Native American lore shared
Legends, folklore, history and fiction combine this week to offer three distinctive books that touch on Native Americans. Offering a glimpse of beliefs, way of life, and in one case, historical events of great injustice, each pays honor to various tribes and the wisdom of Native Americans.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"The Miser on the Mountain: A Nisqually Legend Of Mount Rainier"</B> retold by Nancy Luenn; illustrated by Pierr Morgan; Sasquatch Books, 32 pages; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.There once lived a man, Latsut, who was very greedy. Unlike the custom of his people, Latsut never shared his food with others. His thoughts were filled with one thing: to gather as many barter shells, called hiaqua, as possible, for this would make Latsut very wealthy. The men in his tribe called him a miser — the one with clenched hands.One day Latsut had a vision that told him to climb great Ta-co-bet (the Nisqually name for Mount Rainier) and "learn the true meaning of wealth." Latsut assumed that the vision meant that at the summit of Ta-co-bet he would find endless amounts of hiaqua. Latsut couldn't get started fast enough, but soon found himself in the midst of bitter cold, swirling snow and grave danger. Ultimately, Latsut did discover the real meaning of wealth, but it was far different that what he had anticipated.Powerfully retold, this Nisqually legend beautifully conveys that true wealth lies in the love of friends and family and the simple gifts that sustain life.
<B>Library:</B> North Trails Public Library, 1553 West Sunbury Road, West Sunbury<B>Library Director:</B> Kathy D. Kline<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"</B> by Bill Martin Jr.; <B>"The Christmas Doll"</B> by Elvira Woodruff; <B>"Land of the Buffalo Bones"</B> by Marion Dane Bauer
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Sitting Bull Remembers"</B> by Ann Turner; illustrated by Wendell Minor; HarperCollins, 2007; 32 pages; $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 9; read yourself: age 8 to 9.Treaties broken and unprovoked attacks by the white soldiers created great anger among the Sioux Nation. Sitting Bull was chosen to be the war chief of the Sioux Nation in 1869. Later imprisoned, Sitting Bull remembers his way of life that is no longer, a way of life forever changed by the greed of the white man.Powerful text and evocative paintings create a moving account of the tragic attempt to erase the Sioux Nation and the wisdom and bravery of the great Sitting Bull.<B>"The Legend of the Cape May Diamond"</B> by Trinka Hakes Noble; illustrated by E.B. Lewis; Sleeping Bear Press, 2007; 40 pages; $17.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 to 11; read yourself: age 8 to 11.Combining Native American history and vocabulary, geology, and superb fiction, Trinka Hakes Nobel has crafted a fascinating story of the quartz crystals that are polished by the Delaware River as they journey from the mountains to the shores of Cape May, New Jersey.Perfectly complemented by the rich illustrations of E.B. Lewis, this creative book excels.<b><i>Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.</i></b>
