Chal To Yinilo / Frog Brings Rain

Kendrick Benally was born in Tuba City, Arizona and raised on the southwest region of the Navajo Nation in the rural community of Birdsprings. He is of the Red-running-into-the-water people, born from the Mexican clan. Kendrick currently resides on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. For as long as Kendrick can remember, he has had a great passion for art. As a child growing up on the Navajo Nation, with only the earth as his canvas and rocks and sticks as his tools, he had to rely largely on his imagination to pass the time. Now, as a resident of the Grand Canyon National Park, he is fascinated by the magical reds and purples that surround his home. That fascination for color can clearly be seen in his two children’s books, Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved (2003) and Frog Brings Rain (2006). Creating the illustrations for Frog Brings Rain involved a re-examination of childhood experiences. As a child, Kendrick’s grandmother told him the story of Frog; and when he read the manuscript of Patricia Hruby Powell, all those childhood memories rushed back to him. Those memories were doubtlessly quite powerful, for Kendrick’s illustrations vividly bring the story to life. Readers must look closely, however. Kendrick’s artwork is filled with enchanting details, and readers must look to the left, the right, and behind the main scene to catch all the subtleties. For Kendrick, art is not a career but a way of life. When he hears or sees something that moves him, he must somehow bring that feeling to creative expression. That expression sometimes takes the form of artwork; however, if he isn’t in the mood for painting pictures, he enjoys interior decoration or contemplates designing clothing. Up to this point, Kendrick’s artwork has been largely influenced by the Navajo culture, but he anticipates that changing in the near future. I feel like a budding flower, almost ready to blossom,” he says, and looks forward to embracing other cultures.Powell, Patricia Hruby is the author of 'Chal To Yinilo / Frog Brings Rain ' with ISBN 9781893354081 and ISBN 1893354083.