pacifism in light of Jesus' teachings on turning the other cheek with an apparent intuitionism, suggesting that there are obvious exceptions. The other proposes that war does not bring to a halt the practices of a disciplined life that prepare us for a future without war. "Transposition" is an exploration of the phenomenon of speaking in tongues. "Is Theology Poetry" is a defense against the accusation that Christianity has no more substance than myth. "The Inner Ring" deals with developing the personal integrity and fortitude to resist trying to achieve status in a peer hierarchy, a clique. "Membership" is an introductory look at the necessity of Christian community. "On forgiveness" looks specifically at our desire not to forgive, and proposes the remedy of realizing that, one, God understands the things that lead us to sin, and, two, God really does forgive our sins, with or without reason. The book closes with "A Slip of the Tongue," in which he wrestles with his own temptation to hold onto the temporal and not renounce it for the eternal.

Lewis' work could be said to be prophetic, in the sense that he sees beyond the norms of the world around him, even the well-enforced norms, and draws our attention to an alternate kingdom. He vision is singular and clear, and he finds in this alternate reality a palpable attraction which he believes to be written on every human heart. Like Narnia, there is a world that we all most want, and Lewis is playing on our desires to get there in order to draw our attention to it. In a word, he makes stale old Christianity sound fun.

Potent, Powerful Punch in a Short Collection of Works.......2007-01-27

This is one of my favorite C.S. Lewis books because there is a myriad of relevant and insightful statements about faith, love and even acts of defiance/war that will force the reader to genuinely consider what he or she believes and more importantly, why.

With elements of Lewis's examinations of humility and spiritual growth/maturity and the concept that one must struggle to achieve/save/defend what matters most to them in a world saturated with complacency, this book certainly inspires!

Along with new author J.G. Marking's work, "A Voice Is Calling," this book is a fantastic look into key elements of belief affecting and influencing how we live our daily life and why we should or would change because of it.

Great Collection of Short Works.......2007-01-11

The book is a collection of short works, originally given as sermons, homilies, talks, or addresses. Each one is a gem. In Lewis's day, such oral presentations were written out ahead of time and then read. Thus, they were short but very "idea-dense." You had to listen carefully, but only for 20 minutes. (Modern-day pastors/speakers should take note!!) You can profitably read them as essays, but need to keep in mind that they were intended to be delivered orally by the author to a specific audience (sometimes with discussion to follow). My only disappointment is that Lewis didn't do this often enough. I wish there were four more volumes to buy.

The Weight of Glory.......2007-01-05

The title essay is worth the purchase price of the book. All the essays in the book, however, are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Lewis has a way of taking time-specific situations, such as in "Learning in Wartime," and drawing conclusions that apply in all situations. His Christianity, in all these works, is well-stated and attractive.

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The Weight of Glory
C. S. Lewis
Manufacturer: EERDMANS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J539L8

Soulutions: What Most People Don't Know About Weight Loss

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Soulutions: What Most People Don't Know About Weight Loss
Glory Clark Angell
Manufacturer: Eggman Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1886371504

To God Be The Glory: Losing Weight and Gaining Power

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To God Be The Glory: Losing Weight and Gaining Power
Yemina D Thomas
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Healthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595685684

Book Description

To God Be The Glory is a journal styled testimonial written by Yemina Thomas. Thomas is a wife and a mother of two who was born in the northwest section of Washington D.C. She was raised in a loving middle class home where her battle with weight began. As a woman she always felt uncomfortable about her weight but was never motivated enough to stick with any program long enough to see results. She lived in a vicious pattern of denial and disappointment for years. Finally, Yemina took her issue to God and experienced such awakening. She no longer looked at magazine ads or celebrities to set the standard for her life because God had revealed to her where she should be through His word.

To God Be The Glory will challenge its readers to change the way they view themselves. This book is designed to give the readers a deeper purpose for their weight loss goals while adding value to their self images. It will also inspire a new level of spiritual commitment as you grow through the process. This book will serve as additional support for those who have already begun their weight loss journey. You will find yourself or someone you know somewhere within the familiar experiences shared by the author. The author uses her personal challenges to touch the readers and cause them to discover something new about themselves within each chapter.

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THE WEIGHT OF GLORY
C. S. Lewis
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub., Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NKYO6I

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Weight of Glory
Jr. Al Eakes
Manufacturer: Self-published
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MXKLCC

Product Description

A book of poems by Al Eakes, Jr.. In 1966 he was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, amuscular and nervous system disorder. The photographic illustrationsare are the work of Jean Vanzant.

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Weight of Glory
Lon Woodrum
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000AYZNO4

THE WEIGHT OF GLORY - and Other Addresses (by the author of The Chronicles of Narnia)

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THE WEIGHT OF GLORY - and Other Addresses (by the author of The Chronicles of Narnia)
C. S. Lewis
Manufacturer: William B. Eerdmans
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRUGAE

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Weight of Glory and Other Addresses
C. S. Lewis
Manufacturer: Macmillan and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2KBWG

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The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses
C.S. Lewis
Manufacturer: MacMillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2RN7M

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