Module 3: Arrow to the Sun: Written by Gerald McDermott

Book Summary: 


In this fantastic Pueblo Indian mythological tale, a boy is shot like an arrow to the Lord of the Sun and goes on a journey to become like the Sun. He has many trials to overcome and, in the end, he succeeds and is filled with the Sun. It is then that the boy is sent back to his people in the form of an arrow, and the Sun is brought back to the Earth. The people hold a massive celebration for their son, who is now the Sun.


APA Reference: 


McDermott, G. (1974). Arrow to the Sun. New York : Penguin.


My Impressions: 


I found an inverse connection between well-loved story of Icarus, who traveled to the sun, but never returned, and a positive connection between the rainbow tribe of the Lakota Souix (in reference to the legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, who brings this rainbow tribe into being) and other peoples reflected in the dance of life at the end of the book. Further, the use of color in the book, especially the rainbow to represent the sun and the boy, who was a spark of the sun, was wonderful, too, as the sun the source of all rainbows. In this story, the boy is sent to the sun, but passes the tests, returns and becomes a wayshower or light bringer for his people, not unlike Jesus and other light bringers and wayshowers.


Professional Review: 


  "This adaptation of the Pueblo Indian myth explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun is brought to the world of men. In this tale, a boy searching for his father is made into an arrow and shot to the sun. When he meets the Lord of the Sun, he is asked to prove himself by passing through the four chambers of ceremony--The Kiva of Lions, The Kiva of Serpents, The Kiva of Bees, and The Kiva of Lightning. The boy uses his bravery to pass these tests and becomes filled with the power of the sun. The Lord then turns him into an arrow and sends him back to the Pueblos. The boy brings the Sun's spirit to  the world of man and, as a result, the people celebrate his return with the Dance of Life. 1974, Penguin, $16.99 and $5.99. Ages 4 to 8."

Briatico, D. (1974). [Book review of the book Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott]. Children's Literature Independent Information and Reviews. Retrieved from U.N.T. Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost:  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~17G1Pm:6

Library Uses:

For reading this in a library, it would be fun to have a discussion about how similar some of the world religions are and to learn more about those whose worship incorporated the sun, such as the Pueblos, Maya, Egypt and early Christianity. As the visual piece, the children could view a film from the discovery education channel or a documentary film on the subject.