Benjamin loves the rain. He loves splashing through puddles in his bright yellow rain boots and watching the colors of a rainbow in the water as they ripple around his feet. But most of all, Benjamin loves thunder. To him, thunder, piyêsiwak and sounds like his grandfather’s drum. It calls to him, like the songs his grandfather plays while his father and other powwow dancers spin and step in time to the drumbeat. As Benjamin hears the thunder rumble overhead, he imagines himself as a powwow dancer. He spins, he taps his feet and he lifts his knees. Faster and faster he twirls, delighted by and filled with the rhythm of piyêsiwak.
United States
Materials from United States of America
The Worry Balloon
On the first day of school, Isla’s mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer, Isla’s worries come back like a tornado. Mami encourages her to imagine something happy, and Isla remembers there’s nothing she can’t handle. The storm might come again, but for now, her mind is quiet.
Farolitos For Abuelo
When Luz’s beloved grandfather dies, she places luminaria around his grave on Christmas Eve as a way of remembering him.
Mascot
Six eighth graders outside Washington, DC, navigate through conflict and division focused on their school district’s Native American mascot.
The White Deer And Other Stories Told By The Lenape
This rich compendium combines Lenape (Delaware) history, an introduction to several storytellers, and storytelling beliefs with a diverse collection of tales. The tales presented here are twentieth-century renderings from many locations, demonstrating the durability of the storytelling traditions.
The Same Sun Was In The Sky
A boy and his grandfather go hiking in the Arizona desert, where they observe the many rock carvings and imagine the lives of the Hohokam people who lived there in ancient times.
When Bear Stole The Chinook
Because the long, hard winter caused scarcity of firewood and food, a poor Indian boy and his animal friends journey to the lodge of the Great Bear to release the chinook.
Old Father Story Teller
Includes retellings of six Tewa Indian legends and a brief biographical section about the author, who is a noted American Indian artist.
Quail Song
A retelling of a traditional Pueblo Indian tale in which Quail outwits a persistent Coyote.
Desert Song
When day is done, the sun streaks the desert sky with flame. Soon the stars come out, and with them, a host of creatures. Bats spill from a hillside cave; insects seek out the sweet fruit of the saguaro; and a lone coyote sings his haunting song to the moon.In this lyrical evocation of the desert night, celebrated author Tony Johnston and Caldecott medalist Ed Young offer young readers an unforgettable look at the many plants and animals that thrive in this surprisingly lush and fragile wilderness.