Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children

by Michael J. Caduto, Joseph Bruchac (Illustrator)

Through 19 Native American stories and various activities, children learn the invaluable lesson that all living things are intertwined.

Genres: Nature, Indigenous, Native American, Childrens, Education, Science, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children (which was published in 1994), each of the featured traditional tales (lyrically, beautifully retold as well as gorgeously, expressively illustrated by Abenaki children's author Joseph Bruchac) and then followed by detailed discussion prompts as well as Michael J. Caputo's botanical information and a plethora of possible earth and plant based activities (for children, for students) acknowledges the Native North American cultures (the tribal affiliations) in which the respective stories originated and with accompanying maps helping readers (or listeners) to locate, to visually situate where the different cultural groups (tribes) traditionally resided (and often of course still reside) in North America. And yes, considering that every tale featured (encountered) in Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children is about one to three pages in length, this in my humble opinion also makes them ideal for reading aloud and therefore not only making use of oral tradition but also celebrating the latter and pointing out with Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children that first and foremost, that traditionally, Native American stories, culture and education were and still are based on oral transmission, on the elders teaching, education via word-of-mouth.

And once a tale has been shared, and students have reflected on the story via the discussion prompts, Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children then (as already pointed out) offers Michael J. Caputo's many suggestions for ecological activities to solidify and expand the learning of the story, field trips, demonstrations, experiments, puppet shows, the list is wonderfully expansive, comprehensively thorough, although sometimes perhaps also just a wee bit overly enthusiastic, as I for one certainly have felt at times somewhat inundated and textually overwhelmed. But yes, I do very much appreciate, value and cherish the activity suggestions, the tales themselves, the information presented and shared by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caputo and definitely do consider Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children a wonderful teaching resource for both in class and at home use (geared mostly towards grades three to grade eight, but that of course the activities can also be modified for younger and also for older ages).
     
Finally (last but definitely not least), the glossary and pronunciation key at the back of Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children and that there are source notes at the end of each story/activities section, this is for and to me an added bonus, very much both enjoyed and also warmly appreciated, as is Joseph Bruchac's section titled Other Versions of Native American Stories, where Bruchac discusses his story selection process and his interest in respecting the traditional oral culture of Native American stories, and with me certainly and definitely considering Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children as an excellent and useable teaching resource (and my only annoyance and potential caveat being that the font size of the text for the non story parts of Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children is rather minuscule and thus also rather hard to read and painful for ageing eyes).

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Information Book

An ecology class curriculum book infused with Native American philosophy and culture.

This is a book I would love to own. The lessons in it as they stand are a little old for the students in my class but the concepts are appropriate to students of all ages. I find the part of Native American culture I appreciate the most is the belief that everything has a purpose and an intrinsic value. This book is a great assistant in teaching this belief as well as many other ecological practices.

[CFAITC]

Native plant legends from 18 Native American tribes.

[Cheryl]

Hardcore educational; much too much for me, as I have access to no children. A bit dated in that not all creators are Native, but enough are. A little too 'noble savage' for some, perhaps, but imo still valuable because we all need to learn more about respect for nature.

June 2024