Tchana, Katrin Hyman. 2006. CHANGING WOMAN AND HER SISTERS: STORIES OF GODDESSES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. Ill. by Trina Schart Hyman. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823419991 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]
REVIEW
Featuring stories of ten distinct goddesses from around the world, daughter-mother team, Tchana and Schart Hyman, introduce readers to these dynamic cultural myths. Tchana retells stories from the folklore of the Navajo, Inuit, Maya, and Fon peoples; from ancient Ireland, Egypt, and Sumer, and also Shinto, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions. In each story, Tchana’s gift is in the retelling; each is rich in legend, allowing these powerful goddesses to illuminate the story through the author’s words. Offering the perfect complement to these dynamic and individualistic tales is Hyman’s exquisite full page color illustrations; ink and acrylic paintings are layered using a collage medium with a variety of found materials such as sheep’s wool, photographs, toilet paper, and cheesecloth--the visual effect of Hyman’s art is truly striking. Source material includes extensive notes by the author and illustrator, an afterword, and a bibliographic entry that details the specific research sources for each goddess.
CONNECTIONS
After reading the novel, teens could select a featured goddess and conduct additional research about that deity. After completing the research, they could create original illustrations, selecting symbols that would be appropriate for their goddess.
Readers could take the story of one of the goddesses in the book and write a reader’s theatre script adaptation. After completing the script, a performance could be given for a small audience.
RELATED BOOKS
Jordon, Michael. DICTIONARY OF GODS AND GODDESSES. ISBN 0816059233
Muten, Burleigh. GODDESSES: A WORLD OF MYTH AND MAGIC. ISBN 1-841480754
By Rose Brock
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