BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cohen, Caron Lee. 1988. The mud pony: a traditional Skidi Pawnee tale. Ill. by Shonto Begay. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590415255

PLOT SUMMARY

There was once a poor boy in an Indian tribe who wanted his own pony more than anything. Every day he would visit the river and watch the other boys water their ponies, and one day, he used the mud at the river to fashion a pony with a white face. Every day, he would go to the river and take care of his mud pony as if it was real. One day while he was caring for his pony, scouts rode into his group’s camp and told them that buffalo had been sighted. The entire camp packed up and readied themselves to follow the herd of buffalo. Although the boy’s family looked for him, they did not find him and left him alone. When the boy returned to his camp, he realized that he was alone. He found bits of old food, an old blanket and cried himself to sleep. While asleep, he dreamed that his mud pony spoke to him saying, “My son, you are not alone. Mother Earth has given me to you. I am part of her.” When the boy awoke, he went to the river and found that his mud pony was alive. Again, she spoke to him in his mind telling him that he must trust both her and Mother Earth and that someday he would become a chief among his people. The boy followed where the pony led, and was eventually reunited with his family and the rest of his group. The boy, along with his pony help his people defeat their enemies and lead them in the hunt for buffalo, paving the way for him to become a chief among his people. The watercolor illustrations by Begay, son of a Navajo medicine man, are done in earth tones and offer few details, reminding readers of authentic artwork found on Native American housing. The acknowledgments provided in the front of the book gives credit to the many sources that were used as research before writing, and gives a general overview of the meaning of many of the Pawnee stories.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

The Mud Pony is told in a quiet, reverent style that honors both the legend and the origins of this ancient boy-hero story. Although original language and dialect is not present throughout the story, the boy is greeted by the chief of his tribe with the words “Nawa, tiki!” In addition to this native dialect, the rhythm and pacing of the story are respectful and somber, as one might expect in a traditional legendary tale. Although specific religious practices of the boy are not mentioned, the references to Mother Earth throughout the story illustrate the great respect that the Pawnee Indians felt toward the Earth and the gifts that were given by her.

The earth-toned, watercolor illustrations by Begay represent traditional views of the characters, and primarily portray the boy and his pony. Other characters are shown with few distinguishable characterizing features. The body types shown in the group pictures vary as do the clothing styles that are shown. Readers will see characters of varying ages wearing loin cloths, dresses and wraps. Not all males wear feathers in their hair, although the illustration of the chief does picture him with fringed clothing, a Mohawk and feathers. The other characters in the story have hairstyles that readers might expect, yet not all characters wear the same style.

The mode of transportation shown is either walking or riding bareback, which fits with what is known about the Pawnee Indians. Most research tells us that these Native Americans lived in dome-shaped earth lodges, yet the illustrations throughout The Mud Pony show the boy and his people living in teepees, possibly due to the fact that they frequently moved to follow herds of buffalo and other prey.

Together, the illustrations and the text combine to retell a story that is bursting with tradition and legend. Readers will enjoy this coming of age story set in the peaceful and reverent past of the Skidi Pawnee tribe.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publisher’s Weekly. From the Skidi branch of the Pawnee Indians of the Plains comes this tale of a boy who achieves greatness in his tribe with the guidance of a pony he made out of mud. Too poor to own a pony like the other boys, he fashions a small mud pony and goes to see it every day. It is during one of these visits that the rest of the tribe moves west in search of buffalo, and the boy is left behind. Not only does the mud pony become a living, breathing horse, but she takes him to his tribe; later, she helps him become the chief of his tribe by giving him great power in battles.

School Library Journal. A poor Indian boy longs for a pony of his own. He sculpts a pony out of mud and takes care of it as if it were real. When his tribe accidently leaves him behind, the mud pony becomes real and leads the boy to their new camp. The boy and his magical pony help the tribe defeat their enemies, and after many years the boy becomes a powerful chief. The pony appears to the grown boy in a dream and tells him that it’s time for the animal to return to Mother Earth.

CONNECTIONS

The Mud Pony can be used along with a legendary tale from another tribe (Turquoise Boy by Terri Cohlene—from the Navajo tribe) to compare two different Native American tribes.

Look for these other legendary tales about Native Americans:

Abenakew, Freda. How the birch tree got its stripes: a Cree story for children. ISBN 9780920079386

Begay, Shonto. Ma’ii and Cousin Horned Toad: a traditional Navajo story. ISBN 9780590453912

Steptoe, John. The story of Jumpin Mouse: a Native American legend. ISBN 9780688087401

Sekaquaptwa, Eugene. Coyote and the winnowing birds: a traditional Hopi tale. ISBN 9780940666863

Tapahonso, Luci and Eleanor Schick. Navajo ABC: a Dine alphabet book. ISBN 9780689826856