Beyond the Ridge

ISBN 10: 0606051597 ISBN 13: 9780606051590

Publisher: Demco Media, 1993

Synopsis

At her death an elderly Plains Indian woman experiences the afterlife believed in by her people, while the surviving family members prepare her body according to their custom

About this title

About the Author

Paul Goble has received wide acclaim for his magnificent books, including Buffalo Woman, Dream Wolf, Her Seven Brothers, and the winner of the 1979 Caldecott Medal, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. Commenting on his work in Beyond the Ridge, Horn Book Magazine said, "striking elements synthesize the graphics with the narrative and spiritual aspects of the text." The New York Times Book Review noted that his technique is "a marriage of authentic design and contemporary artistry, and it succeeds beautifully." Paul Goble's most recent book for Bradbury Press, I Sing for the Animals, was called "a lovely, small book that movingly conveys profound belief in the goodness of creation" by Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal said it "fits as easily in the hand as Goble's meditations about the natural world do in the heart."

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6-- Once again Goble has created a stunning picture book interpretation of an aspect of Plains Indian tradition. The story at the heart of this book is the death of an old woman and her subsequent spirit journey. Once she is safely "beyond the ridge" the story focuses on the woman's family and how ritual helps them mourn and then accept her passing. The art work is Goble at his best. Clear colors and meticulous details make his paintings come alive. Clouds break like waves across the expanses of sky. The Great Plains shimmer with changing light, and there is a pervading sense of the unity of all creation. The story is bracketed by several passages in italics on life and death written by traditional native Americans. Attributions are made only in small print on the back of the title page, and so the individual voices seem to merge with the voice of the storyteller. Unfortunately, these sections are too repetitive to read out loud in one sitting; a wise librarian will be selective in reading these passages. Nonetheless, this book is a wonderful acquisition. Goble's portrayal of native American beliefs is accurate and respectful. And the universal wisdom the book contains will give comfort and insight on a subject that troubles readers of all ages. --Carolyn Polese, Gateway Community School, Arcata, Calif.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Demco Media
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0606051597
• ISBN 13: 9780606051590
• Binding: Library Binding
• Illustrator: Goble Paul
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32