Genre Two - Traditional Literature

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Pollock, Penny. 1996. THE TURKEY GIRL A ZUNI CINDERELLA STORY. Ill. by Ed Young. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316713171

PLOT SUMMARY:
The Turkey Girl is a folktale from the Zuni Indian tribe about a poor, young girl who lives in the pueblo village, Matsaki and herds turkeys for a living. One day the herald-priest announces the Dance of the Sacred Bird. The girl wanted to attend the dance but knew she could not because she was poor and had only rags to wear. While herding the turkeys the young girl began to cry because she was going to miss the dance. One of the turkeys spoke to the girl and assured her she could go to the dance. When she protested that she was too poor to attend the dance, the turkeys took her and tended to her clothes and accessories. After she was ready for the dance, the turkeys made her promise to be home before the sun went down or they would leave forever. The girl was having so much fun at the dance that she was late in returning. Because she had broken her promise to the turkeys, they left and she had no way to make her living. Her beautiful clothes turned back into rags and she had lost her turkey friends forever. The turkeys were to forever live apart from the tall people.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Human nature and the earth are prevalent themes in the Turkey Girl. When the turkeys made the girl promise she would return before sundown, they were fairly certain that her human nature would prevent her from returning on time. They insisted that the gate be left unlocked because they knew she would not want to leave the party early. This book teaches a lesson about keeping promises and respecting those who help you. The illustrations are shadowy and do not give many details.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Publishers Weekly – “Like the music of story hour radio shows, these illustrations set a mood, forcing the reader to fill in the visual details.
Booklist – “Pollock’s retelling is steady and solid, and her source is clearly indicated in an author’s note that gives some background on the tale.”
Kirkus Reviews – “A graceful, dreamy episode.”

CONNECTIONS:
Compare and Contrast two versions of Cinderella stories.
Have students tell their own Cinderella Story from their culture.
Read other stories that are a version of Cinderella.