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Legends
Момчето, което донесе небесните цветове
Индианска легенда
„Момчето, което донесе небесните цветове“ е индианска легенда, преразказана от Ал. Евстратова. Това е история за едно индианско момче, което получава дар от Слънцето, помогнал му да получи ново име и да прослави племето си. Всички народи умеят да рисуват, но индианците са убедени, че четките и боите са им подарени от небето. Прочетете тази легенда, и ще се докоснете до красотата на чудните багри на пламтящия залез, на синевата на ручеите, на зеленината на тревите, на кафявите краски на безкрайните прерии...
„Момчето, което донесе небесните цветове“ е индианска легенда, преразказана от Ал. Евстратова. Това е история за едно индианско момче, което получава дар от Слънцето, помогнал му да получи ново име и да прослави племето си. Всички народи умеят да рисуват, но индианците са убедени, че четките и боите са им подарени от небето. Прочетете тази легенда, и ще се докоснете до красотата на чудните багри на пламтящия залез, на синевата на ручеите, на зеленината на тревите, на кафявите краски на безкрайните прерии...
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 1988
30 people are currently reading
1433 people want to read
About the author
Tomie dePaola
439 books896 followersTomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.
He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.
Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.
He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.
Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
October 23, 2023
Today, I learned that Indian Paintbrush is a wildflower on the hills in Wyoming. This is a legend/myth on how those flowers came to be there (and I do love a story or folktale about that.)
There was an Indian who wanted to be a warrior like everyone else, but he had the gift of an artist. During his manhood ritual he was giving the task of painting the warriors hunt and the villages stories so they would always be remembered. So, he stayed true to his task. He was also told he would paint the colors of the sky and this would be his most important work. He found the canvas and spent years looking for the right colors After a dream, he does find the colors he needs to paint the sky.
The artwork is beautiful. It's much better than Tomie usually does for his people. This is also part of a series called Legends about the legend of how some things come to be this is the 3rd book I have read in that series. I want to find the rest.
The story moved along, but there were good details. It's a great book. Nephew thought it was pretty okay. He said it wasn't too boring, were his actual words. He liked the sky. He gave it 3 stars. He told me it's not Star Wars or Harry Potter though.
There was an Indian who wanted to be a warrior like everyone else, but he had the gift of an artist. During his manhood ritual he was giving the task of painting the warriors hunt and the villages stories so they would always be remembered. So, he stayed true to his task. He was also told he would paint the colors of the sky and this would be his most important work. He found the canvas and spent years looking for the right colors After a dream, he does find the colors he needs to paint the sky.
The artwork is beautiful. It's much better than Tomie usually does for his people. This is also part of a series called Legends about the legend of how some things come to be this is the 3rd book I have read in that series. I want to find the rest.
The story moved along, but there were good details. It's a great book. Nephew thought it was pretty okay. He said it wasn't too boring, were his actual words. He liked the sky. He gave it 3 stars. He told me it's not Star Wars or Harry Potter though.
April 28, 2017
I love all of de Paola's books of legends. I especially like this one because I used to pick Indian paintbrushes when I was a kid, so I was familiar with the flower in the legend.
July 1, 2008
The "indian paintbrush" flower inspired this folktale, retold here by one of my faves, Tomie dePaola.
There is so much that I love about this book, and am excited to share with children. The message about being true to yourself and using your gifts and talents. Seeing how the boy creates canvas and brushes and paints. Seeing the products of his work and being able to explain how art was a way of preserving culture and one way that we've learned about the people who came before us.
Be sure to read the author's note in the back that share's his inspiration. Noting that this is Wyoming's state flower, this would be a great book to read with kids, before a discussion of state flowers.
There is so much that I love about this book, and am excited to share with children. The message about being true to yourself and using your gifts and talents. Seeing how the boy creates canvas and brushes and paints. Seeing the products of his work and being able to explain how art was a way of preserving culture and one way that we've learned about the people who came before us.
Be sure to read the author's note in the back that share's his inspiration. Noting that this is Wyoming's state flower, this would be a great book to read with kids, before a discussion of state flowers.
October 26, 2012
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. I loved the bright colors, and the pictures really helped me visualize the story. I thought this was a good non-fiction book, that helps students learn where the name of the indian paintbrush came from, and helps you understand some of the Native American's history. I would reccommend this book to second graders, or a teacher to do a read aloud with.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4 Little Gopher was smaller than the other young Indian boys of his Plains tribe, and although he tried hard, he could not do what the others did. The tribe's wise shaman assures him, however, that he has a different gift. As he grows up it is revealed to him in a vision that he will paint pictures of the glories of his tribe, that his own greatest work will someday be ``a picture that is as pure as the colors in the evening sky.'' As he grows older he does indeed paint the great deeds, the hunts, the visions of his tribe. But making paints to match the colors of the evening sky eludes him. One night, a voice directs him to a special vantage point where he finds brushes filled with wonderful colors. He creates at last his masterwork, and the next day the brushes have rooted and become the brilliant flowers we now call Indian Paintbrush. This book will inevitably be compared with The Legend of the Bluebonnet (Putnam, 1983), but the pivotal elements are very different. The humanity expressed in this story illustrates the value of perseverance, and of endurance of effort that will bring its reward. DePaola's softly rounded shapes and his hero's diminutive stature, downcast eyes, and sober mien breathe attitudes of acceptance, of quiet waiting, of diligent persistence. The picture of the boy gazing mutely, patiently, into the western sky is ineffably moving. And dePaola must have had a wonderful time painting the gloriously uplifting skies depicted here. Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, McKinney, Tex.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4 Little Gopher was smaller than the other young Indian boys of his Plains tribe, and although he tried hard, he could not do what the others did. The tribe's wise shaman assures him, however, that he has a different gift. As he grows up it is revealed to him in a vision that he will paint pictures of the glories of his tribe, that his own greatest work will someday be ``a picture that is as pure as the colors in the evening sky.'' As he grows older he does indeed paint the great deeds, the hunts, the visions of his tribe. But making paints to match the colors of the evening sky eludes him. One night, a voice directs him to a special vantage point where he finds brushes filled with wonderful colors. He creates at last his masterwork, and the next day the brushes have rooted and become the brilliant flowers we now call Indian Paintbrush. This book will inevitably be compared with The Legend of the Bluebonnet (Putnam, 1983), but the pivotal elements are very different. The humanity expressed in this story illustrates the value of perseverance, and of endurance of effort that will bring its reward. DePaola's softly rounded shapes and his hero's diminutive stature, downcast eyes, and sober mien breathe attitudes of acceptance, of quiet waiting, of diligent persistence. The picture of the boy gazing mutely, patiently, into the western sky is ineffably moving. And dePaola must have had a wonderful time painting the gloriously uplifting skies depicted here. Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, McKinney, Tex.
