What do you think?
Rate this book
Ancient Thunder
A visionary and beautiful book, Ancient Thunder celebrates wild horses and the natural world in which they lived in harmony. Using an extraordinary technique, artist of Ojibwa ancestry, Leo Yerxa makes paper look like leather, so that his illustrations seem to be painted on leather shirts. Each shirt is accompanied by a rich, wild song of praise for the wild horses that came to play such an important role in the lives of the First Peoples. Years in the making, the book is truly a work of art, one that reflects Yerxa’s sense of nature and the place of native people within it.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2006
53 people want to read
About the author
Leo Yerxa
8 books2 followersLeo Yerxa was an award-winning Ojibwa writer, illustrator and artist. He was born in 1947 on the Little Eagle Reserve in northwestern Ontario, and studied graphic arts at Algonquin College in Ottawa and fine arts at the University of Waterloo. He wrote Last Leaf, First Snowflake to Fall, which won the 1994 Mr. Christie's Book Award. He received the Governor General's award for illustration in 1996 for his exceptional book Ancient Thunder. In addition to the three picture-books he both wrote and illustrated, he also illustrated a number of other books. Yerxa died in 2017.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 26, 2020
Leo Yerxa has painted horses on native American clothing designs collaged out of paper for this interesting book, inspired by his early memories of his native neighbours and their horses. There is a line or two of text on each page, the illustrations are bright and colourful and this is an enjoyable glimpse of Yerxa's memories and love of horses.
Read on open library.
Read on open library.
September 28, 2020
Now really, if late Ontario Ojibway artist Leo Yerxa had actually made his 2006 picture book Ancient Thunder entirely wordless, I probably would be ranking it with a very solid five stars (and I do indeed say this as someone who is not always a fan of wordless picture books). For his, for Yerxa's artwork is most definitely awesome and inspiring, a total visual celebration of the horse and how horses have been such an important part of First Nations culture on the Canadian Prairies (or if talking about the United States of America, of course, the so-called Great Plains). And yes, Leo Yerxa's artwork, consisting of water-colour paper that has been handmade and painted to resemble the leather often worn by Prairie tribes and replete with multitudes of colourfully depicted generally galloping horses (and of course also the equally necessary and in my opinion required depictions of buffaloes, antelopes and eagles), this all has aesthetically very much entered and expanded in my innermost soul, giving a delightfully imaginative but at the same time also tinged with (historic) realism aesthetic feast and homage to Prairie tribes such as for example the Cree, the Assiniboine and the Tsuut'ina.
However, as much as I have and absolutely so truly visually adored the illustrations in Ancient Thunder, I have if truth be told found the accompanying text, whilst certainly poetic enough, also not really in any way even remotely a true and lasting compliment to and for the amazing artwork, finding Leo Yerxa's printed words often a trifle distracting from the power and glory of his pictures, and also often making me have to search for the presented text within the illustrations (and which I certainly do not with my ageing eyes appreciate all that much). And while there is of course nothing actually wrong or inappropriate regarding Leo Yerxa's printed words in Ancient Thunder, personally, I just have not found his poetic musings about horses all that interesting in and of themselves and certainly not in any manner en par with his featured illustrations, with Leo Yerxa's absolutely horsey and very much incredibly magical pictures.
However, as much as I have and absolutely so truly visually adored the illustrations in Ancient Thunder, I have if truth be told found the accompanying text, whilst certainly poetic enough, also not really in any way even remotely a true and lasting compliment to and for the amazing artwork, finding Leo Yerxa's printed words often a trifle distracting from the power and glory of his pictures, and also often making me have to search for the presented text within the illustrations (and which I certainly do not with my ageing eyes appreciate all that much). And while there is of course nothing actually wrong or inappropriate regarding Leo Yerxa's printed words in Ancient Thunder, personally, I just have not found his poetic musings about horses all that interesting in and of themselves and certainly not in any manner en par with his featured illustrations, with Leo Yerxa's absolutely horsey and very much incredibly magical pictures.
October 14, 2017
Most impressive part of the book was the illustrations. Beautiful + creative!
April 4, 2020
A poetic meditation on the horse, and its significance for the indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, Leo Yerxa's Ancient Thunder was selected as the 2008 award winner by the First Nation Communities Read program of Ontario. The gorgeous color illustrations are created using handmade watercolor paper, specially treated and painted to resemble leather. Each two-page spread features a vaguely "Plains style" shirt, with horses running over and through it.
This lovely picture-book by Ojibway artist and author Leo Yerxa really doesn't have much of a story to it, and I have a hard time imagining that young children will be interested in the minimal text. The illustrations, on the other hand, are simply beautiful, and readers young and old will enjoy poring over them - I know I did. I also appreciated Yerxa's brief forward, in which he makes it very clear that his book is a tribute to another culture, offering young readers a subtle lesson about the great diversity to be found amongst the native peoples of North America.
This lovely picture-book by Ojibway artist and author Leo Yerxa really doesn't have much of a story to it, and I have a hard time imagining that young children will be interested in the minimal text. The illustrations, on the other hand, are simply beautiful, and readers young and old will enjoy poring over them - I know I did. I also appreciated Yerxa's brief forward, in which he makes it very clear that his book is a tribute to another culture, offering young readers a subtle lesson about the great diversity to be found amongst the native peoples of North America.
November 12, 2015
This book, with its extraordinary illustrations, depicts the vibrant culture of the native people of the Great Plains. The pictures tell an active story with horses on every page intermixed with colorful traditional clothing with intricate patterns of the native people. The book has few words, but I feel the words are tastefully chosen to provide more movement and activity to the illustrations.
I think this book would be a great asset to preschool classrooms because the story can be told in a variety of ways. The vibrant colors in the book and on the cover make this book interesting to look at for children less familiar with reading English text. From my own experience sharing this book with a bilingual preschool child, this book has sparked exciting and fun stories about riding horses and imaginative ideas of what the horses were doing on each page of the book.
For children who read English words more fluidly and can better comprehend cultural syntax-- this book lends itself to lessons about vibrant colors, the lives and cultural traditions of the native people, and a way to show that written words are not the only way to tell a story.
I think this book would be a great asset to preschool classrooms because the story can be told in a variety of ways. The vibrant colors in the book and on the cover make this book interesting to look at for children less familiar with reading English text. From my own experience sharing this book with a bilingual preschool child, this book has sparked exciting and fun stories about riding horses and imaginative ideas of what the horses were doing on each page of the book.
For children who read English words more fluidly and can better comprehend cultural syntax-- this book lends itself to lessons about vibrant colors, the lives and cultural traditions of the native people, and a way to show that written words are not the only way to tell a story.
November 19, 2019
Ancient Thunder by Leo Yerxa brings the horses of the Great Plains to life. Yerxa's art, which gives the impression of painted leather shirts and dresses, leaps off the page as the horses leap alongside buffalo and antelope. The penultimate page shows a rider passing several tepees. The paintings and the poem from this artist of Ojibway ancestry give readers a feeling of flying freely on the back of one of those horses and an appreciation for the indigenous people who rode them. Pertinent to one's understanding of the book is Yerxa's introduction, in which he explains how his childhood idols were the native people of the Great Plains who rode horses in the movies he saw. Knowing an author's personal relationship to the subject matter makes a book more personal to me; I feel more connected to what I read than if I read a book with no context.
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2018
Yerxa is the real deal. An Ojibwe artist and storyteller who has created a work of pure magic. This one collected a slew of awards and accolades and I just love its simplicity, artistry and beauty. If you’re a parent, track this one down at the library and treat your child to a work of brilliance. I’m an Anishnaabe father, educator and champion of quality indigenous children’s literature and I wish this was around when my teenage son was young. Miigwetch
October 11, 2017
Beautiful illustrations I really wished I could touch. He made the paper look like worked leather. HOW?
August 31, 2021
Story - 3
Illustrations - 5
Illustrations - 5
November 12, 2015
This book, with its extraordinary illustrations, depicts the vibrant culture of the native people of the Great Plains. The pictures tell an active story with horses on every page intermixed with colorful traditional clothing with intricate patterns of the native people. The book has few words, but I feel the words are tastefully chosen to provide more movement and activity to the illustrations.
I think this book would be a great asset to preschool classrooms because the story can be told in a variety of ways. The vibrant colors in the book and on the cover make this book interesting to look at for children less familiar with reading English text. From my own experience sharing this book with a bilingual preschool child, this book has sparked exciting and fun stories about riding horses and imaginative ideas of what the horses were doing on each page of the book.
