Weather Legends: Native American Lore and the Science of Weather

Features Native American myths describing the interaction between humans and the living entities of water, sun, wind, and clouds used to explain weather phenomena such as lightning and tornados.

Gr 5-8-In a companion volume to her Legends of Landforms (Millbrook, 2001), Vogel explores various weather/climate phenomena from the viewpoint of various Native American peoples and the modern meteorologists. Tales from the Papago, the Acoma, the Penobscot, and others give varied reasons for floods, seasons, the rainbow, and more, followed by scientific explanations. A large, color photo accompanies each chapter, and the author provides source notes for the myths and legends she has adapted. Assigned to the 398s in Dewey, the book may escape the notice of those doing weather reports. While somewhat pedestrian in tone, Vogel's presentation is unique, and will be valuable to teachers and homeschooling parents who are seeking materials for cross-curriculum studies.

Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

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Gr. 4-8. Weather played such a vital role in the lives of Native Americans that many of their legends pertain to the elements. Vogel offers a sampling of weather-related tales from various North American tribes, sharing intriguing ancient fables about the changing seasons, the importance of the sun, and the necessity of rain. Each legend is headed by tribal derivation and followed by a scientific explanation of the meteorological phenomenon it concerns. Sometimes contemporary examples of a particularly memorable flood or tornado are mentioned to link ancient myths to modern-day realities. A large color photograph stunningly accents each entry in this versatile volume for classroom application and personal reading. Source notes are appended. Ellen Mandel
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