BIBLIOGRAPHY
IKTOMI AND THE BERRIES. Retold and Ill. by Paul Goble. 1989. New York, NY. Orchard Books. ISBN 053105819.

PLOT SUMMARY
This story about Iktomi, the Lakota Native American trickster, centers around a hunting trip taken “in the old traditional way.” He strikes out burdened with the tools and clothing of his ancestors, initially looking for prairie dogs. Many obstacles cause Iktomi to change the purpose of his expedition to duck hunting and then to gathering berries. All of his schemes fail and he takes leave of us in anger, after almost drowning in the river while chasing reflections of the berries in the water.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The text in IKTOMI AND THE BERRIES includes two additional levels of text; reader/author comments, and Iktomi’s comments. This technique gives the feeling of author as a character and the added commentary gives a conversational tone that borders on sarcasm. Without turning to the didactic text, the author is able to give the intended lesson of what behaviors are acceptable and what is not. For example, “Iktomi thinks a lot of himself. He is forever boasting about something he is going to do.”
Personification is given to Iktomi’s stomach when he replies, “How can I hunt if you make all that noise?” Iktomi speaks to himself in first person and the author’s comments speak directly to the reader, as in “Do you think he even knows how to swim?”
The setting is like most in traditional literature, simple and generalized. In the beginning, “ The sun had just risen and he was out hunting,” and at the end, “Iktomi went on his way again.” Much detail was given to tying the rock to himself and going down to the bottom of the river, yet the resolution happens with the mere turn of the page without explanatory text.
The pictures are drawn and painted with a lot of detail, yet the face lacks expression. The different levels of text origination help to give the intended meaning and tone.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn book starred Feb 1990
“Iktomi, that clever trickster, is hunting prairie dogs in another amusing adventure. Vibrant watercolor and ink illustrations grace the pages of this attractive and useful story.”

CONNECTIONS

The style of having written comments alongside the text will interest some older readers and listeners. There is quite a bit of subtle sarcasm and humor hidden in these remarks! Even the illustrations show the prairie dogs laughing at Iktomi’s expense.