The Boy Who Made Dragonfly

New York: Harper & Row, Publishers - Harper Crest, 1972. First Edition Stated . Hard Back. Near Fine/Good. 5 1/2" X 8 1/4. Kubinyi, Laszlo. 86 Pages. A Zuni Myth retold by Tony Hillerman. Library version of first edition with reinforced library binding. (Note: this book never saw the inside of a library!) Signed by author on blank page before first title page. Stamped in black ink on front endpaper are 5/16 inch numbers 878 529. No other defects noted to this tight bright book with a flawless interior. Illustrations on front cover and dust jacket and throughout the book. Dust jacket has four closed tears ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 1/4 inch on the top edge. Dust jacket price is clipped and the very small price $4.11 at bottom is inked out. Scans available. A long time ago, before the white men came to America, the Zuni people, then known as the A'shiwi, experienced a terrible drought. Their crops were ruined and the tribe was forced to abandon their village of Ha'wi-k'uh and accept charity from the neighboring Hopis. This compelling myth tells of the lessons that the Zunis learned from that experience. When they abandoned their village, the Zunis left behind a boy and his sister. The little girl was lonely and afraid, so the boy made a dragonfly from cornstalks to amuse her. The dragonfly came to life and asked the Council of the Gods to bless the children. And the boy and his sister were made wise so they could become leaders of their people. This beautifully written story, part of the mythology of the Zuni people, tells of pride and faith and great courage. Laszlo Kubinyi's detailed illustrations capture the spirit and feeling of the story. --- From the jacket flap.