Changing Woman and Her Sisters: Stories of Goddesses from Around the World

Although skeptical of the idea of a prehistoric matriarchal utopia - something mother-daughter team Trina Schart Hyman and Katrin Hyman Tchana evidently believe in, if the author and illustrator notes at the rear of this volume are to be believed - I was mostly pleased with this collection of goddess tales, taken from the various mythological traditions of the world. The tales themselves, running from three to nine pages, were quite engaging, and the collage artwork - though not in Trina Schart Hyman's usual style - appealing.

Ten female deities make their appearance here, from the Navajo Changing-Woman to the Fon Mawu, the Creator. Some - the ancient Egyptian Isis, Mistress of Life and Death; the Sumerian Inanna, Queen of Heaven and show more Earth - were already quite familiar to me, while others - the Mayan moon goddess Ix Chel, the Shinto goddess of the sun, Amaterasu - were fairly new. I did wonder a little at the description given for the Celtic Macha, Goddess of Horses, as this figure's origin and nature are quite complex (and sometimes contested). I suppose if the author had included her role, together with (depending on one's source) the Morrígan and the Badb, in the ancient Irish tripartite goddess of war, that would have conflicted with her evident belief (again, according to the afterword) that goddess-worship occurred in an idyllic earlier time of peace and prosperity? One wonders how Durga, the Hindu Warrior Goddess, fits into all of this...

Of course, young readers won't worry about any of that, and I'm certainly glad that they will be exposed to stories and images of female divinity. But the folklorist in me can't help but wince a little. Still, those with an interest in women in folklore and mythology should certainly take a look at this collection, as well as this team's earlier The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women. show less

This is a fantastic collection of goddesses and their stories. Changing Woman in particular is a creation myth that teaches us that the world is about change, rebirth, and renewal. In each tale of the collection we learn about what the culture surrounding the tale cares about. For Changing Woman, there is an emphasis on respecting the awesome power of nature, living in peace with others, and being ready to adapt when necessary.

The mixed-media illustrations by Hyman are very creative. In the artist's afterword she explains how she tried in earnest to elicit the goddesses' energy through her work.

This collection would be useful to have for reading to students in class. It could be used as a cultural reference for lessons that touch on show more the cultures within, or it could be read from more randomly. In either case, the class might be prompted to begin a meaningful discussion on the values conveyed. show less

This collection of ancient folk stories is a celebration of the complex and magnificent feminine energies that influence the creation of the earth and heavens. Goddesses from North America to Egypt, Ireland to Japan are depicted in all their mythic glory in these adaptations of ten legends that have been told for thousands of years. Iconic collage illustrations accompany each goddess story and short history. These masterfully written stories are reminiscent of the oral tradition from which they emerged, and depict a variety of powerful global deities such as Sedna, supreme deity of the Inuit people living in her ocean home, surrounded by the fish, walruses, and whales that were made from her hands and fingers. And Mawu-Lisa, show more multi-gendered creator deity from West Africa, with one eye made of the moon and the other of the sun. This book is a rich and palatable feast for the eyes and the archetypal imagination. show less

You won’t find the oft regurgitated Greek goddesses. Instead, Changing Woman and Her Sisters: Stories of Goddesses From Around the World celebrates lesser-known goddesses from cultures all over the world, including the Navajo people, the Inuit people, the Mayans, ancient China, Japan, Sumer (modern-day Iraq), India and more!

Each tale begins with the goddesses name, place of origin, and brief historical context. Many of the tales read like Creation myths and often explain how that goddess came to be. Trina Schart Hyman’s illustrations are atypical; instead of her customary linework, she felt inspired to use collage for the first time. She used materials from around her house – like garden seeds, fleece from her sheep, and cropped show more photographs of kids she knew – combined with acrylics, ink and glue. The result is illustrations with layers, depth, and new treasures to discover each time they’re viewed.

The Author’s and Artist’s note aren't to be missed. They lend helpful context to both the retold tales and their illustrations. I sincerely appreciate Katrin Hyman Tchana sharing with us her inspiration and motivation: to write a book in which her African American sons could see people who looked like them.

Highly recommended to any reader looking for a collection of lesser-known female goddesses/ deities with the majority being from non-European countries.

5 stars (for its beautiful diversity in both its words and art)

From the same mother-daughter team behind The Serpent Slayer: And Other Stories of Strong Women.

(First posted on Unleash the Flying Monkeys!) show less

I am very impressed with this book and very glad that I found it. The art is amazing, and I've never before seen so many different cultural stories in one place. This has 10 stories of goddesses each from a different region. They are stories I'd never heard before, and they are all culturally relevant and I'm glad they've been put in this book. I'd love to use this book in my future classroom. I would say the theme is embracing the differences of all cultures. Different but equal!

"Sedna, Woman of the Sea" is my focus. This Inuit folklore tells the story of the goddess Sedna who lives in the depths of the ocean as the mistress of all sea creatures. Through her moods, she controls the sea animals. When she is happy and content, she sends sea animals to the surface to be hunted for food, but when she is angry or displeased, she keeps her animals with her, causing starvation and hunger for humans. Other notable stories that I read: "Isis, Mistress of Life and Death," "Ix Chel, The Moon Goddess," and "Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth."

I love the gorgeous collage portraits that accompany each story. The paragraphs that precede the story are very informative about the origin of the story and the time period.