For children who read English words more fluidly and can better comprehend cultural syntax-- this book lends itself to lessons about vibrant colors, the lives and cultural traditions of the native people, and a way to show that written words are not the only way to tell a story.
I think this book would be a great asset to preschool classrooms because the story can be told in a variety of ways. The vibrant colors in the book and on the cover make this book interesting to look at for children less familiar with reading English text. From my own experience sharing this book with a bilingual preschool child, this book has sparked exciting and fun stories about riding horses and imaginative ideas of what the horses were doing on each page of the book.
For children who read English words more fluidly and can better comprehend cultural syntax-- this book lends itself to lessons about vibrant colors, the lives and cultural traditions of the native people, and a way to show that written words are not the only way to tell a story.
February 3, 2016
Ancient Thunder is a tale about horses told through the words and pictures of Leo Yerxa, who is a member of the Ojibway tribe. Through the story and illustrations, it is obvious to the reader that this animal (horse) is cherished or honored in the Ojibway tribe. The illustrations are captivating because Yerxa they are represented on different articles of clothing and blankets. It shows the culture of the native peoples.
Pre-school to 2nd grade teachers could use this book when talking about the different types of people who live on the North American continent. This book would also be helpful in an animal study so children were able to look at what things a horse can do.
Older students could probably use this book as an example integrating visuals with poetry.
Pre-school to 2nd grade teachers could use this book when talking about the different types of people who live on the North American continent. This book would also be helpful in an animal study so children were able to look at what things a horse can do.
Older students could probably use this book as an example integrating visuals with poetry.
October 7, 2016
Pretty to look at, not much substance.
It's a poem about horses, and how they relate to Native Americans. It's very metaphorical, and kind of spiritual. Beating the earth drum. The art is all photographs of painted watercolor paper treated to look like leather. So it looks like pictures of clothing that's been painted, which is a really strange thing. It's pretty. It's very stylized, probably intended to be in a specific Native American style. The artist is a descendant of Native Americans. Not particularly interesting. If your kid likes horses, it'd be good.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
It's a poem about horses, and how they relate to Native Americans. It's very metaphorical, and kind of spiritual. Beating the earth drum. The art is all photographs of painted watercolor paper treated to look like leather. So it looks like pictures of clothing that's been painted, which is a really strange thing. It's pretty. It's very stylized, probably intended to be in a specific Native American style. The artist is a descendant of Native Americans. Not particularly interesting. If your kid likes horses, it'd be good.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
April 23, 2012
Folktales
A Native American song set to pictures of horses using an interesting illustration technique.
This was a unique way to illustrate culture in pictures. I enjoyed the illustration and it was fun to be able to see a song of the tribe in print. The language for my family's tribe is mostly lost as are most of the meanings of the traditional songs.
A Native American song set to pictures of horses using an interesting illustration technique.
This was a unique way to illustrate culture in pictures. I enjoyed the illustration and it was fun to be able to see a song of the tribe in print. The language for my family's tribe is mostly lost as are most of the meanings of the traditional songs.
December 8, 2009
The illustrations are beautiful......
August 3, 2013
Even though the text is simple, I think older kids and adults might appreciate this book more. The art is gorgeous!
May 28, 2014
Cool art but didn't really understand the story
July 18, 2014
Beautiful pictures. I didn't really like the story.
December 8, 2016
Wild horses (along with buffalo and Plains Indians).
Read
January 15, 2017Because of very little words and beautiful images this book could be used in a variety of ways from Pre K - gr 8
Read
December 16, 2023Turn/Level: 2/1.5
Horses, Native American Heritage, Native American Author
A short poem with beautiful collages. Creator is Native American.
Horses, Native American Heritage, Native American Author
A short poem with beautiful collages. Creator is Native American.
July 19, 2010
Genre: Fiction
Format: picture book
Grade level: pre-K to early elementary
Format: picture book
Grade level: pre-K to early elementary
April 13, 2017
This book has very little text. I might consider using it for a younger group. I was investigating using it for a First Nations Storytime. It would serve that purpose. Great, great, great pictures. They could lead to a fun art activity in older age groups.
Read
September 24, 2017This book tells you a story of a horse named Ancient Thunder. Although this book does not have many words, it tells a beautiful story. The illustrations in this book are Native American pieces of art. I would use this book in my classroom to talk about different culture's art work and/or teach about multicultural stories. I would keep this book as a free read book in my classroom.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews