The Boy Who Lived With the Bears: And Other Iroquois Stories [Library Binding]

Joseph Bruchac (Author), Murv Jacob (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995

In a collection of traditional animal tales, young readers are introduced to such characters as Rabbit, who outwits the hungry Fox; Buzzard, whose clothes never fit; and Chipmunk, who defeats Bear in his own game.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4?An appealing collection of six traditional Iroquois tales retold in classic storytelling language. Although these stories can be found in other anthologies, including Bruchac's Iroquois Stories (Crossing, 1985), they are gathered here for younger children and presented as lessons the tribal elders might pass on during winter story times. The reteller's introduction is instructive and sets the mood for these humorous, moral?but never didactic?tales. Each one is carefully crafted with precise language and striking images. The title story tells adults to love their children; "How Birds Got Their Feathers" warns readers to be satisfied with what they have; "Chipmunk and Bear" cautions against making fun of others. Jacob's stunning, brilliantly colored paintings, one for each selection, capture the moods clearly and gracefully. A beautiful book in words and pictures that deserves a spot in every folktale collection.?Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. An orphan abused by his guardian uncle finds refuge as a member of a bear family in the title story of this collection of six Iroquois teaching tales, which spring from Bruchac's close association with Iroquois elders and are sourced in tales he heard while growing up. An introduction that doesn't overwhelm puts the tales into historical and cultural context. Bruchac's style is clean and spare. His direct, immediate language makes the book accessible to a wide range of children, including reluctant and new readers, and the humor and inherent drama make the tales ideal for reading and telling aloud. The seven full-page color paintings by Murv Jacob are brightly framed with floral and other patterns that enhance the vibrant compositions, and, whether animal or human, the characters are nicely individualized and energetically executed. A gray flowered border surrounds each page of text, the type is large, the design is spacious, and the detailing is attractive. This is a fine example of good book-making, which combines quality of content with quality of craft. Janice Del Negro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 63 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060212888
• ISBN-13: 978-0060212889
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,549,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed Abenaki children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored more than 50 books for adults and children. For more information about Joseph, please visit his website www.josephbruchac.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, funny, vivid images - stands up to repeat listenings, April 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy Who Lived with the Bears Audio: And Other Iroquois Stories (Parabola Storytime Series) (Audio Cassette)

Bruchac's smooth yet distinctive reading voice, his excellent "animal" character voices, a sprinkling of songs, drumming, and rattles, and vivid stories make this a favorite of an almost 4 year old AND his 40-year-old mom -- especially the title story, which is moving without being sentimental. A very minor quibble is that Bruchac's voice occasionally "catches" as if he's stopping for breath at a line break. P.S. We liked this tape much better than the Navaho one in the series