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ipomoea's review against another edition
1.0
NOPETY NOPE NOPE.
a) Native peoples haven't disappeared, despite the best efforts of the US and Canadian governments for centuries.
b) Did you seriously illustrate a book about Chief Seattle (who's Duwamish) with pictures of gd Plains peoples? That's like writing a book about Leif Erickson and putting him in a fricking beret and striped shirt.
c) I can't handle yet another book pitching Native peoples as having some mystical connection to the earth/animals. They're just people, and relegating them to "closer to nature" isn't fair or right. It's important to note that there are Native authors, athletes, teachers, truck drivers, scholars, doctors, and every other field out there, Native folks live in our contemporary times and in our society. Don't limit them to a lifestyle that's extinct.
a) Native peoples haven't disappeared, despite the best efforts of the US and Canadian governments for centuries.
b) Did you seriously illustrate a book about Chief Seattle (who's Duwamish) with pictures of gd Plains peoples? That's like writing a book about Leif Erickson and putting him in a fricking beret and striped shirt.
c) I can't handle yet another book pitching Native peoples as having some mystical connection to the earth/animals. They're just people, and relegating them to "closer to nature" isn't fair or right. It's important to note that there are Native authors, athletes, teachers, truck drivers, scholars, doctors, and every other field out there, Native folks live in our contemporary times and in our society. Don't limit them to a lifestyle that's extinct.
dscholl's review against another edition
1. No awards
2. grade 2-5
3. This book is a speech made by Chief Seattle. In it he details the importance of nature to Native Americans and pleas with the westerners to respect it.
4. This book, while beautifully illustrated, it incredibly difficult for young children to understand without teacher explanation.
5. This book can be used to demonstrate the power images and illustrations have in a text and how images aid comprehension. It is also valuable to teach about Native American values.
2. grade 2-5
3. This book is a speech made by Chief Seattle. In it he details the importance of nature to Native Americans and pleas with the westerners to respect it.
4. This book, while beautifully illustrated, it incredibly difficult for young children to understand without teacher explanation.
5. This book can be used to demonstrate the power images and illustrations have in a text and how images aid comprehension. It is also valuable to teach about Native American values.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
2.0
It is interesting what one discussion about a book can do to your own perceptions. I had readthis book as a student many years ago and enjoyed it, yet returning to it now I find myself feeling slightly uncomfortable with some of the content, especially after reading articles from Paul Chaat Smith ( a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma) and Jean Mendoza/Debbie Reese.
The story itself is very well meaning and, having taken an amended speech (by Jeffers) from Chief Seattle, it talks about the need to preserve and respect the land which we take for granted. It tells the story of how the Native Americans have lived in harmony with the land AND Jeffers also lets it be known that it was the white settlers who began a 'bloody war' in which they claimed the land for themselves: all well meaning and important to share. But the ending, which sees a white family planting seeds in order to regrow parts of the forest which had been cut down (with the blessing on the Native American people who stand behind them) sends mixed messages and who owns the land and how both the Native American and White American people are (or are not) a part of this.
The main problem lies with Non-Native writers taking words from Native speakers and using them for their own purpose around a message which may have little to do with the original. The key element that had grated on me and I began to understand after reading the articles mentioned above relates to the presence of the white boy on the front cover and the white family at the back. Whilst they are corporeal and the Native Americans being incorporeal which I find difficult to handle since, as Reese and Mendoza point out, it sends out a sense that these people no longer exist.
Something to think about.
The story itself is very well meaning and, having taken an amended speech (by Jeffers) from Chief Seattle, it talks about the need to preserve and respect the land which we take for granted. It tells the story of how the Native Americans have lived in harmony with the land AND Jeffers also lets it be known that it was the white settlers who began a 'bloody war' in which they claimed the land for themselves: all well meaning and important to share. But the ending, which sees a white family planting seeds in order to regrow parts of the forest which had been cut down (with the blessing on the Native American people who stand behind them) sends mixed messages and who owns the land and how both the Native American and White American people are (or are not) a part of this.
The main problem lies with Non-Native writers taking words from Native speakers and using them for their own purpose around a message which may have little to do with the original. The key element that had grated on me and I began to understand after reading the articles mentioned above relates to the presence of the white boy on the front cover and the white family at the back. Whilst they are corporeal and the Native Americans being incorporeal which I find difficult to handle since, as Reese and Mendoza point out, it sends out a sense that these people no longer exist.
Something to think about.
mrsbond's review against another edition
2.0
Tries too hard to be organic/natural in its plea for environmental friendliness. It's almost as if the author wanted to write a book about saving the planet's resources and thought that having it told by a Native American would make the message more powerful. Further burdening this book are the controversies regarding the transcripts of Chief Seattle's speech, the accuracy of the cover and other illustrations, as well as the manner in which people are depicted.
vermidian's review against another edition
3.0
This was a favorite as a child. However, reading this now as an adult all I can see are beautiful illustrations and white people profiting off of Native Americans. This book was not written by Chief Seattle obviously, while the words may be his, and none of the profits for this book went to helping the Native populations. Also, I don't like that they paraphrased things rather than just copying the full text. I get it's meant for kids, but never underestimate a child's mind. They adapt and learn quickly.Additionally, the native americans pictured are more like caricatures than anything. It could be better, truth be told.
debhep0's review against another edition
4.0
In spite of the fact that the illustrations in this picture book are not authentic to Chief Seattle's tribe, they are nevertheless beautiful. Some reviewers have also found fault with the authenticity of the words used but I still feel that this is a beautiful picture book that has a strong message of respect for the earth and our place in it, one which has great relevance today and one which my admittedly minimal study of Native Americans leads me to believe they would approve of.
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