April 1, 2011
Gr 3 Up-Goble has collected and retold 27 stories, poems, and song lyrics from a variety of Native American tribes. The title story tells of a woman who was captured by a horse-thieving tribe and who later escaped. She was found by a pack of wolves that cared for her until she was reunited with her family. "The Song of the Buffalo Bulls" is an homage to the magnificent beast that was so vital to the Native American tribes for sustenance. Depictions of how animals and man worked in harmony with one another permeate the stories and convey Goble's message that humans must live with tolerance and understanding of the natural world in order for both to survive. This collection is unique in its simplicity. The tales are accessible to young listeners as they beg to be read aloud. Most are only a page long. The accompanying illustrations are vintage Goble, finely detailed and painstakingly painted in rich tones of morning sky blues, orange-hued sunsets, and myriad chestnut, black, and amber horses. The artist stays to true to the canvases of Native American artifacts. The story about Turtle the Warrior and the animals that followed him is delightfully depicted at the top of a spread, displaying the mouse, skunk, and snake, et al, in full battle regalia. Goble says in his introduction that he wanted to tell the stories without the need for cultural explanation, and to be brief in their depiction of the themes and ideals within the stories. He does just that.-C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.