Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa by Shonto Begay

 

-from Shonto Begay's Weebly

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Begay, Shonto. 1995. NAVAJO: VISIONS AND VOICES ACROSS THE MESA. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 978-0-590-46153-5.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
In the introduction, Begay says that he shares these paintings as “pieces of [himself].” He also states that the theme throughout the poems is a “struggle for balance–balance in living between the ‘New World’ and the ancient world of my people, the Navajo.” Degay’s poignant poems focus on the people of his community, while the illustrations beautifully depict the seen and unseen of the mesa, the physical world and the spirit world. 

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

The introduction of the collection, written by Shonto Begay, explicitly provides the authentic context of this book.  He is one of the many who suffered through government boarding schools that tried to erase his customs and Navajo way of  life.  He knows the importance of preserving it, through art and written word.    

The reproductions of his acrylic paintings are exquisite. In many, you can see the individual strokes. The colors are predominantly blues and browns, earth and sky colors. My favorite is the first one, of the Navajo man, with the outline of spirit animals all around him, the deer, the wolf, the bear and more. The accompanying poem, “Echoes,” speaks of ancient spirits that come from other worlds. It tells of the ancient prayers and songs that are sung and chanted, and how they are  still the same today. It is inspiring to read about how Navajo culture has been passed down for generations, through oral expressions like songs and stories and prayers.

“Many faces, many stories” is another poem. It is about a tribal fair, where time swirls and mixes.  Every aspect of culture is present- food, family, language, music, dance.  The smell of mutton stew mixes with cotton candy.  The sounds of prayer songs are jumbled with rap music.  The painting that accompanies it has dozens of different faces, most with modern hairstyles, jewelry, or hats. The facial expressions portray many emotions, happiness, worry, fear, suspicion, etc. I think a central theme throughout the book is that the Navajo people are a varied group, just like any other ethnicity, with different stories but one spirit. 

As the book progresses, the poems incorporate more and more of the modern world- there is even a poem titled, “Navajo Power Plant.”  But Begay intentionally juxtaposes the traditional and the contemporary, the “grind of a truck engine” with the beautiful voices from “hearts full of prayer.”  He shows that his culture can embrace both, and it doesn’t have to be one or the other.  

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
ALSC Notable Children’s Books, Commended 1996

Booklist, April 1995: “His work is not angry or sentimental; there is an honesty and straightforwardness that allows his readers/viewers insight into his world-view. The variety of images reflects the complexity of life that many contemporary Navajo face. An excellent addition to poetry and art collections.” 

Publishers Weekly, January 1995: “With these heartfelt paintings, poems and memoirs, the noted Navajo artist fulfills his stated goal of taking the reader ``into the corners of my world, the Navajo world.”

School Library Journal, March 1995: “Powerful and appealing in both word and image, this reflective book should find a wide audience of sympathetic readers.”

E. CONNECTIONS
For a children’s unit on the Navajo nation, other noteworthy books that could join this one are The Water Lady : how Darlene Arviso helps a thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty,  Chester Nez and the unbreakable code : a Navajo code talker's story by Joseph Bruchac, and Kinaalda : a Navajo girl grows up by Monty Roessel.