Navajo Long Walk

Bruchac, Joseph. 2002. NAVAJO LONG WALK: THE TRAGIC STORY OF A PROUD PEOPLE'S FORCED MARCH FROM THEIR HOMELAND. Illustrated by Shonto Begay. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.

Plot Summary

Joseph Bruchac and illustrator Shonto Begay come together to tell the tragic story of the forced march of thousands of Navajo from their homes and relocation to a reservation. The story also tells of the return of the Navajo to their home and how today the Navajos number more than 150,000 and live on what has become the largest of all reservations in the United States.

Analysis

Bruchac tells the story of the forced removal of the Navajos in seven chapters beginning with Broken Circle and concluding with The Walk Home. In the dedication page, both writer and illustrator acknowledge their ancestors. Bruchac acknowledges and is grateful to the Navajo Nation for their wisdom and guidance in the writing of this book. It is apparent that this work was handled with much reverence.

The Afterward includes comments on the success of the Navajos as herdsmen and gifted artisans. Moreover, the contributions by the Navajo peoples during World War II in form of a code that was based on the Navajo language, contributed greatly to winning the war in the Pacific.

In order for the readers to fully understand the story, Bruchac takes the readers to the genesis of the Navajo peoples. He tells of the arrival of the Spaniards in 1540. We further understand how the Navajo people got their name. “ From the Pueblo peoples they learned agriculture –how to grow corn, beans, and squash. Indeed, the word ‘Navajo’ is derived from the Tewa Pueblo word Nabaju, which means 'people with planted fields.'" Bruchac’s interlingual use throughout the book adds authenticity to the tale and further demonstrates his knowledge of the Navajos.

Bruchac depicts the Navajo as real people, and not mystical figures that only possess good qualities. While he states that “The Navajo way has always been to seek the path of balance and beauty,” he also tells of the Diné Ana’í – the Enemy Navajos. “The Enemy Navajos were feared as slave raiders and later as scouts for the U.S. Army. It was not easy for Navajos to escape from their own people, who knew the language and the land.”
Bruchac chronologically breaks down the story, making it easy for readers to follow. Visual learners will also appreciate the inclusion of an 1863-1868 map that demonstrates the trails taken by the Navajo people for each of the three walks.

Another aspect that adds validity to the telling of this story is the fact that Bruchac’s tale is not one sided. In the same manner that not all Navajos were depicted as just, Bruchac does not portray all Americans as evil. He mentions Henry L. Dodge, appointed as an “Indian agent.” Bruchac states, “He was the first agent to actually live among the Navajos. He always treated them with respect and honesty and tried to act in their best interest. The Navajos grew to love Dodge…”
Finally, the illustrations presented convey the story in a convincing manner. The illustrator, Shonto Begay incorporates seven oil paintings and various two toned watercolor illustrations to accompany Bruchac’s text. For each acrylic painting, Begay annotates the connection between illustration and text. It is evident in the annotations that Begay has poured his heart and soul into this project. For example, in relating one of the walks of the Navajo people Bruchac writes, “Although the Army had orders to use wagons, horses, and mules to help carry the sick, the children, and the crippled, they were seldom used for this purpose. The soldiers rode and the Indians walked.” Of the accompanying illustration for this depiction Begay states, “…the cries of children, moans of the dying, futile prayers uttered in the snow and mud along a blood-soaked trail – [these] were emotionally difficult to recreate.”
I have to admit that the reality depicted in the illustrations and the inclusion of stories passed down and printed as Bruchac’s words, made a dramatic impact on me. There were instances when I was so overcome with grief that I had to put the book down and continue at a later time. One instance dealt with a pregnant woman. Bruchac writes,

"The late Howard Gorman, a deeply respected elder whose ancestors made that terrible journey, told a story passed down to him by his elders... a young woman who was about to give birth could keep up no longer. Her relatives begged the soldiers to wait for her. They were forced to move on. One soldier rode back. Then the sound of a gunshot was heard."

Notwithstanding, I do not believe that this is a book that should be hidden from students’ view. Quite the contrary, this is a story that must be heard by their ears because it is part of the tapestry that formed this nation. Bruchac also agrees as he states, "We were given two ears so that we may hear both sides of every story.” Without a doubt, this is a book that must imperatively be included in the libraries of our schools.

