Piecing Earth and Sky Togethertag:www.shens.com,2008-06-09:/piecing_earth_and_sky/382008-08-14T23:33:06ZMovable Type Pro 4.2-enBooklisttag:shenscom.nexcess.net,2008:/piecing_earth_and_sky//38.2332008-08-14T23:31:38Z2008-08-14T23:33:06ZBooklist has reviewed Piecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella:"In this creation story from the Mien tribe of Laos, the heavenly brother and sister, Faam Koh and Faam Toh, come to make the...Renee Ting
Booklist has reviewed Piecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella:
"In this creation story from the Mien tribe of Laos, the heavenly
brother and sister, Faam Koh and Faam Toh, come to make the sky and the
earth. Koh makes the sky of shimmering dark; Toh makes the earth of
patterns and colors. They hide their work from one other, so when they
are done, Koh's sky is too small for Toh's earth. He tries to stretch
the sky but that only lets puffy clouds escape. Toh then takes her
needle and makes mountains and hills, valleys and gorges, so her
brother's sky fits perfectly. This story is told to Mei Yoon by her
grandmother, who is teaching her the embroidery for which the women of
her tribe are known. Traditional Mien stitches are illustrated, and
both the source of the tale and the models for Koh and Toh are cited.
The beautiful illustrations are done in colored pencils, which make a
rich and textured page with depths like a dark jewel; deep indigos,
violets, and greens predominate. An intriguing presentation that should
reach a wide audience." ]]>
School Library Journaltag:shenscom.nexcess.net,2008:/piecing_earth_and_sky//38.2322008-08-14T23:29:56Z2008-08-14T23:31:28ZSchool Library Journal has a review of Piecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella:"In this myth, two siblings create earth and sky with needle and thread. At first, they compete with one another,...Renee Ting
School Library Journal has a review of Piecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella:
"In this myth, two siblings create earth and sky with needle and thread.
At first, they compete with one another, embroidering in secret.
However, when the brother's shimmering sky turns out to be too small
for the sister's abundant earth, they must work together to find a
solution. The results are depicted in a lavish double spread, enlarged
by flaps, showing an Edenic Cambodian rain forest, rich in animal life.
Cast within the frame of a story told by a grandmother while she and
her small granddaughter stitch together, the tale is attributed by the
author to older members of the Mien community from the Laotian
Handcraft Project of Berkeley, CA. Using vivid colors, the illustrator
places grandmother, granddaughter, and the newly created world on a
white background while setting the mythic portion of the story on
cosmic black. Though the realistic drawings are not particularly
innovative, the effect is certainly dramatic. Grandmother and the
brother and sister gods are shown in traditional clothing. An author's
note explains the importance of embroidery to this culture, and
pictures of traditional stitches are included. The book should be
useful where creation myths are compared, where stitchery is valued,
and where Southeast Asian stories are needed." ]]>
Multicultural Reviewtag:shenscom.nexcess.net,2008:/piecing_earth_and_sky//38.2312008-08-14T23:24:10Z2008-08-14T23:29:39ZPiecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella was reviewed in Multicultural Review:"The Mien minority group of Laos is noted for its distinctive embroidery, usually bright colors on a background of black or dark...Renee TingPiecing Earth and Sky Together by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Genna Panzarella was reviewed in Multicultural Review:
"The Mien minority group of Laos is noted for its distinctive embroidery, usually bright colors on a background of black or dark blue. True to this color scheme, the illustrations int he picture book contain more black and dark colors than are usually found in this genre. The effect is striking, making the colors leap out, as when the sun appears along with a dark thundercloud.
This unusual creation story tells of a friendly argument between brother and sister, Koh and Toh, helpers from heaven 'who came down to make the earth and the sky.' Vying to outdo each other, yet at the same time to make their creations fit together, they work in secret, and then each admires the results of the other. But they don't fit. Toh, in her cleverness and patience and with her adroit fingers, adjusts her earth to fit Koh's sky. " ]]>