Sunpainters: Eclipse of the Navajo Sun

by Baje Whitethorne Sr.

Kii Leonard sits in his favorite juniper tree. While listening to the radio, Kii Leonard's grandfather, Pipi, announces that the sun has died. Kii Leonard saw a strange gloom all around him. Everywhere he looked, the deep purple and red darkness was there. Join Kii as he learns about the Naa'ach'aahii, or painters, who visit during this astronomical event of a solar eclipse.

Genres: Picture Books, Native American, Childrens, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Science

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved the metaphysical way Native Americans believe in life, being human, nature or spiritual. A story behind every event, no matter how grand or minute. This is the telling of how the Sunpainters bring color back to nature after an eclipse. Told by a grandfather to his grandson, it teaches reverence, patience and delight in the beauty just outside our door. Richly illustrated and includes a backstory to the ritual.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sun Painters is another book in my “Eclipse” collection. When using this with my class, I would:

• have students draw their own sky at the times the author provides the colors they see in the sky

• ask why the father says prayers at this time

• ask if they see a reoccurring shape/similar shape on all of the pages?

• review the information on the back pages. Even with science what do cultures often continue to do?

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique story and illustrations.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is beautiful, and the story is full of reverence and love.

[Connor S Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that tells the reader about how the Navajo people perceive solar eclipse, great way to learn about other cultures!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: traditional literature

Number of Pages: 32

Grade Level or Age: 4-8 years

Theme: traditions, Native American, eclipse

Summary: Kii Leonard loved to sit in his favorite tree all day and play on the hill. One day, his grandfather called him in because the Sun was going to die. Kii was very worried but his grandfather told him about the Naa'ach'aahii (sun painters). When the Sun dies and everything looses it's color, the painters come and restore the color to the world and then a new Sun is born.

Personal Response: Sunpainters is a retelling of a Navajo tradition that explains the events that take place during an eclipse. I think that this is a great book! It is filled with colorful pictures and factual retellings of events that take place during an eclipse.

Classroom Use: This book would be great to use in your classroom if you were going to study a solar eclipse as well as introducing a unit on Native Americans. This is a truly unique point of view that readers will gain something significant from.

[Loren Toddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Navajo artist turned illustrator. This book is not only fun to read but also look at. Awesome.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.