The Summer of the Bone Horses: A Chapter Book

by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Steph Littlebird (illustrator)

A Lakota child spends a summer with grandparents at their home on the Rosebud Reservation in this young chapter book, illustrated in full-color

This charming chapter book follows a present-day Lakota child connecting with extended family, embracing new experiences, and growing up along the way.

When Eddie’s parents drive from the Black Hills to the Dakota plains to drop him off with Grandpa and Grandma High Elk, Eddie aches all over at the thought of being away from Mom and Dad for the first time.

But quickly, Eddie’s stay on the Rosebud Reservation becomes a summer that he’ll never forget as he spends his days riding horses, fishing, helping Grandma in her garden, and playing with the toy bone horses that his grandfather gave him. When his grandfather is hurt and needs medical attention, Eddie steps up and helps him get the care he needs.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Family, Realistic Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile

64 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve was born and raised on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. She was the daughter of an Episcopal priest and a Lakota Sioux mother. Sneve received her B.S. and M.Ed. in 1954 and 1969, respectively, from South Dakota State University. She has taught English in public school of South Dakota, and at the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau. Her career also includes editor at the Brevet Press in Sioux Fall, S.D. Sneve is a member of the board of directors, Native American consortium, Corporation for Public Broadcasting ; member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe; member of board of directors of United Sioux Tribes Cultural Arts; and Historiographer of the Episcopal Church of South Dakota.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quieter book for sure, but one where the importance of family shines brightly through.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly illustrated chapter book set on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota featuring Eddie and his Sioux grandparents during the summer of 1944. While his father recovers from surgery, Eddie spends much of the summer on the Reservation and discovers much about his heritage, learns to ride their horse, Buck, helps in the garden and with their animals and is key to getting his grandfather to the hospital after an accident. With its short sentences, unchallenging vocabulary, it is hard to get much depth or excitement into the story, but simply for those two reasons could be a confidence boost for some learners and with the text being somewhat simple to decode, would allow for teachers to use it for instructional purposes.

The short length, frequent illustrations, simple plot and vocabulary make this a solid choice for young readers and would be useful in small group instruction with plenty of opportunity for instruction in areas of character, story elements and prediction. Text is free of violence, sexual content and profanity.

Thanks for the signed copy at the 2025 Texas Library Association annual conference, Steph Littlebird (illustrator) and Abrams/Amulet Publishing.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Netgalley

Based on the experiences of the author’s brother in the 1940s, this short chapter book follows Eddie as he travels to the Rosebud Reservation in the Black Hills. His father is ill, so his parents drop him off for the summer with Grandma and Grandpa High Elk. He is surprised to find that his grandfather works on a nearby ranch, and enjoys the toy horses carved from cow bones that he is given to play with. He’s homesick, but slowly settles into life with his grandparents, going to church with them (where the hymnals are in Dakota), helping do laundry with a wringer washer, and playing with the bone horses, making stick corrals for them and inventing stories. When the grandfather is injured, there is a bit of excitement when Eddie has to go for the doctor, and afterwards, he and his grandfather slow down a bit, fishing and making grass whistles. When his father’s treatment is done, he returns to his regular life having been enriched by time experiencing a different kind of life.
Strengths: This is a highly illustrated, shorter book that offers a window into a different time and place. The pictures are gorgeous, with a bit of a retro feel to them, and fantastic turquoise and tan coloring that is especially effective with the outdoor scenes. We see a lot of examples of what life was like long ago; the wringer washer, the older car, dressing up to go to church, and imaginative play with simple toys. I’m a huge fan of multigenerational stories and of children spending time with grandparents.
Weaknesses: There isn’t much of a plot to the story; it’s more of a slice of life narrative.
What I really think: Younger elementary school readers will enjoy seeing how other people live. Other books to recommend to students who want to broaden their horizons include Jacobson’s Twig and Turtle, which shows life in a tiny house, Perkins’ Tiger Boy, which gives a glimpse or life in West Bengal, Atinuke’s Too Small Tola, which explores living in Lagos, and the JoJo Makoons series by Quigley and Audibert, which is one of the few early readers books with Native American characters.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book is about a young boy’s first time away from his parents. Eddie, a brown skinned boy whose family is from the Lakota tribe of South Dakota, stays with his Grandma and Grandpa High Elk on the Rosebud Reservation while his dad goes into the hospital. Initially, he is homesick, but his “lonesome ache” dissipates as his grandparents get him helping with Buck the horse, playing with Fritz the dog, as well as picking vegetables from the garden and drawing water from the well. When Grandpa gives him some bone horses to play with he is entranced. This is a toy traditionally made from bison bones, but now usually made from cow bones. Kids can fashion people and animals from the bones for imaginative play.

This short, gentle chapter book is a nice window into a “simple” way of life on the reservation. The High Elks live without electricity or running water and rely on community a great deal. There’s a bit of drama with a rattlesnake, and at the end Eddie must ride Buck alone to get help after Grandpa has an accident, but otherwise the focus is on Eddie’s day to day life with his grandparents. Straightforward narrative language in short chapters will work for kids who are newly independent readers. Vivid digital art with some block print textures does a nice job of portraying the wide spaces and simple structures of life on the reservation.

