The Nation's Choice: Theme Paperbacks Easy Level Theme 3 Grade 4 the Story of the Milky Way - Softcover

Houghton Mifflin Company

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618062432 ISBN 13: 9780618062430

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School, 2001

Synopsis

The legend of the Milky Way tells of an elderly couple who lived long ago. One day they discovered that a giant spirit dog had stolen some of their cornmeal--and drove the dog from the village into the night sky. The band of stars that formed in its wake is the Milky Way. Exquisite paintings illuminate a lyrical text by two renowned Native American storytellers.

About this title

About the Author

Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in hundreds of publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored many books for adults and children including Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, Skeleton Man, and The Heart of a Chief. For more information about Joseph, please visit his website www.josephbruchac.com.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?Bruchac and Ross retell a Cherokee tale with simplicity and respect. Back when there were few stars in the sky, people depended on corn for their food. An elderly couple finds that someone?or something?is stealing their cornmeal, and their grandson discovers that the thief is a large spirit dog. The villagers catch the dog in the act, and he runs away. As he leaps into the sky, the cornmeal in his mouth spills out, each grain becoming a star in the Milky Way. The story is told in a clear, straightforward style, with careful attention to the cadence of the language. It is accessible on many levels; it will hold the attention of young listeners, yet remain interesting to older readers. Both Bruchac and Ross provide source notes. The acrylic illustrations depict stylized figures and resemble fabric art. Stroud sets the story in the early 1800s, a time when clothing was made of cloth rather than buckskin, and the colors and textures heighten the applique effect, especially the sprigged calicoes worn by the women. The text and illustrations work well together, and the layout makes the book an especially good choice for story time.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0618062432
• ISBN 13: 9780618062430
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32