August 28, 2013
My 3 yr old twins got this for their birthday and I'm so glad they did! I had never heard of it before and it's a wonderful book! Beautiful illustrations with lots of color, tons of information about American Indians and their culture, and an engaging story that all my children got into. I also love books that have educational value and I can't wait to work this one into a history lesson plan about American Indians as well as an art lesson about blending colors to go with it, and then probably even a science lesson when we go on a nature walk to look for paintbrush flowers. My 5 yr loved this as well as my preschoolers. A wonderful addition to any children's collection!
September 14, 2022
Done with gorgeous artwork of he sunset, this story recounts the legend of how the Indian Paintbrush flower came to be. A young Native American boy dreams of being a great warrior but realizes that his gift lies in creating art. Determined to paint the sunset, he embarks on a quest to find just the right colors to create his masterpiece.
October 4, 2017
I always like a character I can relate to and emphasize, someone I can get behind and root for. The boy was the smallest in the tribe and couldn't keep up with the other boys.
I didn't understand why there was a tree with white and red stripes like a candy cane, and a feather tied to it that was white, green, and red. What bird is that from?? I've never heard of anyone painting or decorating a tree for any reason.
I loved that the author wrote he wasn't without a gift of his own. Because it's important to know that you might not be good at what everybody else is good at, but you have your own talent. He liked to paint and make toys and use the juice from berries to color rocks. The toys didn't look like toys they would have had. There was a white horse with stripes along the middle and dolls that just looked strange, like clowns. Not authentic to the culture. It was cool that the shaman told him his would path wouldn't be the same as others and that he would be remembered for a different reason.
I thought the Dream-Vision was a little odd. A young maiden and a grandpa appeared. He showed him paintbrushes and she told him he would paint a picture as beautiful as the evening sky and told him to find a white animal skin.
I liked hearing about the process of painting. He made soft brushes from animal hair and stiff brushes with horse tail hair. He got berries, flowers and rocks to crush to make paint. He used animals skins to paint on, stretching them out on frames.
There was also just a pole with the same candy came striped pattern with no branches on it, and a blue curved pole that looked like it was wilting over with feathers hanging off of the end. I've never seen anything like it and had absolutely no idea what it was for.
It was sad when Little Gopher sometimes wanted to stop painting and join the other boys in what they were doing. No one wants to do something full time and nothing else, especially when you're doing it alone. And he remembered the shaman's words that his path was different. That doesn't mean he can't do other things!
I flipped the page expecting to find out how he tackled this and read "Many months ago, he had found his pure white buckskin." What? That completely jolted me out of the story. You're telling me you couldn't have told us when he found it? That makes no sense. We needed to see him find it.
I didn't really like the element of trying to specifically find the colors of the sunset. It wasn't working for me. The illustrations were too simple and undefined, not detailed enough. It was a cute scene where there are 4 tipis at night and stars in the sky. I didn't know why he was sleeping under this tent thing, four sticks with a tarp on them. Did they even have things like that?
It was anticlimactic that the being spoke to him again and told him to go to the hill and the tools would be there. So the "paintbrushes," which looked like flowers, were literally just there in the ground and he didn't have to do anything to get them. He didn't even have to go looking for them. So much for a journey.
I know it was a reward for doing what he was supposed to for his people, but I didn't like it. So he paints this painting finally with the colors of sunset and I just didn't get it. From then on the flowers grew every spring. What kind of flowers are they? Why do they produce such brilliant color but no other flower does? It didn't add up and kept me from buying the story. There needed to be a deeper purpose than just looking to paint the sunset for me. It seemed kind of shallow or superficial or something. I couldn't really think of the right word to express it.
The author's note was necessary in clearing things up that weren't explained in the story. I got the name for the flowers. They're called Indian Paintbrush and it was nice to hear that the author was inspired as an artist and someone interested in legends of flowers and how they got their names.
It wasn't as good as I expected and I was disappointed. It started out pretty good but got worse for me as things in the story that should have been included were left out. I wanted more substance. I still can't believe we didn't get to see how he found the white skin. I assumed when I first heard that he would have to find an albino deer. I guess there's just cleaned animal skins lying around where he's from. Not okay to leave that out. And then to have these amazing paintbrushes just handed to him was a letdown. I didn't like the illustrations and I wished the legend was better.
I didn't understand why there was a tree with white and red stripes like a candy cane, and a feather tied to it that was white, green, and red. What bird is that from?? I've never heard of anyone painting or decorating a tree for any reason.
I loved that the author wrote he wasn't without a gift of his own. Because it's important to know that you might not be good at what everybody else is good at, but you have your own talent. He liked to paint and make toys and use the juice from berries to color rocks. The toys didn't look like toys they would have had. There was a white horse with stripes along the middle and dolls that just looked strange, like clowns. Not authentic to the culture. It was cool that the shaman told him his would path wouldn't be the same as others and that he would be remembered for a different reason.
I thought the Dream-Vision was a little odd. A young maiden and a grandpa appeared. He showed him paintbrushes and she told him he would paint a picture as beautiful as the evening sky and told him to find a white animal skin.
I liked hearing about the process of painting. He made soft brushes from animal hair and stiff brushes with horse tail hair. He got berries, flowers and rocks to crush to make paint. He used animals skins to paint on, stretching them out on frames.
There was also just a pole with the same candy came striped pattern with no branches on it, and a blue curved pole that looked like it was wilting over with feathers hanging off of the end. I've never seen anything like it and had absolutely no idea what it was for.
