Sky Dogs

by Jane Yolen, Barry Moser (Illustrator)

A Native American tale recounts the first arrival of the horse on the American plains and how the Blackfeet used the "sky dog" to become masters of the plains

Genres: Native American, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Folklore, Childrens, Cultural, Horses

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the Blackfoot legend of the origin of horses, my granddaughter and I really liked this book-- not only the story but the illustrations as well. Beautiful.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am unsure why this book is only rated 2.75 stars. I turn grouchy when I see low ratings for good books and I am tempted to rate 5 stars just to bump up the average but 4 stars is fair, only because my boys think so. They enjoyed this story, of how horses might first have arrived to the Blackfeet. The book is very well written and interesting. My boys liked how the people did not at first know how to care for the horses. Highly recommended.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pages: 32
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture/Legend
Race/Culture/Ethnic Group: Native American (Blackfeet)

Summary: Based on an amalgamation of Blackfeet legends, “Sky Dogs” tells the story, through the voice of He-who-loves-horses, an elder, of how horses came to the Blackfeet.

Evaluation: I would give this book a mixed review. While the book is set in the “long ago,” this is the appropriate setting for a legend. Yolen seems to have done research, providing an author’s note describing several of the legends she incorporated as well as some history of the Blackfeet and a short paragraph about the negative impact of the coming of Whites on the tribe. The story is fairly engaging and while the voice of the narrator is poetic (at times bordering on sing-songy) the language is clear, graceful and sophisticated (for a child’s level), not the stereotypical Indian “dialect.” Also, this book clearly is about a specific group, not Native Americans in general.
The illustrations also receive a mixed review from me. I cannot fault the illustrator for portraying the Indians as Plains Indians since that is what the Blackfeet were. The landscape type illustrations I found pretty, but the close up portraits bothered me, seeming somehow TOO close and difficult to look at. Also, the illustrator placed these images in circles surrounded by white space which disrupted the continuity of the text and illustrations.

[Luvy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told from the perspective of a Native American named, He-who-loves-horses. He tells his tale of how he got his name. He shares of the land that he and his people lived in out in the open plains. He tells how the sky, the clouds turned into shapes they had not seen before. The clouds looked like dogs, sky dogs.

[Bethany Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid and finding at the library for my daughter was awesome. It’s such a good story about the Native Americans and horses. My daughter was filled with awe when I was reading it to her.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Native American story told from an older tribe member. It talks about how he got his tribal name as well as facts about this specific tribe.

[Cindy D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can be used during study on Native Americans. Not one of my favorite books.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous book--story and illustrations. The artist's use of negative space and suggestion helped make for an enthralling story.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good history lesson, and my 5 year old horse lover was not disappointed from learning how horses became Sky Dogs.

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting story based on Native American legends of how horses came to a certain tribe. Definitely more for elementary age than preschoolers.

[Bat713 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread one of my best Native American picture books. Yolanda is always a winner!

[Mayra Espinoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the introduction of horses in the lives of the Blackfeet people. they had never encountered such animals before, so seeing horses for the first time made them believe that they were sky dogs that came from Old Man, creator of all things. Overall great book and amazing drawings in watercolor.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Native American tale of how the Blackfeet people were gifted horses known as Sky dogs from Old Man, creator of all things. The tale is told to his people by He-who-loves-horses.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for use on teaching about Native American history. The illustrations really helped to make the story.