The Stone Cutter and the Navajo Maiden: Tsé Yitsidí dóó Ch'ikééh Bitsédaashjéé'

by Vee F. Browne, Yazzie Johnson (Illustrator)

In the deep, deep Dinetah lives a young Navajo maiden named Cinnibah. She looks after her widowed father, and every day she grinds corn into flour to make their bread. To do so, she uses a metate an ancient grinding stone that has been passed down in her family for generations. When Cinnibah accidentally shatters the metate, she sets out on a journey to find someone who can help her mend the stone. Her quest brings her to a Moccasin Maker, a Potter, and, finally, the mysterious Stone Cutter. Will he be willing to help her?

This children's book is written in both Navajo and English.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2007

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Cinnibah breaks her family's metate - a stone used by the Navajo to grind corn into flour - she sets out to find someone who can help her mend it. Neither the Mocassin Maker nor the Pottery Maker are able to assist her, but they help her on her journey to the Stone Cutter...

This picture book, presented in both Navajo and English, and beautifully illustrated by Johnson Yazzie, is an engaging "quest-type" story that will teach young readers a little something about traditional Navajo culture. The importance of corn and the sacredness of the metate, which Vee F. Browne discusses in her brief afterword, are quite evident. So too is the respect of young Cinnibah for her elders, and their concern for her well-being.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love that this is in Navajo and English. The story itself interesting, with a young girl on a journey to replace the grinding stone she broke. Muted landscapes are the highlight of the illustrations.

[Grace Sheldon]

This is a story about a Navajo girl named Cinnibah. Cinnibah lives with her father and is tasked to make bred using her family's grinding stone. The stone had been in her family for generations, but the girl accidentally breaks it. Knowing how important it is to her family (it belonged to her deceased mother), she went out to see if someone could help her fix it. She goes on a journey where she meets new friends and eventually makes her way to the Stone Cutter. The Stone Cutter gives her a new grinding stone and she goes home to her father who had been searching for her.
I really liked this story! The illustrations were beautiful and had really pretty colors. I liked how it taught about Navajo culture in a child friendly way. I also like how it included the story also in the Navajo language! I especially like that the girl shows respect for others and that the father showed how deeply he loves his daughter.
I would use this as part of a writing assignment. I would ask my students to write about something important to their family's tradition or culture. This can be a great way for my students to get to know about each other's cultures!

[Khris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done bilingual picture book.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Navajo girl, native Americans"