It was sad when Little Gopher sometimes wanted to stop painting and join the other boys in what they were doing. No one wants to do something full time and nothing else, especially when you're doing it alone. And he remembered the shaman's words that his path was different. That doesn't mean he can't do other things!
I flipped the page expecting to find out how he tackled this and read "Many months ago, he had found his pure white buckskin." What? That completely jolted me out of the story. You're telling me you couldn't have told us when he found it? That makes no sense. We needed to see him find it.
I didn't really like the element of trying to specifically find the colors of the sunset. It wasn't working for me. The illustrations were too simple and undefined, not detailed enough. It was a cute scene where there are 4 tipis at night and stars in the sky. I didn't know why he was sleeping under this tent thing, four sticks with a tarp on them. Did they even have things like that?
It was anticlimactic that the being spoke to him again and told him to go to the hill and the tools would be there. So the "paintbrushes," which looked like flowers, were literally just there in the ground and he didn't have to do anything to get them. He didn't even have to go looking for them. So much for a journey.
I know it was a reward for doing what he was supposed to for his people, but I didn't like it. So he paints this painting finally with the colors of sunset and I just didn't get it. From then on the flowers grew every spring. What kind of flowers are they? Why do they produce such brilliant color but no other flower does? It didn't add up and kept me from buying the story. There needed to be a deeper purpose than just looking to paint the sunset for me. It seemed kind of shallow or superficial or something. I couldn't really think of the right word to express it.
The author's note was necessary in clearing things up that weren't explained in the story. I got the name for the flowers. They're called Indian Paintbrush and it was nice to hear that the author was inspired as an artist and someone interested in legends of flowers and how they got their names.
It wasn't as good as I expected and I was disappointed. It started out pretty good but got worse for me as things in the story that should have been included were left out. I wanted more substance. I still can't believe we didn't get to see how he found the white skin. I assumed when I first heard that he would have to find an albino deer. I guess there's just cleaned animal skins lying around where he's from. Not okay to leave that out. And then to have these amazing paintbrushes just handed to him was a letdown. I didn't like the illustrations and I wished the legend was better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2012
This story is a folk tale describing the beautiful flowers called Indian Paintbrushes. The legend follows a young boy named Little Gopher who is not as big or strong as any of the other boys and can never keep up with them no matter how hard he tried. One night, his Dream-Vision came to him and told him that he was to be a painter and would give back to the people that way. Little Gopher was a little disappointed that he would not be a warrior like the other boys, but he stayed true to his Dream-Vision and became a painter. The figures in his vision told him to look for the whitest buckskin and the brightest paints to paint a picture as bright as the sunset. He could never find colors bright enough, but one night a voice told him that he would find the paints atop the hill because he had been faithful to his people. There he found paintbrushes with all of the bright colors he needed on them and he painted his sunset. The next morning where he had laid his paintbrushes, there were beautiful bright flowers popping up everywhere which is how people remembered his great contribution long after he was gone.
This is a great way to incorporate legends and Native American culture into the classroom. This was always a subject I enjoyed in the classroom, and bringing a book like this into the lesson would have definitely helped me enjoy it even more. The story is also a great way to teach students that even though they may not have all the same talents and abilities as their peers, there is still something great they will be able to do to contribute. Students will also see the importance of hard work and how it will pay off in the long run. Tomie dePaola does an amazing job of illustrating the story in his always unique way. I loved his illustrations as a child and continue to favor them over a lot of other illustrators today because they are familiar to me. I feel that students today will feel the same way when reading his books today.
This is a great way to incorporate legends and Native American culture into the classroom. This was always a subject I enjoyed in the classroom, and bringing a book like this into the lesson would have definitely helped me enjoy it even more. The story is also a great way to teach students that even though they may not have all the same talents and abilities as their peers, there is still something great they will be able to do to contribute. Students will also see the importance of hard work and how it will pay off in the long run. Tomie dePaola does an amazing job of illustrating the story in his always unique way. I loved his illustrations as a child and continue to favor them over a lot of other illustrators today because they are familiar to me. I feel that students today will feel the same way when reading his books today.
May 1, 2014
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush is a folktale for children’s aged 4 -8. This folktale is the story of how the flower, the indian paintbrush, came to be. It tells of a young boy called Little Gopher who longs to be one of the warriors of his people, but who is told by his shaman, and in a dream vision, that his gift lies elsewhere. He is told that he must paint pictures to record the stories and battles of his people, and his great painting will be the colors of the sunset. He is unable to find those colors, but is patient and never abandons his task. He is rewarded with a gift of beautiful paintbrushes that he uses, and leaves on the ground. They take root, creating the beautiful flower, and Little Gopher becomes He Who Brought The Sunset to Earth. I give this story 4 stars. Children will enjoy it, the pictures are beautiful and detailed, and the text is easy to understand. This story also gives wonderful lessons of patience and self-acceptance. Even though Little gopher wishes he were as big as the other boys, and that he had their gifts that make them great warriors, he is patient and uses the gifts that he has. Those gifts become the record of his people, and his steadfastness and loyalty allow him to create the artwork that was literally in his dreams. He has blessed his people, will always remembered for bringing the beautiful flowers to earth. Learning to accept the gifts and talents that you have, and doing wonderful things with them, is a lesson that so many children can learn from and embrace, and this is a great story to do just that.
September 14, 2016
• The legend of the Indian paintbrush is the story of a young boy who is different from the rest of the boys in his tribe, he cannot go out with them to wrestle and run, he just cannot keep up. He does not let this keep him down. He spends his time making small soldiers out of found materials and painting small rocks. When the boy grew older he has a dream-vision that he would be a hero by documenting the stories of the tribe with paint, great hunts and other dream-visions. He will paint his dream-vision when the time is right.
• This book would be good for 1st – 3rd grade students
• This book can be used in the classroom to talk about the culture of Native Americans during an American history class.
• Individual students who may benefit from this book are students that may not know a lot about Native Americans but want to learn more. Native American students would like to see their culture represented in the classroom.
• This story can be used in small groups wherein students work together to write a story and paint a picture to represent the story they have made.
• This could be used in an art class to talk about different styles of art and how different cultures used different ways of recording what was important to them. Students could also discuss how to make paint out of things found in nature. They teacher could bring in materials from nature to make pain out of with students.
