Author/Illustrator: Retold by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, PhD/Stefano Vitale
Plot Summary: Animals, natural phenomenon, and life lessons are all coverd in 24 stories enhanced with colorful illustrations. One of my favorites was "Mauship, The Good Giant" which was about a friendly giant who did everything for the people in his village. He finally realized that the people had come to depend on him so much, they no longer wanted to walk from place to place but wanted him to carry them. At that point, he realized he needed to leave them in order to teach them self-reliance. What a great message for children!
Comments: This is the second book in the "Folktales of the World" series. Written by a father and son of Abenaki descent, this is a collection of native American folktales organized by geographic region and tribal nation. My son's fourth grade teacher asked parents to send in books for their unit on fables and folktales. They are also studying native American culture. This book is the perfect combination. The stories are short enough that they could be read in between other activities. They would also be a good way to end the day with something to think about.
Extensions:
1. At the end of the day, read one story to give the children something to think about before they leave. In the morning(in morning meeting or carpet time,) remind the children about the story and offer some discussion points to emphasize the life lesson or story presented the day before. This would be appropriate for third through sixth grade.
2. After a read aloud of one of the stories, the assignment would be a re-telling of the story with a commentary following explaining what the child learned from the story or why the explanation or lesson was important.
Themes/keywords: Indians of North America, Bruchac, Joseph, Vitale, Stefano
Age/Reading Level: Interest level - 3-6; Reading level - ATOS 3.0
Standards:
SS4H1 The student will describe how early Native American cultures developed in North America.
a. Locate where Native Americans settled with emphasis on the Arctic (Inuit), Northwest (Kwakiutl), Plateau (Nez Perce), Southwest (Hopi), Plains (Pawnee), and Southeast (Seminole).
b. Describe how Native Americans used their environment to obtain food, clothing, and shelter.
Publisher's Info: Sterling Publishing Co. New York. 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-40273-263-8
ISBN-10: 1-40273-263-5
Awards/Review Sources:
Wilson's Children 07/01/09 | School Library Journal starred 12/01/08 |
| Horn Book 04/01/09 | Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 01/01/09 |
| Library Media Connection 05/01/09 |
Genre/Dewey: 398
Websites:
Author's website - what an interesting man
The Ndakinna Education Center
Abenaki Nation
Notes for Booktalk:show on the map where the story originated(reinforces location of the nations)
Vocabulary:
Comments