GENRE 2: The Great Race of the birds and animals retold by Paul Goble

Bibliography
Goble, Paul. 1985. The Great Race of the birds and animals. New York: Bradbury Press. ISBN 0027369501

Plot Summary
In this retelling of a Cheyenne and Sioux myth, the Creator calls for a great race to settle the question of whether buffaloes or men should have supremacy over all creatures. The Creator decrees that the race will be held between four-legged and two-legged animals. If the four-legged animals win, then buffaloes will continue eating men. If the two-legged animals win, then men will be allowed to eat buffaloes and all other four-legged creatures. The birds side with men, and as the race begins, Magpie flies down and rides on Buffalo’s back. Several of the animals drop out or fall behind throughout the course of the race. As the finish line draws near, man begins to fall behind Buffalo, and it appears that they may lose the race. However, thanks to Magpie’s cunning plan, man ends up winning the race and the buffaloes agree to stop eating men.

Critical Analysis
Goble's story is a typical Native American por quoi folktale in that it explains why something occurred in Native American culture. Goble begins the folktale with the question “Do you know why buffaloes have long hair on their chins?” thus signaling the reader that they are about to learn why something happened. In this case, Goble retells the Cheyenne and Sioux myth that explains how Native Americans came to hunt buffalo and other animals. The story contains the typical folktale element of people and animals overcoming a problem. It also includes a trickster element in the character of Magpie, who spends the entire race on Buffalo’s back, only to emerge the victor at the finish line. It is through Magpie’s cunning that man is allowed to rein supreme.

An interesting element in this book was the pages at the beginning and end of the story that give some history into the Native American culture. Goble appears to have done his research well as he notes that the traditional legend has the great race being run around the Black Hills in western South Dakota. The last page details why Native American cultures believe that magpies have beautiful iridescent colors on their tails.

Goble’s illustrations add to the overall effect of the story. The illustrations are appealing due to their bright colors and crisp details. The colors are reminiscent of Native American art and allow each page in the book to capture the essence of the story. Goble’s buffalo drawings have especially captivating eyes, and you can almost sense a human emotion in them.

Review Excerpt(s)
CBC/NCSS Notable Children's Book in Social Studies

Publisher’s Weekly – “Caldecott Medalist Goble's captivating retelling of this Cheyenne and Sioux myth is enhanced by his characteristically vivid folk-art paintings.”

Connections
* Students can hold a Socratic seminar and debate whether magpie fairly won the race.
* Have students create their own por quoi folktale to explain why something in nature occurs.
* Expose students to the geography of South Dakota and have them analyze what natural features
might have caused animals to become fatigued or distracted so that they dropped out of the race.