• This book is distributed by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This book is also available as an e book.
• This book would be good for 1st – 3rd grade students
• This book can be used in the classroom to talk about the culture of Native Americans during an American history class.
• Individual students who may benefit from this book are students that may not know a lot about Native Americans but want to learn more. Native American students would like to see their culture represented in the classroom.
• This story can be used in small groups wherein students work together to write a story and paint a picture to represent the story they have made.
• This could be used in an art class to talk about different styles of art and how different cultures used different ways of recording what was important to them. Students could also discuss how to make paint out of things found in nature. They teacher could bring in materials from nature to make pain out of with students.
• This book is distributed by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This book is also available as an e book.
August 18, 2017
This Native American legend is retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. It is a fantastic example of folklore from the Plains Native Americans. The attended audience of this book is children from the ages 4-9.
This legend is told about a boy named Little Gopher who was not like the other warrior boys in his tribe. Luckily the shaman of the tribe recognized he was special and knows he will be remembered for his talents as an artist. The boy grows up to be the artist for the tribe and has a dream-vision. He completes his vision by finding the colors of the sunset. Beautiful flowers now come each spring that represent the color he found. He is renamed, "He-Who-Brought-the Sunset-to-the-Earth."
This story is great to use when teaching that we all have different talents. I also enjoy that it is told in a Native American story telling tradition. The colors and illustrations in this book are also beautiful. I especially like the illustrations of the sunset.
This story could be used in conjunction with an art class. Students could create their own Native American pieces of art. The students could also research how early canvas was made from animal skins and how the early paints were made. Each child could then create their own story on a piece of parchment paper with paints. They could explain their own "dream visions".
This legend is told about a boy named Little Gopher who was not like the other warrior boys in his tribe. Luckily the shaman of the tribe recognized he was special and knows he will be remembered for his talents as an artist. The boy grows up to be the artist for the tribe and has a dream-vision. He completes his vision by finding the colors of the sunset. Beautiful flowers now come each spring that represent the color he found. He is renamed, "He-Who-Brought-the Sunset-to-the-Earth."
This story is great to use when teaching that we all have different talents. I also enjoy that it is told in a Native American story telling tradition. The colors and illustrations in this book are also beautiful. I especially like the illustrations of the sunset.
This story could be used in conjunction with an art class. Students could create their own Native American pieces of art. The students could also research how early canvas was made from animal skins and how the early paints were made. Each child could then create their own story on a piece of parchment paper with paints. They could explain their own "dream visions".
November 15, 2010
This is a great story but due to it's length it is sometimes a hard book to get kindergartners through. I used this book as the introduction to a writing activity, in which students drew their own pictures or pictographs on animal skin (brown paper bag). It is a great story that can be used to compare Native Americans to children now, as well as talk about students special talents. This book is full of teaching opportunities, but would probably be more appreciated and understood with older children! I do think that with the necessary support this was a successful read aloud and writing activity.
September 30, 2008
Part explanation for the beautiful western Indian Paintbrush wildflower and part inspiration story for children with special talents and gifts, as usual dePaola creates a lovely, readble gem which is fun for snuggling on the couch with a (grand)child or suitable for classroom instruction. His appealing pictures, and sweet, simple stories always cheer and move me. As usual, there is an author's note at the back of the book which gives curious adults like me just a little bit more info in case I have the time or inclination to find out more. ☺
February 4, 2014
This book was an Indian Legend about an Indian who had a unique talent to paint, and with the help of a goddess, was rewarded with bright colored flowers that blossomed all over the town every year because of him following the Goddess' word. This is good in the classroom because it shows that everyone has a skill, and shouldn't want to do stuff because other people are good at it. The painting goes along with the culture, and shows stuff like the Indian Boy painting on animal skin, like it was in the past.
January 15, 2020
I read this book in connection with training to become a docent at the Rockwell Museum. The kindergarten classes in our district will be using the book and then visiting the Museum to explore Native American life. The illustrations are beautiful and connect very closely with some of the exhibits we will be exploring.
March 4, 2012
Beautifully illustrated, of course, but the story was lacking. Little Gopher is true to his gift. Consistently so. All the time. And then some more. Conflict is suggested, but never dramatized or fleshed out, so the tale is rather static.
January 25, 2016
Індіанці кажуть: "Наді мною — краса, піді мною — краса. І коли я залишу тіло — я також піду стежкою краси."
October 2, 2017
I wondered which tribe this was about, and would prefer authors say in the beginning of the bk.
When the People traveled the Plains, and lived in a circle of teepees, there was a boy who was smaller than the rest. He couldn't keep up with them when they rode, ran, shot their bows, and wrestled to prove their strength.
The boy, Little Gopher, was gifted though. He made toy warriors from leather and wood, and loved to decorate smooth stones with red juices from berries he found in the hills.
The shaman understood that Little Gopher had a special gift. He told him his path wouldn't be the same as other boys. They would grow to be warriors, but his place among the People would be remembered for another reason.
When he was older, he went out to the hills alone to think about becoming a man, which was customary of the tribe. A Dream-Vision came to him.
The sky filled with clouds and through them a young Indian maiden and an old grandfather carrying a rolled-up animal skin, and a brush made of animal hairs and pots of paints.
They looked like spirits in the drawing, I would have liked to see them holding the scroll and paints, too. They have their hands open, but they aren't carrying anything.
The grandfather said he will become great among his people. He will paint pics of the deeds of the warriors, and the shamans' visions, and the People will remember them forever.
The maiden unrolled a pure white buckskin, telling him to find one as white as this, and one day he would paint a picture that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky.
The clouds parted, and the beauty of sunset filled the sky. The white buckskin was full of colors as bright and beautiful as the setting sun.
The day after his Dream-Vision, he started to make soft brushes from the hairs of dif animals, and stuff brushes from horse hair. He for berries and flowers and rocks to make paints.
It's funny I thought they were giving him the scroll, brushes, and paint!
Not that he'd have to do it on his own!
He got skins of animals that the warriors brought home for their hunts. He stretched he skins on wooden frames and pulled them tight.
He painted pictures of great hunts.
I like in his picture how the warriors have dif colored fringe on their leggings, but they look like kids, not adults.
