Mom read this book as a child and loved it. She read it to us and we, too, were charmed. I read it out loud to my class when I was in sixth grade and they all stayed attentive. (And, looking back, I'm surprised that I had the courage to read an entire book to my classmates -- I was a very shy child.)
2012: I still think it's a good story. AND, I think it's a nice introduction to Native American life as it used to be. Is it absolutely accurate? Probably not, but it may prompt a child to want to read more about this culture.