Big Turtle (edition 2011)

by David McLimans (Author)

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aferrara's review

"Big Turtle" is a Huron American Indian creation myth. In the story "Big Turtle", the world was divided into only sky (where humans lived) and water (where animals lived). One day, Sky Girl (pregnant with twins) fell from the sky into the water. Rescued by the backs of the swans, the animals joined together to bring Sky Girl to Big Turtle, because he'd know what to do. Big Turtle told the animals to go get soil from the bottom of the water and put it on his back for Sky Girl to live. The toad dove to get the soil, and was so exhausted he died. When the other animals spread the soil from toad's sacrifice, the turtle's shell formed an island big enough for Sky Girl to have a village. Her descendants became the Earth's first people. The legend in this story is that Big Turtle carries the Earth on his back. When he gets tired and stretches or changes positions, we feel earthquakes. The factor of a wise old turtle telling the other creatures what to do in times of peril is something that I expected, tending to be common in children's folklore books. At the end of the story, McLimans explains how the toad is honored by the Native Americans. They call her Mashutaha, which means Our Grandmother. I would classify this type of folklore with "The Story of The Milky Way" because they have two things in common: A wise being that the commoners turn to with problems, and a tale of how something, usually a phenomenon, came to be. (

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aferrara | Mar 17, 2019 |

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This retelling of a traditional Native Ameri - can creation myth presents Sky World and Water World, which had always been separate until the day Sky girl tum - bles from above and needs help from the animals of Water World. Visually spell - binding and delightful

NCSS | Jul 23, 2021 |

In the beginning of time our world was separated into two parts, sky world with all of the people and water world with all of the animals. One day Sky Girl falls into a hole and is saved by the animals in water world. The animals must listen to the Big Turtle in order to save Sky Girl. This Native American folktale explains how the world that we have today came to be and why we have earthquakes. The vibrant colors, illustrations, and story are beautiful making a lovely tale that I think a lot of children would enjoy. (

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BobbieHenriques | Mar 18, 2020 |

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aferrara | Mar 17, 2019 |

In the beginning, the world had two parts. There was sky world, and water world. One day, Sky girl who was pregnant with twins fell down into water world. Working together, the animals planned how they could help her. Many animals tried, but only toad was able to dive all the way down and get soil for turtle. With the soil on his back, turtles shell expanded into the land that we know today. Every once in a while, turtle gets uncomfortable and shifts her body, we feel the earth quake.

rhod4 | Jul 6, 2018 |

This is a good creation story for young children. The dialogue is simple and the illustrations are colorful. This could be used in a unit of creation stories by different tribes and cultures as comparison stories.

Tracie_Shepherd | Mar 16, 2016 |

This book is mainly about the origin of people and how they live in earth. With Native American folklore, it explores a time when there was animals that live in water and people that live in the sky. Sky Girl fell out of the sky but caught by two swans. The swans take her to the Big Turtle who request her to make an island by using him as an island. To do that, she needs to get sand from the bottom of the ocean. With the help of the toad, she is able to make an island, but the toad dies. That island is the surface of earth that still exists today. The style of this book is narrative. The reader wonders what will happen next as the reader wonders if Sky Girl will successfully be able to get the sand from the bottom of the ocean. All in all, very fun lovely book from the Native American culture. (

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jhcao20 | Feb 18, 2016 |

This book tells the story of how people came to live on Earth. At the start, animals lived below and people lived in the sky. Turtle created a beautiful land for both to live on.

Beautifully illustrated story giving another view point on creation, as well as the importance of our land.

gretchensanders | Jan 19, 2016 |

This book was an interesting book about a native american myth. It was about a time when there was the sky people and then animals in the water. One day Sky Girl, who was pregnant with twins, lay down for a nap. She fell out of the sky and was caught by two swans on the water. They take her to see Big Turtle who says she needs an island. He says there is sand on the bottom of the ocean that needs to be brought up and placed on his back to make an island. Many animals try, but the toad is finally successful. He dies once he brings the sand. They build an island and it becomes the world that is known today. And all respect the sacrifice of the toad. (

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kvelin | Nov 23, 2015 |

Creation myths are known all over the world and come from many different cultures. This story is from Huron American Indian culture. Sky Girl goes on a journey and talks to many different animals along the way. I would include this in a class talking about creation and read the stories from many different cultures. (

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SadieCooney | Apr 28, 2015 |

Vividly illusrtated retelling of a Huron creation story. (

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Sullywriter | Apr 3, 2013 |

The Huron-Iroquois lived in Canada prior to the Iroquois Confederacy that lived in and around New York State. The Iroquois Confederacy consists of the following tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. In Wisconsin, the Oneida Nation is represented. This creation myth is rooted in this history. It is a story that has been passed down through time. The illustrations are captivating and geometrical. I love how the artwork interprets the story. Having worked at the Oneida Turtle School I appreciate the cultural significance of the images. I applaud the illustration of the turtle and how the calendar is represented on turtle's back. I am so happy about the imagery of the longhouses. Congratulations to David McLimans for his wonderful and reverential eye for detail. This book is a great springboard for Wisconsin studies in schools. It is a significant contribution for the state of WI and our country. (This title is a recommended book from the Children's Book Award committee from Wisconsin for books published in 2011.) (

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