Lightning Inside You

by John Bierhorst

Threads of seven colors are stretched on the great prairie. What is it? It runs through the valleys clapping its hands. "Rainbow" and "butterfly" are the answers to these two Native American riddles, typically drawn from the world of nature. Long hidden from view, the American Indian riddling tradition is revealed in all its variety in this carefully researched collection -- the first of its kind -- presenting 140 riddles translated from twenty different languages, including Aztec, Comanche, Maya, Onondaga, Pawnee, and Quechua. Here are examples of courtship riddling, hunter's riddling, dream-guessing, life-or-death riddling, and story riddling. In his introductory essay, editor John Bierhorst shows how such "games" are linked to the life and customs of the people who originated them. He also offers pointers to help non-Indian guessers come up with the right answers. With sweeping strokes and deft touches of humor, Louise Brierley's illustrations capture the spirit of mystery and inventiveness characteristic of this most unusual, most unexpected of Native American traditions.

Genres: Childrens

104 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

John Bierhorst is the author, editor, or translator of more than thirty books on Native American lore, including Latin American Folktales, The Mythology of South America, The Mythology of North America, and The Mythology of Mexico and Central America.

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been good at solving riddles. These Native American riddles were not easy! I'd have given this book only 2 or 3 stars if it hadn't been for Bierhorst's interesting and very enlightening introductory chapter on Native American riddling. In it he describes the different kinds of riddles and their purposes, and, best of all, provides hints on how to solve the riddles (which didn't help me much, alas). The book is worth reading just for that excellent chapter. If you like riddles and are up to a challenge, this is the book for you!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book of riddles I read for a reading challenge. More fun for kids, I would think.