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Storm Maker's Tipi
In the beginning, when the Great Spirit had made the first man and woman, he told Napi who was his helper: "Stay close to Man and Woman and look after all their needs."
Man and Woman had no shelter at that time, but when Storm Maker blew the first winds of winter, they shivered, huddling close to their cooking fire. Napi knew they would need a shelter. While he was thinking about it, a yellow leaf from a cottonwood tree blew onto his head. "Yes!" he thought. "This leaf has the shape of a good shelter!"
"Look at a cottonwood leaf; you will see it is shaped like Napi's tipi."
His thunder and downpours and terrible blizzards once endangered all the children and grandchildren of first Man and first Woman. Yet legend tells of the time when Storm Maker was considerate.
Two Blackfoot hunters, Sacred Otter and his son, Morning Plume, were caught suddenly and nearly blinded on the plains by wind-driven snow. Cowering, they huddled beneath a buffalo skin and there, with his boy at his side, Sacred Otter was given a dream. Whether sleeping or awake, for he could not be sure, he saw an immense, mystic tipi -- Storm Maker's own -- and then heard a voice which changed the lives of his people from that day on.
In this book, Paul Goble tells of how tipis were first granted to the Blackfoot people and then, in a dramatic rendering of an old myth, tells of why the painted designs on tipis have come to possess their meaning and power.
Man and Woman had no shelter at that time, but when Storm Maker blew the first winds of winter, they shivered, huddling close to their cooking fire. Napi knew they would need a shelter. While he was thinking about it, a yellow leaf from a cottonwood tree blew onto his head. "Yes!" he thought. "This leaf has the shape of a good shelter!"
"Look at a cottonwood leaf; you will see it is shaped like Napi's tipi."
His thunder and downpours and terrible blizzards once endangered all the children and grandchildren of first Man and first Woman. Yet legend tells of the time when Storm Maker was considerate.
Two Blackfoot hunters, Sacred Otter and his son, Morning Plume, were caught suddenly and nearly blinded on the plains by wind-driven snow. Cowering, they huddled beneath a buffalo skin and there, with his boy at his side, Sacred Otter was given a dream. Whether sleeping or awake, for he could not be sure, he saw an immense, mystic tipi -- Storm Maker's own -- and then heard a voice which changed the lives of his people from that day on.
In this book, Paul Goble tells of how tipis were first granted to the Blackfoot people and then, in a dramatic rendering of an old myth, tells of why the painted designs on tipis have come to possess their meaning and power.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
About the author
Paul Goble
60 books102 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
August 30, 2019
This is all over the place. It is a mishmash of story and instruction, of a picture book and schematics. Some is written at the elementary level, while parts are much too advanced for that age group. It references the Blackfoot tribe, but has a Kiowa poem at the end? It is all just very confusing.
July 13, 2010
format: picture book
age: middle school
protagonists: Scared Otter and Morning Plume
Globe retells the legend of how tipis first came into the Blackfoot Indians' culture. A father and son, Scared Otter and Morning Plume, venture out to hunt buffalo and get caught in a blizzard brought upon by the spirit named Storm Maker. As father and son huddle underneath the skin of a buffalo they just killed, Scared Otter has a dream/vision which details the design of the tipi and the scared painting design of Storm Maker's tipi. Globe explains how the painted designs on tipis are visions and gifts from the spirits to the people. He includes design and building instructions for a model tipi which could be rendered into a full size tipi. The lanuage and content of this book would be great to use for middle school level children and could easily be intertwined with the study of Indian myths and/or culture. Tipi design and building could also make for a fun class project as well. The pictures are bright and seem to represent the detail and style of other Native American artwork I've seen. I gave it four stars because I felt like something was missing but just couldn't put my finger on it.