He painted great deeds. It was hard to tell what the deeds are from the drawings. There's a pic of buffalo with arrows in it, which was like the painting of great hunts. Then there were 5 Indians standing in a row, one on horseback holding something circular, one leaning back with a lance against an invisible foe, one holding something in each hand. And then there's designs just floating on the skin.
He also painted Dream-Visions, so the People would always remember.
Even as he painted, he would long to put his brushes aside and ride out with the warriors. He would remember his Dream-Vision and he wouldn't go with them.
I couldn't believe he said 'many months ago, he had found his pure white buckskin, but it remained empty because he could not find the colors of the sunset.' I thought it would show him looking for the white buckskin. I assume it came from an albino deer. That could have been a journey on it's own, finding the buckskin. Since it was a part of his Dream-Vision, I'm surprised the author would choose to reference it in the past, that he had already found it.
He couldn't find the colors of the sunset, even though he used the brightest flowers, reddest berries, and deepest purples from the rocks, they came out dull and dark.
He would go to the top of a hill each evening, looking at the colors of sunset and trying to figure out how to make them. He wished to share the beauty of his Dream-Vision with the People.
He never gave up trying, and each morning he would paint, creating stories of the People.
One night he heard a voice calling to him, "Because you have been faithful to the People and true to your gift, you shall find the colors you are seeking."
It was odd he was laying under this open pyre looking thing, while the others are in teepees. He looks young enough to be with his family still.
It told him to go to the place he watched the sunset with the white buckskin and he'd find what he needed.
I'm surprised that instead of berries, and rocks, there were literally brushes sticking out of the ground with paint already on them. How can he paint sunset colors again?
He takes them and quickly paired the color of the sunset.
As sunset faded, he looked at his buckskin and was happy. He had found the colors of sunset. He carried his painting down to the people, leaving the brushes behind.
I'm surprised he left the brushes.
It was a total surprise that the next day the hill was dotted with color. The brushes had taken root in the earth and turned into plants of reds, oranges, and yellows. Every spring after, the hills burst into bloom.
Every spring the People danced and sang praises of Little Gopher who had painted for the People. I'm surprised it skipped time like that, because I thought Little Gopher was heading back to show everyone his painting. We didn't even get to see it! That was a huge oversight right there.
They no longer called him Little Gopher, but He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth.
That's amazing Indian Paintbrush blooms are found throughout Wyoming, Texas, and the high plains.
It was nice finding out what inspired the author to write this, that she loves legends, and was drawn to the legend of the paintbrush, because she's also an artist. I think the part where she said
she wishes she could go out on a hill and find brushes already filled with paint.
It's also neat when an author also illustrates their own books, which I've seen a lot.
This was an ok story. I thought it could have used a little more. It was a huge oversight not to include him finding the white deerskin, and even more so not showing us his finished painting, which was what the whole story was about. He should have shown it to his people, and we could see them exclaim over it. Actually, it would have been nice seeing him show them the paintings of their great deeds, and dreams.
I did notice a little lesson for the kids in here, not to give up. Like when he began painting for his people, but still longed to be a warrior, and he'd remember his Dream-Vision, and how he would try to paint the sunset, but couldn't capture the colors. He never gave up trying, though, and eventually he heard a voice telling him he would find what he needed. He ended up fulfilling his Dream-Vision, and I think kids will learn that no matter how long it takes, keep trying and don't give up on what they want.
When the People traveled the Plains, and lived in a circle of teepees, there was a boy who was smaller than the rest. He couldn't keep up with them when they rode, ran, shot their bows, and wrestled to prove their strength.
The boy, Little Gopher, was gifted though. He made toy warriors from leather and wood, and loved to decorate smooth stones with red juices from berries he found in the hills.
The shaman understood that Little Gopher had a special gift. He told him his path wouldn't be the same as other boys. They would grow to be warriors, but his place among the People would be remembered for another reason.
When he was older, he went out to the hills alone to think about becoming a man, which was customary of the tribe. A Dream-Vision came to him.
The sky filled with clouds and through them a young Indian maiden and an old grandfather carrying a rolled-up animal skin, and a brush made of animal hairs and pots of paints.
They looked like spirits in the drawing, I would have liked to see them holding the scroll and paints, too. They have their hands open, but they aren't carrying anything.
The grandfather said he will become great among his people. He will paint pics of the deeds of the warriors, and the shamans' visions, and the People will remember them forever.
The maiden unrolled a pure white buckskin, telling him to find one as white as this, and one day he would paint a picture that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky.
The clouds parted, and the beauty of sunset filled the sky. The white buckskin was full of colors as bright and beautiful as the setting sun.
The day after his Dream-Vision, he started to make soft brushes from the hairs of dif animals, and stuff brushes from horse hair. He for berries and flowers and rocks to make paints.
It's funny I thought they were giving him the scroll, brushes, and paint!
Not that he'd have to do it on his own!
He got skins of animals that the warriors brought home for their hunts. He stretched he skins on wooden frames and pulled them tight.
He painted pictures of great hunts.
I like in his picture how the warriors have dif colored fringe on their leggings, but they look like kids, not adults.
He painted great deeds. It was hard to tell what the deeds are from the drawings. There's a pic of buffalo with arrows in it, which was like the painting of great hunts. Then there were 5 Indians standing in a row, one on horseback holding something circular, one leaning back with a lance against an invisible foe, one holding something in each hand. And then there's designs just floating on the skin.
He also painted Dream-Visions, so the People would always remember.
Even as he painted, he would long to put his brushes aside and ride out with the warriors. He would remember his Dream-Vision and he wouldn't go with them.
I couldn't believe he said 'many months ago, he had found his pure white buckskin, but it remained empty because he could not find the colors of the sunset.' I thought it would show him looking for the white buckskin. I assume it came from an albino deer. That could have been a journey on it's own, finding the buckskin. Since it was a part of his Dream-Vision, I'm surprised the author would choose to reference it in the past, that he had already found it.
He couldn't find the colors of the sunset, even though he used the brightest flowers, reddest berries, and deepest purples from the rocks, they came out dull and dark.
He would go to the top of a hill each evening, looking at the colors of sunset and trying to figure out how to make them. He wished to share the beauty of his Dream-Vision with the People.
He never gave up trying, and each morning he would paint, creating stories of the People.
One night he heard a voice calling to him, "Because you have been faithful to the People and true to your gift, you shall find the colors you are seeking."
It was odd he was laying under this open pyre looking thing, while the others are in teepees. He looks young enough to be with his family still.
It told him to go to the place he watched the sunset with the white buckskin and he'd find what he needed.
I'm surprised that instead of berries, and rocks, there were literally brushes sticking out of the ground with paint already on them. How can he paint sunset colors again?
He takes them and quickly paired the color of the sunset.
As sunset faded, he looked at his buckskin and was happy. He had found the colors of sunset. He carried his painting down to the people, leaving the brushes behind.
I'm surprised he left the brushes.
It was a total surprise that the next day the hill was dotted with color. The brushes had taken root in the earth and turned into plants of reds, oranges, and yellows. Every spring after, the hills burst into bloom.
Every spring the People danced and sang praises of Little Gopher who had painted for the People. I'm surprised it skipped time like that, because I thought Little Gopher was heading back to show everyone his painting. We didn't even get to see it! That was a huge oversight right there.
They no longer called him Little Gopher, but He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth.
That's amazing Indian Paintbrush blooms are found throughout Wyoming, Texas, and the high plains.
It was nice finding out what inspired the author to write this, that she loves legends, and was drawn to the legend of the paintbrush, because she's also an artist. I think the part where she said
she wishes she could go out on a hill and find brushes already filled with paint.
It's also neat when an author also illustrates their own books, which I've seen a lot.
This was an ok story. I thought it could have used a little more. It was a huge oversight not to include him finding the white deerskin, and even more so not showing us his finished painting, which was what the whole story was about. He should have shown it to his people, and we could see them exclaim over it. Actually, it would have been nice seeing him show them the paintings of their great deeds, and dreams.
I did notice a little lesson for the kids in here, not to give up. Like when he began painting for his people, but still longed to be a warrior, and he'd remember his Dream-Vision, and how he would try to paint the sunset, but couldn't capture the colors. He never gave up trying, though, and eventually he heard a voice telling him he would find what he needed. He ended up fulfilling his Dream-Vision, and I think kids will learn that no matter how long it takes, keep trying and don't give up on what they want.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2017
Title: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: N/A
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Painting, warriors, Native Americans,
Opening line/sentence: Many years ago when the People traveled the Plains and lived in a circle of teepees, there was a boy who was smaller than the rest of the children in the tribe.
Brief Book Summary: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush follows Little Gopher, who struggles with being the smallest in the tribe, and lacks the warrior skills those around him possess, despite having other skills. When a dream-vision comes to him, he is given paint, a paint brush, and animal skin and was told that he was to paint warrior’s accomplishments so that they would always be remembered. He was also given a white buckskin to create something great, but he could not find the perfect colors of the sunset. Finally, he heard a voice telling him that he has done well for his people and would be given the colors of the sunset, at which point he painted his picture, and the paintbrushes grew into beautiful flower.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Publishers Weekly: In this companion to The Legend of the Bluebonnet, Little Gopher is smaller than the rest of the children in his tribe and can't keep up with those who ride, run, wrestle or shoot with bows and arrows. But, he has a talent of his ownhe is an artist. When he grows older, a Dream-Vision comes to him: a young Indian maiden and her grandfather tell him that he will paint pictures of the great warriors with colors as pure as the evening sky. Little Gopher's paintings never satisfy him because the colors are dull and dark, but he keeps trying. In the night, a voice tells him how to find paint-filled brushes; Little Gopher locates them, and they become brilliantly colored flowers known as Indian Paintbrush. This tale is related with deceptive simplicity by dePaola; he enhances the plainness of the story with his primitive illustrations, and, like Little Gopher, he finds inspiration in the colors of the sunset.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Kirkus Review: Little Gopher can't keep up with the other Indian boys; he prefers making and decorating small figures. When it's his turn to go out into the hills "to think about being a man," a vision tells him to become a painter, using colors "as pure as. . .the evening sky." But though he works hard, Little Gopher is dissatisfied with his dull, dark paintings. Patiently, he gazes at the sunset each evening till at last he is rewarded: brushes with sunset colors spring up for his use, returning next day--and each spring thereafter--as flowers. In a full-page note, dePaola traces this story to Texas Wildflowers, Stories and Legends, a collection of newspaper articles by Ruth D. Isely--which doesn't really give much clue to its Native American source. The retelling is pleasantly cadenced, even though it tells us more about the artist's need for serf-expression within any society than about Plains Indians. And dePaola's somber tones burst forth into satisfyingly brilliant sunsets. This should do well at picture-book tour.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: One review pointed out how the story really focuses more on the boy’s story rather than the Indians and their culture/society, and while this is okay, I think it had more potential to connect and bring in their culture as well. Realizing this, I can also understand what the other review says about the story being “deceptively simple”, as the boy really just paints until he has his dream-visions. I agree with how they both commented on the use of color, how the sky is so colorful and the boy’s paintings relatively dull until he is finally given the colors of the sunset.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: While I definitely see the conflict in the book, I do not think it feels very pressing as it could have been. In the beginning, the boy seems very upset about not being a warrior like the the other boys, but the shaman telling him that he has his own great gifts and is completely accepted take away the conflict. Following this, he struggles to find the colors of the sunset but does not seem to work very hard to find them and is then just randomly given them. The ending is satisfying as his colors finally become more colorful, and the unexpected flowers add an extra happy ending.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would be great as a mentor text to discuss genres such as legends and myths and why they exist when science proves things to be otherwise, and how there is a place for both. Legends were often created to explain things that people did not understand at the time, and children will likely think that it is really cool that these stories were used to explain phenomenon, as I know I did. To expand off of this further, students could be asked to write their own legend where they can think of a creative way to explain things that happen in nature.
Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: N/A
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Painting, warriors, Native Americans,
Opening line/sentence: Many years ago when the People traveled the Plains and lived in a circle of teepees, there was a boy who was smaller than the rest of the children in the tribe.
Brief Book Summary: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush follows Little Gopher, who struggles with being the smallest in the tribe, and lacks the warrior skills those around him possess, despite having other skills. When a dream-vision comes to him, he is given paint, a paint brush, and animal skin and was told that he was to paint warrior’s accomplishments so that they would always be remembered. He was also given a white buckskin to create something great, but he could not find the perfect colors of the sunset. Finally, he heard a voice telling him that he has done well for his people and would be given the colors of the sunset, at which point he painted his picture, and the paintbrushes grew into beautiful flower.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Publishers Weekly: In this companion to The Legend of the Bluebonnet, Little Gopher is smaller than the rest of the children in his tribe and can't keep up with those who ride, run, wrestle or shoot with bows and arrows. But, he has a talent of his ownhe is an artist. When he grows older, a Dream-Vision comes to him: a young Indian maiden and her grandfather tell him that he will paint pictures of the great warriors with colors as pure as the evening sky. Little Gopher's paintings never satisfy him because the colors are dull and dark, but he keeps trying. In the night, a voice tells him how to find paint-filled brushes; Little Gopher locates them, and they become brilliantly colored flowers known as Indian Paintbrush. This tale is related with deceptive simplicity by dePaola; he enhances the plainness of the story with his primitive illustrations, and, like Little Gopher, he finds inspiration in the colors of the sunset.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Kirkus Review: Little Gopher can't keep up with the other Indian boys; he prefers making and decorating small figures. When it's his turn to go out into the hills "to think about being a man," a vision tells him to become a painter, using colors "as pure as. . .the evening sky." But though he works hard, Little Gopher is dissatisfied with his dull, dark paintings. Patiently, he gazes at the sunset each evening till at last he is rewarded: brushes with sunset colors spring up for his use, returning next day--and each spring thereafter--as flowers. In a full-page note, dePaola traces this story to Texas Wildflowers, Stories and Legends, a collection of newspaper articles by Ruth D. Isely--which doesn't really give much clue to its Native American source. The retelling is pleasantly cadenced, even though it tells us more about the artist's need for serf-expression within any society than about Plains Indians. And dePaola's somber tones burst forth into satisfyingly brilliant sunsets. This should do well at picture-book tour.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: One review pointed out how the story really focuses more on the boy’s story rather than the Indians and their culture/society, and while this is okay, I think it had more potential to connect and bring in their culture as well. Realizing this, I can also understand what the other review says about the story being “deceptively simple”, as the boy really just paints until he has his dream-visions. I agree with how they both commented on the use of color, how the sky is so colorful and the boy’s paintings relatively dull until he is finally given the colors of the sunset.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: While I definitely see the conflict in the book, I do not think it feels very pressing as it could have been. In the beginning, the boy seems very upset about not being a warrior like the the other boys, but the shaman telling him that he has his own great gifts and is completely accepted take away the conflict. Following this, he struggles to find the colors of the sunset but does not seem to work very hard to find them and is then just randomly given them. The ending is satisfying as his colors finally become more colorful, and the unexpected flowers add an extra happy ending.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would be great as a mentor text to discuss genres such as legends and myths and why they exist when science proves things to be otherwise, and how there is a place for both. Legends were often created to explain things that people did not understand at the time, and children will likely think that it is really cool that these stories were used to explain phenomenon, as I know I did. To expand off of this further, students could be asked to write their own legend where they can think of a creative way to explain things that happen in nature.
February 9, 2024
Just last week I was telling 7yo that we should read native legends and stories written by Native Americans. I made an exception for Tomie dePaola, and his illustrations are of course gorgeous, and his story straightforward as they always are. But the author's note thanking a whole bunch of white people and crediting an article about Texas wildflowers as the source material made me regret it.
October 28, 2017
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie DePaola is the story of a young Native American boy who was unlike any of the other children in his tribe. Instead of learning how to hunt and fight like other boys his age, Little Gopher was gifted in art. At first he felt as though he had nothing of value to offer his tribe until he was given a vision that he would one day be a renowned painter and have the special task of capturing the sunset. He made a canvas from animal skin, paintbrushes from horses’ tails, and paints from crushed berries and rocks. Though he worked and worked at his canvas, he couldn’t seem to capture the beauty of the sunset in his painting. One night, Little Gopher discovered brushes lying on top of a high hill covered in beautiful colors of red, yellow, and orange. He used these brushes to make the most beautiful painting for his tribe. In the morning, the whole tribe awoke to find the used paintbrushes had taken root in the ground and had sprung up into a field of red, yellow, and orange plants. These plants returned every spring, as a reminder of the special gift Little Gopher gave to his tribe.
This is a “wow” book for me because there are many valuable lessons students can take away from it. First of all, student can learn that each person has different skills and talents that make them special. Many students could relate to Little Gopher’s struggle, when the narrator says, “no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep up with the other boys.” Students can identify the change that happened in Little Gopher when he realized that he ought to pursue his own gifting instead of trying so hard to be like the others. Another valuable lesson that is conveyed in this legend is the importance of persistence and determination. Little Gopher worked for many long days and nights to create beautiful artwork, and he didn’t settle for less than his best. At this part of the story, I would point out to my students how sometimes you must work hard and long at something to attain excellence. It is lessons like these that add a depth of quality to this book!
I would recommend this book for first grade and up, and it aligns really well with our social studies curriculum for second grade. My students have been learning all about Native Americans, and this book provides some great information, especially when it talks about the way Native Americans made paint, canvases, and paintbrushes. I think this book would be a great introduction to the genre of folklore, as well!
This is a “wow” book for me because there are many valuable lessons students can take away from it. First of all, student can learn that each person has different skills and talents that make them special. Many students could relate to Little Gopher’s struggle, when the narrator says, “no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep up with the other boys.” Students can identify the change that happened in Little Gopher when he realized that he ought to pursue his own gifting instead of trying so hard to be like the others. Another valuable lesson that is conveyed in this legend is the importance of persistence and determination. Little Gopher worked for many long days and nights to create beautiful artwork, and he didn’t settle for less than his best. At this part of the story, I would point out to my students how sometimes you must work hard and long at something to attain excellence. It is lessons like these that add a depth of quality to this book!
I would recommend this book for first grade and up, and it aligns really well with our social studies curriculum for second grade. My students have been learning all about Native Americans, and this book provides some great information, especially when it talks about the way Native Americans made paint, canvases, and paintbrushes. I think this book would be a great introduction to the genre of folklore, as well!
June 22, 2020
Few picture book authors, if any, can compare with Tomie dePaola's style in relating old legends from cultures all over the world.
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush is similar in many ways to another of Tomie dePaola's books, The Legend of the Bluebonnet. Both tales are told with wonderful depth and respect for the peoples from which they were derived. The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush relates the story of a young Indian boy named Little Gopher who grows up feeling different from his peers, a situation that will be easily empathized with by a great number of young readers. Little Gopher longs not to be transformed into a brave warrior but rather to contribute to his people's culture via the creation of beautiful works of art. As he comes to accept that his destiny is different from that of his friends, his tenacity is rewarded by a unique miracle that continues to bring blessings to us all even today.
I would most definitely recommend this spare, lovely tale from supremely skilled writer Tomie dePaola. Anyone who, like Little Gopher, has felt devalued for not measuring up to the expectations of those around them will find The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush to be an inspirational story, for sure.
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush is similar in many ways to another of Tomie dePaola's books, The Legend of the Bluebonnet. Both tales are told with wonderful depth and respect for the peoples from which they were derived. The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush relates the story of a young Indian boy named Little Gopher who grows up feeling different from his peers, a situation that will be easily empathized with by a great number of young readers. Little Gopher longs not to be transformed into a brave warrior but rather to contribute to his people's culture via the creation of beautiful works of art. As he comes to accept that his destiny is different from that of his friends, his tenacity is rewarded by a unique miracle that continues to bring blessings to us all even today.
I would most definitely recommend this spare, lovely tale from supremely skilled writer Tomie dePaola. Anyone who, like Little Gopher, has felt devalued for not measuring up to the expectations of those around them will find The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush to be an inspirational story, for sure.
October 24, 2017
Summary: This book is about a Native American boy who was smaller than the other children in his tribe. Because of this, he could not keep up with and participate in the activities with them often times. The little boy found other things to keep him busy by creating things. One day he had a vision about painting and from then on he practiced and became a great artist who loved to paint the sunset.
Evaluation: I enjoyed this book and thought it was a cute story to read. This book could be read to students at any elementary age or students could read by themselves typically in 4th or 5th grade as it is at this star reading level. The illustrations in the book line up well with the story and provides students a good visual that helps them better interpret the story. I would recommend this book be used in the classroom!
Teaching: I would use this book in a social studies classroom. I think it would be a great way to start a discussion on the Native American cultures. I could also use this book as one students could read in a center as a way to explore different cultures. After having student develop thoughts about different cultures, I could have them come together and discuss the similarities and differences.
Evaluation: I enjoyed this book and thought it was a cute story to read. This book could be read to students at any elementary age or students could read by themselves typically in 4th or 5th grade as it is at this star reading level. The illustrations in the book line up well with the story and provides students a good visual that helps them better interpret the story. I would recommend this book be used in the classroom!
Teaching: I would use this book in a social studies classroom. I think it would be a great way to start a discussion on the Native American cultures. I could also use this book as one students could read in a center as a way to explore different cultures. After having student develop thoughts about different cultures, I could have them come together and discuss the similarities and differences.
April 8, 2020
I remember this one from my childhood. After we finished reading it my 3.5-year-old (AppleBlossom) went on to tell me how she was going to capture the colors of the sunset on paper. (2013)
This morning (2020) while reading Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, we finished reading the A-Leafing chapter where Benjamin paints with his Native friends. It was perfect timing to pull out these folklore Indians of North America books. Bittersweet to remember the recently deceased Tomie dePaola as we talked about the Indian Paintbrush and Texas Bluebonnet. We finished it up with a similar but newer tale of strawberries.
My copy is from the Imagination Library.
This morning (2020) while reading Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, we finished reading the A-Leafing chapter where Benjamin paints with his Native friends. It was perfect timing to pull out these folklore Indians of North America books. Bittersweet to remember the recently deceased Tomie dePaola as we talked about the Indian Paintbrush and Texas Bluebonnet. We finished it up with a similar but newer tale of strawberries.
My copy is from the Imagination Library.
Read
April 24, 2018Text-to-Teaching
This book lends itself to many activity/lesson ideas, based on the story. However, for I wanted to concentrate on the Author's Note for this activity. The author, Tomie dePaola, mentions his inspiration for the story and includes the fact that the Indian Paintbrush flower is the state flower of Wyoming. For an activity, after a read aloud, students would look up the state of Wyoming and draw or trace it onto a large sheet or poster and label it with what they deem important or cool facts: capitol, state bird, state flower, motto/slogan, famous people, and whatever else they want to include. Then they will look up pictures of real Indian Paintbrush flowers and create one out of a variety of art supplies. (Could be a drawing, a 3d flower, etc.) They will attach it to their Wyoming poster and hang in hallway.
This book lends itself to many activity/lesson ideas, based on the story. However, for I wanted to concentrate on the Author's Note for this activity. The author, Tomie dePaola, mentions his inspiration for the story and includes the fact that the Indian Paintbrush flower is the state flower of Wyoming. For an activity, after a read aloud, students would look up the state of Wyoming and draw or trace it onto a large sheet or poster and label it with what they deem important or cool facts: capitol, state bird, state flower, motto/slogan, famous people, and whatever else they want to include. Then they will look up pictures of real Indian Paintbrush flowers and create one out of a variety of art supplies. (Could be a drawing, a 3d flower, etc.) They will attach it to their Wyoming poster and hang in hallway.
March 7, 2015
A beautiful book!!
April 29, 2018
So beautiful and moving. I wish there were more books like this.
October 18, 2018
It's a wonderful story about a young man's faithfulness to his calling and the reward of hard work. It also happens to be the origin story for the beautiful wildflowers known as Indian Paintbrushes.
February 21, 2020
Love Tomie de Paola and I’m so glad he told a Native American story.
May 2, 2020
An Indian child who doesn't fit in with his peers is given encouragement by his people's Shaman. Eventually he finds his calling in life, and the whole tribe benefits.
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