Remaking the Earth: A Creation Story from the Great Plains of North America

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: Remaking the Earth: A Creation Story from the Great Plains of North America.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Goble, Paul. 1996. REMAKING THE EARTH: A CREATION STORY FROM THE GREAT PLAINS OF NORTH AMERICA. Ill. Paul Gobble. New York: Orchard Books.
ISBN: 053109524X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Remaking the Earth is an adapted creation story which has been passed down through oral and written tradition of the Plains Indians. This circular tale explains how land, animals, and people were brought about to co-exist together according to the Native American spiritual figure "Earth Maker".

Readers will follow the gifts that “Earth Maker” or the Great Spirit gives to her people page by page with a story explaining the reasons for why things were created when they were. The Creator carefully places all animals and people together promising and helps each being sort out it’s right place on the Earth reminding them all that, “only the earth remains forever.”

This story begins with the excitement of the “new world”, and ends with the promise that the Earth Maker will create another world when this one ends.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The blend of mythical and spiritual creation folklore in Goble’s work offers readers a glimpse into the oral tradition and spiritual world of the Native American Plains Indians. The Author’s Note gives readers a historical context to understand the evolution of the creation story. The illustrations resemble those from Native American drawings with detail that adds depth and strength to the written word.

The footnotes at the bottom of the pages offer readers on the spot information about the Native American cultural traditions giving readers significant insight into the content of the text. This book tells a beautiful story with it’s flowing prose and beautifully drawn illustrations.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist: “This is a good choice for students interested in comparing the handling of creation stories from diverse cultural and ethnic groups”

New York Times: “Goble's work is a marriage of authentic design and contemporary artistry…It succeeds beautifully.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Teachers and students can connect this story to others written by Goble reflecting Native American traditions.

*Teachers can integrate Goble’s books into social studies units about Native American culture and history.

*Students can compare and contrast Native American folklore with folklore of other cultures around the world.

Awards:
Caldecott Medal, 1978. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses.
Children’s Book Council, Children’s Choice, 2003. Mystic Horse.

Other Titles:
Tipi: Home of the Nomadic Buffalo Hunters
All Our Relatives: Traditional Native American Thoughts About Nature
Iktomi Loses His Eyes
Iktomi and the Coyote: A Plains Indian Story
The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman
The Return of the Buffaloes: A Plains Indian Story about Famine and Renewal of the Earth