Review Excerpts

"Begay's paintings, rendered with acrylics on clay board in swirling brushstrokes, convey urgency and emotion. His art reaches a new level of accomplishment and his captions, explaining his use of symbols, will help youngsters interpret the cryptic moments in his work."– Publishers Weekly

"Told with drama, tension, conflict, and with a positive resolution the author gives dimension to 'one of the greatest and least known injustices in American history.' Shonto Begay has created extraordinary paintings using acrylics on clay board. They have an emotional intensity and eloquence." – From Children’s Literature

Connections

Other titles by Joseph Bruchac include:

The Warriors
The Waters Between
The Winter People

Pocahontas
Sacajawea
Children of the Longhouse
Dawn Land
Dog People, Native Dog Stories
Eagle Song
The Heart of a Chief

Seasons of the Circle
Skeleton Man

Website of illustrator:

http://www.shontobegay.com/

Insectlopedia

Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. New York: Harcout Inc. ISBN 0-15-201306-7

PLOT SUMMARY

A collection of 21 witty and delightful poems dedicated to those lovely insects. The poems provide a wealth of information regarding the insects in a most humorous manner. The book provides further fuel for the imagination as each poem is accompanied by a watercolor illustration done by the author.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Is it an encyclopedia?

Perhaps.

A picture book?

May be.

Is it poetry?

Could be all three.

When most children think of insects, they will rarely jump up and down with joy. Often times, they will cringe and frown! Douglas Florian has done a fantastic job of taking the "ooginess" out of insects. He begins with a caterpillar.

She eats eight leaves at least

To fill her,

Which leaves her like a

Fatterpillar,

Then rents a room inside

A pupa,

And checks out: Madame Butterfly -

How super!

Nevertheless, Florian does not let us forget that these creatures can indeed be ferocious.

The Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are thin.

Mosquitoes are rude.

They feast on your skin

For take-out food.

Most of the poems often talk about the insect as a predator or what the insect does to protect itself from other predators. The Walking stick blends in with other sticks, the Io moth uses her mam-moth eyes to scare off predators, and the Monarch Butterfly has a poison that makes it impossible for swallows to swallow him. They would rather spit him out. So much could be learned just from these delightful limericks! These poems are excellent at either introducing or reinforcing science concepts. The poems would make a great read aloud, but are also a feast for the eyes. Florian includes several concrete poems further providing a visual for children to appreciate.

My second grade students as well as my three year old asked me to repeat some of them. I could also see this book being transformed into some sort of dictionary. Most of the illustrations have the first letter of the name of the insect embedded into the drawing. For all these reasons, this is one book that should be included in every library.

REVIEWS

"Short, clever, witty poems catalogued alphabetically provide details about 21 different spiders and insects. Unique, thought-provoking illustrations accompany the text. There are some difficult words used, like "aggrieved" and "parasitic," but they are few and provide yet another opportunity to learn." - From Children's Literature

"The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning," -From Publisher's Weekly

CONNECTIONS

The poems could easily be clapped, sung to the tune of known songs, or echoed to name a few. The book easily lends itself to be used during Science time for introduction, review and/or reinforcements of science concepts.

Students could also use the poems as formats to create their own poems about insects.

Out of the Dust

Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-590-36080-9

PLOT SUMMARY

Written in free verse and set in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years, fourteen year old Billie Jo shares the trials of living on a wheat farm. In addition to combating the dust storms, Billie Jo must deal with the accidental death of her pregnant mother, the abyss that exists between her and her father, and the burning of her hands -which were the key to her escape from the dust: playing the piano.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The title resonates a genesis of sorts. In school I was taught not to judge a book by its cover, yet that is exactly what I done. The dreadful blue cover and black and white picture of a rather ordinary girl does not say,"Pick me up! I'm a great read!" Nevertheless, I am captivated early on by the authenticity of voice and the beautiful imagery in the descriptions. Of her pregnant mother she states:

She was bare as a pear... My dazzling ma, round and ripe and striped like a
melon.

Of her father she states:

My father's voice starts and stops like a car short of gas, like an engine
chocked with dust...

As a fourteen year old, Billie Jo demonstrates a maturity beyond her years as she comes to conclude certain things about her life.

The way I see it, hard times aren't only

about money

or drought,

or dust.

Hard times are about losing spirit,

and hope,

and what happens when dreams dry up.

Readers are left with the comfort that Billie Jo and her father are on the road to better communication. While girls will be drawn to the journal-like entries of the book, the lack of riveting action packed scenes leads me to think that boys may see this a "chick book." While most of today's youngsters may not relate to a farm girl, they will relate to her plights: deferred dreams, fathers that are present, yet distant, and seeking forgiveness as well as seeking to forgive others.

This novel makes an enormous contribution heralding American heritage. The novel is for young adults and naturally lends itself to form part of American history curriculum. This novel would also make an excellent daily read aloud since the entries are short yet poignant.

REVIEWS

In a starred review of the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, set during the Depression, PW said, "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions." From Publishers Weekly

"...Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality. -From Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS

So much can be done! This may be a great way to introduce journal writing across the contents.

There is a wealth of history and geography and art that can be connected to this book.

PBS presented Surviving the Dust bowl. It provides a documentary as well as excellent photography of dust storms.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/

The book makes mention of the Dionne Quintuplets. Students could read on the history of the girls and

http://www.quintland.com/start.html

Other books by Karen Hesse for younger readers: Lavender, Sable, Poppy's Chair and Lester's Dog.