The Magic of Spider Woman
Book Review:
This story, retold from the Dinéh (Navajo) oral tradition, tells
about Wandering Girl who became Weaving Woman and about the terrible
thing that happened to her when she broke her promise to Spider Woman.
When the story begins, the animals and insects, including Spider Woman
who knows how to spin and weave, arrive in the Fourth World and are
awed by its beauty. The red mesas, the valleys of wildflowers, and the
forested mountains make the animals wish they could share this world.
So the Great Spirit made the Dinéh and taught them how to hunt,
grow crops, build hogans (their houses), and most importantly of all,
taught them how to walk the Middle Way, to live a life in balance and
in harmony with nature. As the story continues, Weaving Woman promises
Spider Woman she will never to stay too long at her loom, but she breaks
her promise and lets her pride pull her out of balance. That's when
her spirit became woven into her blanket. Only Spider Woman could rescue
her. By making the blanket less perfect and creating a pathway, Spider
Woman freed Weaving Woman's spirit.
The story lends itself to reflection on the theme, which is the need
for balance in life. Students who heard this story discussed the negative
consequences of over-doing some of the things they enjoy, such as watching
T.V., playing video games, and eating. The cultural features of the
story support the study of the Dinéh people and their rich traditions
and spiritual beliefs. Artifacts and other visual aids may benefit students
who are unfamiliar with weaving or with this culture. (See the lesson
plan for ideas.)
Dinéh artist Shonto Begay's illustrations capture the light and beauty
of his cultural heritage and of the Four Corners area of Arizona. He
weaves traditional blanket patterns into many of the images, and readers/viewers
will be touched by the mystical quality of his artwork. To learn more
about Mr. Begay and his paintings, you can visit his Web site at: http://www.shontogallery.com/
About the Book | Book
Review | Children's Voices | Lesson
Plan | About the Reviewer