Mother Scorpion Country / La Tierra de la Madre Escorpión

by Harriet Rohmer, Dorminster Wilson

A brave young Miskito Indian follows his wife from the land of the living to the spirit world.

Stories from Central America. Text is in English and Spanish.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 1987

Reviews

[Julianna Ansah]

I loved this book because my grandfather wrote down this Native American tale and my cousin got my father to donate the manuscript. They used the manuscript to write the book.

[James Largo]

This curious book lacks the sentimentality and smoothed edges of modern adaptations of folk tales into picture books. Readers are introduced to Kati and her husband, Naklili, 'who loved her very much'. After this brief introduction, we learn that Kati got very sick and died. Her husband, however, refuses to be separated from her and builds a coffin for her and himself so as to watch over Kati on her way to the land of the dead. After a while, Kati sits up and, realising that her husband intends not to leave her, warns him: "if you come with me it will be very difficult for you.' But Naklili is determined. And so, Kati takes her husband with her to the land of the dead, or Mother Scorpion Country.
The story is reminiscent more of an ancient Mesopotamian myth than a typical children's fairy tale.

This legend originates from Nicaragua and is presented here in a bilingual format. Each page of text faces a picture, which are painted in a more traditional style than more modern children's books. The action proceeds in a matter-of-fact tone, a brisk and quite complicated sequence of events means this story is unsuitable for Key Stage 1. As part of a wider culture project in upper Key Stage 2 this book may be of interest; in a school setting, this may be a difficult book to use, and more suited to bedtime reading at home (if parents' approve of the content.) This is far from Disney Pixar country.

Given the recent debates around education about the type of language and themes children *should* be exposed to, it is interesting to consider if this book would be deemed suitable or not by literacy coordinators and Education Secretaries alike. This legend of the Miskito Indians is also notable for having a woman of peculiar (it is mostly set in the 'after-life') strength and bravery brought to the fore, a mysterious insight into an all but forgotten culture.

[Valerie]

When Naklili's wife dies he decides to accompany her to Mother Scorpion Country, the land of spirits. When he gets there he discovers that he can't appreciate it there because he's not dead. When he returns to the land of the living he doesn't fit in there either. Reminiscent to Orpheus and Eurydice.