age: middle school
protagonists: Scared Otter and Morning Plume
Globe retells the legend of how tipis first came into the Blackfoot Indians' culture. A father and son, Scared Otter and Morning Plume, venture out to hunt buffalo and get caught in a blizzard brought upon by the spirit named Storm Maker. As father and son huddle underneath the skin of a buffalo they just killed, Scared Otter has a dream/vision which details the design of the tipi and the scared painting design of Storm Maker's tipi. Globe explains how the painted designs on tipis are visions and gifts from the spirits to the people. He includes design and building instructions for a model tipi which could be rendered into a full size tipi. The lanuage and content of this book would be great to use for middle school level children and could easily be intertwined with the study of Indian myths and/or culture. Tipi design and building could also make for a fun class project as well. The pictures are bright and seem to represent the detail and style of other Native American artwork I've seen. I gave it four stars because I felt like something was missing but just couldn't put my finger on it.
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October 23, 2013Paul Goble is not a member of a Native American culture, however he has done extensive research on this culture. Although the book is not authentically by a Native American, Goble brings interesting stories that have historically and cultural value. It is visible that he put thought and effort into creating his stories.
It would have been nice if the illustrations had been done by someone who can connect more with the culture. I think it would have added more authentic and accurate pictures.
I would use this book to teach about why homes are important to us, and how they protect us from the earth when we need protecting. I would also use it to teach about the symbols that appear on the on tipi's. As a child, I know that I thought that they were just funny looking signs, and that Native Americans simply like to paint a lot. However, this book tells the story of why tipi's are decorated and how it protects them from the elements of the weather.
It would have been nice if the illustrations had been done by someone who can connect more with the culture. I think it would have added more authentic and accurate pictures.
I would use this book to teach about why homes are important to us, and how they protect us from the earth when we need protecting. I would also use it to teach about the symbols that appear on the on tipi's. As a child, I know that I thought that they were just funny looking signs, and that Native Americans simply like to paint a lot. However, this book tells the story of why tipi's are decorated and how it protects them from the elements of the weather.
September 20, 2009
This book is definitely for the upper grade levels as it gives instructions to build a tipi using spatial drawings, and even with the written instruction is complicated. The book does do a great job of explaining the Native American culture and how their traditions started. I also like that midway through the book it switches from horizontal to vertical pictures and writing. It brings a more aesthetic reading with this switch. The pictures also cover most of the white space on the page, which invites the reader to study each page. It even switches mediums with drawn and real photographs, which is interesting to see if the pictures look alike. I do enjoy that Paul Gable made this book for educators with a possibly to photocopy a page for the student to make their own tipi.
April 7, 2025
Learning about the tipi was interesting. I loved the story and the art too!
September 15, 2011
Have you ever wondered how to make a tipi? Well, read this book and you will find out.
This book tells the story of how a Blackfoot leader Sacred Otter takes his son hunting, and has an encounter with Storm Bringer.
Paul Goble's illustrations capture the spirit and character of the west and of the Native people. I especially liked the image of Sacred Otter taking the Army's cavalry horses while the soldiers bathed--it made me laugh a little bit.
If you like Southwestern or Native American art, than Paul Goble's style should agree with you.
This book tells the story of how a Blackfoot leader Sacred Otter takes his son hunting, and has an encounter with Storm Bringer.
Paul Goble's illustrations capture the spirit and character of the west and of the Native people. I especially liked the image of Sacred Otter taking the Army's cavalry horses while the soldiers bathed--it made me laugh a little bit.
If you like Southwestern or Native American art, than Paul Goble's style should agree with you.
January 23, 2021
This was mentioned in my children's literature textbook as an example of detail adding depth to a story. The author did a lot of research and included intricate details in the story about how tipis are made and decorated. I felt the book was too technical in places and seemed more like a how-to book. The plot was brief and jumped here and there. I don't see a little kid enjoying this book unless they are hardcore tipi enthusiasts.
April 19, 2010
I'm making a tipi! Great pattern included in book. Great illustrations.
March 27, 2015
Read this to my daughter and we enjoyed it together.
May 21, 2025
I liked how this book combined true facts about tipi-construction and building, with a legend about the history of tipis in the Siksika Indian culture. It includes a small drawing for the reader to make a tipi from paper.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews