Book Descriptions
for The Star People by S.D. Nelson
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Sister Girl and Young Wolf are away from their village when a storm hits. Lightning starts a prairie fire, and in their frantic flight to safety, they lose their way. In S.D. Nelson’s dramatic and enchanting original tale, the children are guided back to their village by the spirit of their grandmother, Elk Tooth Woman, who is now one of the Star People. Nelson’s narrative is woven from the magical stories he heard in childhood about the Star People—the traditional Lakota term for the stars—as well as characters created from his own imagination. His informative author’s note blends Lakota history and autobiography, enriching the context and meaning of both the story and his stirring, beautiful artwork that is inspired by Lakota ledger art and incorporates many of its traditional elements. (Ages 6–9)
CCBC Choices 2004 . © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2004. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
A grandmother’s love is forever in Star People, a picture book about remembrance and tradition from S. D. Nelson, award-winning author and member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
“A young Lakota Indian girl narrates the story of how she and her little brother, Young Wolf, survive a prairie fire.” —School Library Journal
“A stirring, original story based on Lakota legend . . . The swirling images of the celestial dance beautifully reflect the story’s celebration and awe of the natural world.” —Booklist
Sister Girl and her brother, Young Wolf, wander away from their village and soon find themselves far out in the surrounding prairie. They sit down in the grass and watch the clouds passing above billow to form an eagle, horses, and other creatures.
We sat in the dry, sweet-smelling grass, watching the clouds drift overhead. Young Wolf pointed and said, “Sister Girl, that cloud looks like a buffalo’s head!” We both laughed with amazement. “There’s an eagle,” I cried!
Suddenly, animals begin to race past the children on the ground—followed by a wall of fire! Fleeing along with the frightened beasts, Sister Girl and Young Wolf save themselves by tumbling into a shallow stream. The fire leaves behind ash and a barren, forbidding landscape. The children realize that they are hopelessly lost. Night is coming—how will they get home to their parents? And why are the evening stars dancing so?
Drawing upon traditional Lakota ledger book art, S. D. Nelson’s illustrations bring to life a memorable new legend about the Star People.
“A young Lakota Indian girl narrates the story of how she and her little brother, Young Wolf, survive a prairie fire.” —School Library Journal
“A stirring, original story based on Lakota legend . . . The swirling images of the celestial dance beautifully reflect the story’s celebration and awe of the natural world.” —Booklist
Sister Girl and her brother, Young Wolf, wander away from their village and soon find themselves far out in the surrounding prairie. They sit down in the grass and watch the clouds passing above billow to form an eagle, horses, and other creatures.
We sat in the dry, sweet-smelling grass, watching the clouds drift overhead. Young Wolf pointed and said, “Sister Girl, that cloud looks like a buffalo’s head!” We both laughed with amazement. “There’s an eagle,” I cried!
Suddenly, animals begin to race past the children on the ground—followed by a wall of fire! Fleeing along with the frightened beasts, Sister Girl and Young Wolf save themselves by tumbling into a shallow stream. The fire leaves behind ash and a barren, forbidding landscape. The children realize that they are hopelessly lost. Night is coming—how will they get home to their parents? And why are the evening stars dancing so?
Drawing upon traditional Lakota ledger book art, S. D. Nelson’s illustrations bring to life a memorable new legend about the Star People.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
