The Legend of Mackinac Island | 
| Author: Kathy-jo Wargin
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Category: Book
List Price: $17.95
Buy New: $4.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 84488
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 48
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.4
ISBN: 1886947120
Dewey Decimal Number: 398.209774923
EAN: 9781886947122
ASIN: 1886947120
Publication Date: April 1, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From the author and illustrator of the children's classic The Legend of Sleeping Bear comes the The Legend of Mackinac Island, a tale of the painted turtle Makinauk, his animal friends, and their discovery of Land. Once again, the paintings of Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen breathe new life into Native American lore with grace and style. His use of color is breathtaking; the texture of his work - deep, rich and inviting. From the great and wise turtle Makinauk, to the loon, to even the little muskrat, the characters in The Legend of Mackinac Island pull youngsters from their world of reality into a time long ago when water covered the Earth, a time with no dry land to rest on. Author Kathy-jo Warjin provides the framework on which van Frankenhuyzen's paitings are supported.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 The legend of the great turtle Makinauk, who became Mackinac Island April 30, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I leave you with an island home,
my sweet and treasured friends,
forever there upon my back
where splendor never ends.
The legend and folklore of the Great Lakes region tells of Makinauk, the oldest, wisest and largest painted turtle who floated upon a world that was covered entirely by water. Then came the day when the Great Spirit of the Sky told Makinauk that he had to lend his back for the creation of a new world for the animals to rest upon. So Makinauk tells the animals that one of them must dive to the bottom of the sea and bring back a handful of rich soil to place upon his back to become the beginning of a brand new world. This is one of many legends told about the creation of Mackinac Island, but author Kathy-jo Wargin and artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen base their version of the ones that comes from Native American history.
This particular version is a triumphant story about friendship and loyalty. Makinauk has promised a speical home upon his weathered back to whoever brings back the soil he needs. So first Loon and then Beaver, followed by Otter all try to fetch back the soil. But they all fail. Then the smallest of Makinauk's friends, Muskrat, decides that he wants to try as well. Wargin tells this story in simple terms, and van Frankenhuyzen supplies rich, colorful paintings. I especially like how the sea in her paintings can be yellow and orange as well as green and blue (they became my justification for rounding up on this one).
Since the late 19th century Mackinac Island has been a popular tourist attraction and summer colony, famous for its lack of automobiles and its Victorian resort hotels (If you have seen the 1980 movie "Somewhere in Time" then you have seen the Grand Hotel with its spectacular 660-foot front porch). Over 82 percent of the island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park, so any young reader who has ever been there or see it from Mackinac Bridge will find this legend to be pretty interesting.
Wargin point out you can spell Makinauk as Makinak or Makinaak, but the key thing is to always pronounce it "Mak-i-naw" regarldess of the spelling. "The Legend of Sleeping Bear" was the first collaboration between Wargin and van Frankenhuyzen, and this is the second. Since then they have come out with another Native American legend from the Great Lakes area each year, including "The Legend of the Loon," "The Legend of the Lady's Slipper," "The Legend of Leelanau," and "The Legend of the Petoskey Stone." Once you check out one of these volumes, that should be enough to encourage you to check out the rest as well.
 The Legend of Mackinac Island May 4, 2005
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Folk legends are an important part of our culture. The Great Lakes region of the United States has its fair share of folklore. One story tells us that `once upon a time' there was a grand and great turtle that floated in a world made up entirely of water. The turtle was called Makinauk. One day Makinauk received word from a great spirit that he was to build a new world, a place now known as Mackinac Island. The new world would be built on his back; where the animals of the world rested when they needed to refresh themselves
The loon attempts to bring, from the bottom of the ocean, the soil necessary to make the land. When the loon is not successful, other animals try. Who helps and who is successful is the beautiful story of dedication, commitment, friendship and loyalty.
The Legend of Mackinac Island is a traditionally illustrated book that will delight children (6-10) and one that reinforces the idea of cooperation for the good of all.
The Legend of Mackinac Island March 12, 2003
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book is based on the Native American legend of how Mackinac island was formed. It says that long ago, when the waters covered the Earth, and the animals lived happily on the water. The wisest, oldest, and largest painted turtle of them all was Makinauk. one day he came and told the other animals that the Great Spirit of the Sky wanted land to be made, so one of the animals had to go to the bottom of the Ocean, bring back a handful of sand, and place it on Makinauk's back. Can the animals do it? Read this wonderful story written by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen to find out!
Vivid Myth April 16, 2002
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
*Beautiful* illustrations. That must be said from the start. These are the kind of skies you dream about. And Wargin makes the animals come alive as they battle to assist Old Turtle in bringing up a clump of earth from deep below the waters. That the lowly muskrat is the one to succeed is predictable but pleasing- sharing the message with children that the least of all becomes the greatest. Perhaps the best part though is the end, when Old Turtle dies to himself in order to create the promised land of Mackinac for the animals. Make sure to read this out loud to your children, and with the right voices- old turtles have to sound very grouchy and very kind!
A Charming Legend Lovingly Told September 3, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book with Kathy-jo's warming and loving way of telling a legend and the fantastic illustrations is truly a treasure. This is a return to the kind of quality children's books we used to have. It is challenging but readable for young children. It manages to teach loyalty and love while entertaining.
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