[E. The Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, historical chapter book for early readers based roughly on real event, about a boy named Eddie, who is left to stay with his grandparents on the reservation for the summer while his mom takes his dad in for surgery. Eddie has never stayed away from his parents before, and his grandparents don't have running water or electricity—but they do have a horse, which his grandfather teaches him to ride and take care of, as well as a collection of cow bones that Eddie can use as toy horses. Eddie learns how to help around the farm as well as how to get imaginative in a way that's traditional to his people as he adapts to his summer on the reserve. The story culminates in Eddie having to ride to get help when his grandfather is injured, but everyone turns out okay by the end of this book for new readers, making it ideal for 7-10 year old children.

The Summer of Bone Horses, written by American-Lakota Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve and illustrated by American Steph Littlebird, was published April 1, 2025.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eddie's rides with his parents from Black Hills to the Dakota plains to his grandparents' place on the Rosebud Reservation. When his parents leave him there so that Dad can get his surgery and recover, Eddie's heart and body ache in a way that it hasn't ached before. The days are slow and at first the month long stay seems to creep by. But with each day he spends with Grandpa and Grandma, the ache, though still there, seems to get more and more dull. When his stay comes to an end, and his parents come to pick him up, Eddie now has a familiar but new ache to deal with.

I really enjoyed this book as it really describes the grief in missing loved ones (missing them because they are far not because they have passed) very well. I love the intergenerational relationship that Eddie developes with his grandparents and the fun he has in playing with the very simple homemade toys of their time and culture. The title is perfect for the book and a super easy one to remember as well.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie's grandparents live on the Rosebud Reservation, and he and his parents often visit. But, this summer, Eddie's dad must have some surgery, so he will be staying with his grandparents. At first things are so different, they don't have electricity or running water, their hymnbooks at church are in Dakota rather than English. But soon, Grandpa brings Eddie some toys called bone horses and teaches him to ride Grandpa's horse Buck. Eddie is missing home less and less.

What a nice story about learning the old ways of your culture. The illustrations were timeless, it was not until the author's note that I became aware that Eddie's story happened over 70 years ago. I think there's a little nostalgia in all of us that would like to take us back to simpler times. There is a lot of text, but it is simply written and at just 60 pages would be appropriate for 3rd-4th grader. The characters are Sioux.

[Brian Alan S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing was so clear and gentle - it gives you the kind of feeling you get when you read a Kevin Henkes book. (Henkes is a Newbery Honor-winning author and one of my all-time favorites). But this is no Kevin Henkes book, this story is from an author who is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota). It is based on the author’s brother’s experience in 1944 on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, USA. The author was right: this story was worth telling. I love how the illustrator leaves a Note at the end. And in the end of that note, it says, “I hope this book will transport the reader and deliver them to a place where they can learn the value of community and the benefits of a simple life.” It did. And now, I have added a piece to the puzzle of my understanding of Reservations. But my question is. Why do we still have them? A possible hypothesis: it’s the only safe place for the culture to endure - so they must exist but not for its original intention.

[Sara Luchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set around 1944 and based on the experiences of the author’s brother, Eddie, this book is a rare and welcome example of historical fiction for early chapter book readers. Its slower pace is not only a pleasant change from what is typical for this age group, but also a good fit for a story set on a small ranch in the Rosebud Reservation of South Dakota. I enjoyed this little glimpse into a culture, region, and way of life I know little about, and I found the depiction of Eddie’s growing connection with his grandparents to be heartwarming and beautiful. The author also did a great job of showing the responsibilities, rhythms, and recreational activities of farm life. The book’s simple language makes it a good choice for young children or struggling readers, especially those who are interested in animals, farms, history, and Native American reservations.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie spends the summer with his grandparents on Rosebud Reservation, overcoming his homesickness learning to help around the farm. His grandfather also gives him toy horses made from cow bones, a traditional toy. Beginner/easy chapter book illustrated with aqua and tan color tones that harken back to the mid 20th century. Love Fritz the dog. Story based on author’s brother’s summer in 1944, includes a photo of his bone horses, author and illustrator notes.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this one, but I felt like the setting was a little nebulous. Reading the author's note and understanding this was set in the 1940's brought a lot of clarity for me - I wonder if young readers would be confused by that at first as well?

[Claudette Wielechowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie stays with Grandparents on the Rosebud Reservation for a few weeks in the summer while his Dad has surgery. His grandparents share their lives. His grandfather gives him the toy bone horses that he had as a child.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer of the Bone Horses is a nice, low stakes novel for beginner chapter readers. It gives the reader a glimpse of life, and few problems to overcome, but mostly demonstrates a loving family.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful—a departure from the usual madcap adventures of books written for this age market (not that I don’t love those, too).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little chapter book about life on the res for a boy staying with his grandparents for part of the summer.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oregon illustrator

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5

2026 American Indian Youth Literature Honor for Middle Grade

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been curious about this since it came out. A good read for those who enjoy slice of life stories. A boy ends up staying with his grandparents part of the summer as his father gets medical treatment. He learns about reservation life and learns responsibilities. Based on the author's brother's experiences.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - good book to add to any collection for a good family story and a strong Native American voice. Dakota language referred to - South Dakota, full color illustrations. A nice story of family with some full Color illustrations and short chapters. I good addition to library or classroom for 1st - 4th graders.

I wish the authors note was at the beginning of the book. The whole time I was wondering the time period due to the grandparents having no running water at their home in the reservation. Authors note says it is based on an experience in 1944 at Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota but story itself doesn’t mention a year so it could seem present day except for the no running water would make it seem like deep poverty in current day . The attitude the grandpa had about the grandson not needing to speak in the native tongue where he lives seems contrary to the current movement of a resurgence of the importance of teaching kids their ancestral language to keep it alive.