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All Our Relatives: Traditional Native American Thoughts about Nature
Through carefully chosen stories from the olden days and art that meticulously reflects traditional designs and colors, Goble provides wonderful insights into the spiritual life of the Plains Indians. His intimate knowledge of their world transports the reader into a vision of the sacred beauty and wisdom that defined traditional Native America.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2005
2 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Paul Goble
58 books100 followersPaul Goble was an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 18, 2016
This is not representative of all Native American philosophy. Instead, it is 90% Lakota. Comparatively, it'd be like a book reportedly on the United States just talking about the state of New York. Which is fine, but call it a Lakota philosophy book you know?
It was also very poorly planned out, so mostly it just seems a jumble of quotes on a page in Times New Roman.
It was also very poorly planned out, so mostly it just seems a jumble of quotes on a page in Times New Roman.
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September 12, 2018The author characterizes this book as a “collection of short stories, songs, dreams, and quotations that shed light on the wonderful relationship that native American peoples had with the natural world." The narrative/prose is complemented by authentic renderings of Native American art. This book is a tribute to Native Americans, to their repect for nature, and their way of life.
To read our full review (complete with the kids' opinions!) go to The Reading Tub®.
To read our full review (complete with the kids' opinions!) go to The Reading Tub®.
May 18, 2014
What a joy to read and share! A few of my favorite quotes:
"Silence is greater than speech. This is why we honor animals, who are more silent than man, and we revere the trees and rocks, where the Great Mystery lives undisturbed, in a peace that is never broken." -Ohiyesa, Santee Dakota
"The animals had rights: the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to man's gratitude. In recognition of these rights people never enslaved the animals, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing." -Standing Bear, Lakota
"To be alone with my war horse teaches ,e to understand me and into understand him. If he is to carry me into battle he must know my heart and I must know his or we shall never become brothers. I have been told that the white man does not believe that the horse has a soul. This cannot be true. I have many times seen my horse's soul in his eyes." -Plenty Coups, Absaroke
"I want to live humbly, as close to the earth as I can." - Pete Catchens, Lakota
"The animals long ago agreed to sacrifice their lives for ours, when we are in need of food or if skins for garments, but we are forbidden to kill for sport alone." -Ohiyesa, Santee Dakota
"We bc shoot at a wolf or coyote, believing them to be good medicine. We have a saying, 'the gun that shoots at a wolf or coyote will never again shoot straight.'" -Brings Down the Sun, Blackfoot
"Did you know that trees talk? Well they do. They talk to each other, and they'll talk to you if you listen. I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spririt." -Walking Buffalo, Stoney
"A man's attitude toward the nature around him, and the animals in nature, is of special importance, because we respect our creatured world, so also do we show respect for the real world that we cannot see." - Thomas Yellowtail, Absaroke
"Silence is greater than speech. This is why we honor animals, who are more silent than man, and we revere the trees and rocks, where the Great Mystery lives undisturbed, in a peace that is never broken." -Ohiyesa, Santee Dakota
"The animals had rights: the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to man's gratitude. In recognition of these rights people never enslaved the animals, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing." -Standing Bear, Lakota
"To be alone with my war horse teaches ,e to understand me and into understand him. If he is to carry me into battle he must know my heart and I must know his or we shall never become brothers. I have been told that the white man does not believe that the horse has a soul. This cannot be true. I have many times seen my horse's soul in his eyes." -Plenty Coups, Absaroke
"I want to live humbly, as close to the earth as I can." - Pete Catchens, Lakota
"The animals long ago agreed to sacrifice their lives for ours, when we are in need of food or if skins for garments, but we are forbidden to kill for sport alone." -Ohiyesa, Santee Dakota
"We bc shoot at a wolf or coyote, believing them to be good medicine. We have a saying, 'the gun that shoots at a wolf or coyote will never again shoot straight.'" -Brings Down the Sun, Blackfoot
"Did you know that trees talk? Well they do. They talk to each other, and they'll talk to you if you listen. I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spririt." -Walking Buffalo, Stoney
"A man's attitude toward the nature around him, and the animals in nature, is of special importance, because we respect our creatured world, so also do we show respect for the real world that we cannot see." - Thomas Yellowtail, Absaroke
February 13, 2011
This beautiful compliation of short stories, songs, and quotes from Native Americans is a wonderful representation of Native American culture. It highlights their reliance on animals such as the bison, wolves, and birds, and their belief in the importance of developing relationships with each and every creature on Earth, respecting them as fellow creatures. Everything, according to these stories, has a spirit, from the trees, to the wind, to rocks, to animals. Author Paul Goble obviously did extensive research in order to create this book, focusing on the Plains Native Americans. The illustrations were based on real designs from tipis, shields, and drums. A foreward by Dr. Joe Medicine Crow states that he supports the work of Goble and his research and his artwork is very real and a strong. This book is an accurate representation of Native American culture and folklore.
This book was the first of its kind for me, simply because it was layed out in such a unique way. Each two-page spread features one or two stories and several quotes relating to the stories. Illustrations are scattered between the pieces of text and are mainly animals. What I found most appealing was the strong bond between animal and human; the fact that an animal could sense a human's troubles and always was happy to give something of himself to help the human. Many of the stories have a magical, powerful theme, such as wolves that can sing. However, I do believe that to a people who are so in tune with nature, they must be able to hear things that people like myself cannot. My grandfather always claimed that he was part Native American, and I found myself, while reading, wishing to know more about that part of myself, however small, and to be able to relate to these stories and be a part of nature in the same way that Native Americans are.
This book was the first of its kind for me, simply because it was layed out in such a unique way. Each two-page spread features one or two stories and several quotes relating to the stories. Illustrations are scattered between the pieces of text and are mainly animals. What I found most appealing was the strong bond between animal and human; the fact that an animal could sense a human's troubles and always was happy to give something of himself to help the human. Many of the stories have a magical, powerful theme, such as wolves that can sing. However, I do believe that to a people who are so in tune with nature, they must be able to hear things that people like myself cannot. My grandfather always claimed that he was part Native American, and I found myself, while reading, wishing to know more about that part of myself, however small, and to be able to relate to these stories and be a part of nature in the same way that Native Americans are.
December 3, 2014
I don't believe in this stuff, but it's fun to read. It's interesting to read what ancient peoples believed and how they fit these into how they see the world.
July 25, 2017
Glossy pages with pictures and anecdotes, mostly of animals, it's enriching to look at nature through this kind of lens.
February 27, 2019
Beautifully illustrated. Mostly quotes with a few stories.
August 6, 2023
There are so many holes in my knowledge of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. This children's book illustrated many ideas of the Crow and plains indians. I want to read more about those closer to the east coast and their ways of life, how they lived with animals and their understanding nature.
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February 1, 2024O
May 20, 2025
I learned a lot, and took many many notes all throughout!
The pictures are accurate, according to the forward. Reading so many quotes and stories helped me understand things I hadn't before, and ask questions I wouldn't have asked.
It'd be good for an older child, or anyone, wanting to learn more about the Plains Indians' way of life, and how they communed with the creatures and nature around them.
There's a long list of references at the back of the book!
I'm glad I read it!
The pictures are accurate, according to the forward. Reading so many quotes and stories helped me understand things I hadn't before, and ask questions I wouldn't have asked.
It'd be good for an older child, or anyone, wanting to learn more about the Plains Indians' way of life, and how they communed with the creatures and nature around them.
There's a long list of references at the back of the book!
I'm glad I read it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews