Multicultural Book

Ma'ii and Cousin Horned Toad: By Shonto Begay

Publisher: Scholastic Inc. 

Copyright date: 1992

Pages: 32

Genre: Multicultural

Grade Level: 4th- 5th

Summary: A lazy coyote named Ma'ii is hungry and instead of hunting or working for his own food, he goes to visit his cousin, Horned Toad who is hard working. Horned toad was kind and shared his corn with Ma'ii. However, Ma'ii wasn't content and asked for more. Horned Toad was getting angry but he was kind and got more corn. Horned Toad told Ma'ii that if he wanted any more food he would have to work in the fields. Ma'ii was lazy and didn't want to work. He dreamed of owning Horned Toad's farm and tricked him into crawling into his mouth. Ma'ii swallowed his cousin whole! Horned Toad was still alive inside Ma'ii's stomach and tormented Ma'ii. Ma'ii regretted swallowing his cousin and tried many different methods to make him come out, however nothing worked. Ma'ii is taught a lesson and never bothers his cousin again. 

Classroom Use: This would be a great book to use when learning about Native Americans. It is a traditional Navajo story about hard work and laziness. When learning a unit on Native Americans, you can read this story to your class to show an example of a Native American story and how they had stories to explain everyday things in life. 

Rating: 

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** The plot contains a sequence of events that are in good logical order. It contains a clear conflict and resolution.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	** One of the main characters is not fully developed. The story just jumps right in without telling anything about him. However, it reveals more about him later in the story.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** The story contains a lot of precise vocabulary and when dialogue is used it contributes greatly to the story.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** The theme of the story is that laziness never gets you anywhere great.