Boy Who Lived with the Bears: And Other Iroquois Stories
- Book Review,
by Joseph Bruchac
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4?An appealing collection of six traditional Iroquois tales retold in classic storytelling language. Although these stories can be found in other anthologies, including Bruchac's Iroquois Stories (Crossing, 1985), they are gathered here for younger children and presented as lessons the tribal elders might pass on during winter story times. The reteller's introduction is instructive and sets the mood for these humorous, moral?but never didactic?tales. Each one is carefully crafted with precise language and striking images. The title story tells adults to love their children; "How Birds Got Their Feathers" warns readers to be satisfied with what they have; "Chipmunk and Bear" cautions against making fun of others. Jacob's stunning, brilliantly colored paintings, one for each selection, capture the moods clearly and gracefully. A beautiful book in words and pictures that deserves a spot in every folktale collection.?Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NYCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
(c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. An orphan abused by his guardian uncle finds refuge as a member of a bear family in the title story of this collection of six Iroquois teaching tales, which spring from Bruchac's close association with Iroquois elders and are sourced in tales he heard while growing up. An introduction that doesn't overwhelm puts the tales into historical and cultural context. Bruchac's style is clean and spare. His direct, immediate language makes the book accessible to a wide range of children, including reluctant and new readers, and the humor and inherent drama make the tales ideal for reading and telling aloud. The seven full-page color paintings by Murv Jacob are brightly framed with floral and other patterns that enhance the vibrant compositions, and, whether animal or human, the characters are nicely individualized and energetically executed. A gray flowered border surrounds each page of text, the type is large, the design is spacious, and the detailing is attractive. This is a fine example of good book-making, which combines quality of content with quality of craft. Janice Del Negro
Book Description
The Parabola Storytime series is a collection of stories and myths by the leading storytellers of Native American tribes. Originally produced by Parabola magazine in audio format, many of these stories appear here in written form for the first time, with the permission of tribal elders, and are enhanced by artwork authentic to the tradition. These stories evoke the beauty, wisdom, and living spirit of surviving oral traditions. In these six Iroquois tales, animals showcase the best of human emotions and spirit. Buzzard flies to the Creator to bring back clothes for all the birds. Tiny Chipmunk takes on massive and powerful Bear in a challenge to determine whether or not the sun will keep rising. In the title story, a young boy has lost his human family and finds love in the home of the Bears. Wise and foolish, cowardly and brave, animals teach humans how to live better lives, while providing entertainment as well.
Card catalog description
Presents a collection of traditional Iroquois tales in which animals learn about the importance of caring and responsibility and the dangers of selfishness and pride.
About the Author
Joseph Bruchac is a renowned storyteller of Abenaki ancestry who has performed all over the United States and throughout Europe. He has written more than 100 books for adults and children, including Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back, A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull, and Keepers of the Earth, and his works have won numerous awards, including the IRA Young Adult Choices award and the Teacher's Choice award. He is a contributing editor to Parabola Magazine. He lives in Greenfield Center, New York. Murv Jacob is a painter and pipemaker of Kentucky-Cherokee descent. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Grand Award at the Trail of Tears Art Show. He lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
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