Song of Sedna

by Robert D. San Souci

Eskimo legend tells of a beautiful maiden, Sedna,  who marries a mysterious, handsome hunter only to  discover that he is really a demon.

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was a multiple award-winning children's book author, who resided in San Francisco, California. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He was a consultant to Disney Studios and was instrumental in the production of the film Mulan, for which he wrote the story. He studied folklore in graduate school. He died after suffering a head injury while falling from a high height in San Francisco in December 2014. He was only 68 years old.

Reviews

[Bre Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folktale, Picture Storybook, Sea Goddess, Animals

San Souci, Robert D. Song of Sedna. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, 1981. 36 pp. Ages 10-14

Beautiful illustrations tell the folktale about a beautiful Eskimo named Sedna that turned into the sea goddess Sedna that lived by the Arctic Ocean with her father and everyone wanted to marry her, but she didn’t want to marry any that came to her until one man, Mattak, came and promised her all that she desired, so they left without telling her father and when her father found out he set out after them. Mattak was hiding a secret, he was actually a bird-spirit that could take human form, and when Sedna found out about this she wanted to leave, and her father found her just in time, but Mattak came after them and yelled for Sedna back and started attacking their boat, so her father threw her out and she floated down into the bottom of the ocean and trusted the animals around her. They took her to her throne where she had power and she made a home for her and her father at the bottom of the sea.

Alaska Connection: Eskimo, Arctic Ocean, Arctic Animals

Related Activity: Draw a different version of Sedna the Goddess of the Sea.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has gorgeous pictures and could be read for those alone. The story, however, is confusing and doesn't make a lot of sense. People are inconsistent, good when it suits them and evil when it doesn't. The man the woman marries seems wonderful but when she realizes he's not human, suddenly he's a demon, not just a creature that turns into a human like in so many other Native American legends. I feel weird judging a legend of a culture other than my own, but I really don't like the story. I'm sure there are other much better stories that would make more sense and be more enjoyable for young children, the target audience here. But I give it four stars because the illustrations are gorgeous as I said.

[Anthony W · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book involves a lovely women and her father. He father gives her away to the spirits and once she finds it she realizes she has to forgive her father for everything that happend.

The Book Song of Sedna has some amazing well done out illustrations. Each illustration fills the page to the max and sometimes even goes of the page some. Another thing about these pictures are that they show emotions, you can look at the picture and see the faces and tell what they are feeling and it helps put extra emotions into the story

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beautiful Sedna married the handsome hunter of her dreams, only to discover he is really a bird spirit. She runs away and ultimately becomes the goddess of the sea. This retelling of the story leaves out the mutilation and loss of Sedna’s phalanges which turn into all the creatures of the sea. Daniel San Souci’s detailed oil portraits of wildlife and characters hauntingly bring this folk tale to life.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eskimo legend of Sedna beautifully illustrated by the brother of the author.