ANIMAL TRANSFORMATION STORIES - SHAPESHIFTING
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the
material is not in the public domain)

Query: Can anyone share some stories with a theme related to any of the following: 1) people transforming into animals and vice versa, 2) animal powers bestowed upon people, and 3) animals using their powers to help people.
John C. 5/18/05
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Response: The first story that came into my head is The Boy Who Became a Caribou. I know it is in Annette Harrison's book, Easy To Tell Stories for Young Children, but it could easily be adapted to an older audience.

Here are a few others that came to mind. They may not fit your needs but it is worth a try.
East of the Sun West of the Moon
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/norway034.html

Any selkie story. a great compilation.
http://www.story-lovers.com/listsselkiestories.html

There is a section on transformation tales here:
http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/bibs/tales/animals.htm#Transformations

The Seven Swans by Hans Christian Andersen
http://www.bartleby.com/17/3/6.html
Karen C. 5/18/05
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Response: One of my favourite transformation stories is an Orcadian selkie story of revenge and forgiveness, The Wounded Selkie. You can read it here:
http://www.talesandmusic.de/tales/wounded_selkie.htm
Richard M. Germany 5/18/05
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Response: I love some of the Haida stories in which animals turn into people, and vice versa. I haven't told any of these stories in a long time, but I used to tell Mouse Woman stories back in the 1970's--before I was more conscious about stepping on toes by telling native stories. Christie Harris has written two or three books of these stories. A search on the web netted a site by Barry McWilliams (http://www.eldrbarry.net), with an article about ownership of certain stories by certain tribes. He also has some Raven stories on his site. However some of the stories are more universal, and not considered private property of a particular tribe. I don't know about the Mouse Woman stories. There might be copyright issues with Christie Harris for her stories.
Judith W. 5/18/05
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Response: Transformation:
Snow White and Rose Red
Seven Ravens (similar to Andersen's Swans, but shorter and less pathetic/Christian/Andersenian-- can be learned fairly quickly

Animal helpers
The White Snake
Tim J. 5/18/05
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Response: The Ashliman folk and mythology text site has a section on monkey bridegrooms - full texts of stories - there's also an animal - also a section on amimal brides and bridegrooms. Lots of stuff!
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/monkey.html#monkeyboy
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html
Judy S. 5/18/05
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(This web page updated 12/28/05)