Customer Reviews

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a book that everyone should read with a message to which everyone should pay close attention. Chief Seattle's speech, whether facto or fiction, is famous as it sought to remind us of our place on this planet and our obligation to the natural world around us. This book tells us that we are far from being the dominant species we think we are and that even in our most powerful state we must serve the earth. The illustrations are incredible, too, and evoke beautiful ideas of connection between people and the earth.

I feel that this book tells children about Indian heritage and the fact that white men don't respect land and nature the way Cheif Seatttle and his tribe did. The pictures in the book are wonderful and realistic.

What do you teach your children?

There's a bit of an argument that has taken place concerning whether Chief Seattle in fact said something like or unlike the lovely verse in this book. I'd just like to remind people that this book is for young children and not historians.

And I, for one, have read this book to my children just as I have read them the 'legends' or 'debatable facts' about George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

So, if you are interested in presenting profound and beautiful words to your kids along with interesting pictures, both of which might very well incite conversation BUY THIS BOOK.

If you want guaranteed facts, read them the newspaper. (Well, okay... that's no guarantee either.)

Five Stars.

My son first read this book at school in preparation for Earth Day, and liked it so much that he asked for it for his birthday. That's a pretty rare request from him, so I know it must have really had an impact. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a nature lover in the family.

Readers of this very popular work should know that it is not what it pretends. Chief Seattle's "speech" as presented by Jeffers is forgery, the real chief Sealth never said anything of the kind. The speech presented here was forged in the 1970s by a Hollywood script writer, and was further altered by Jeffers herself. This book is an insulting white stereotype of real Indians, much like "Dances With Wolves." Even Jeffers' drawings are lies, based on photographs of Plains Indians who in no way resemble the real chief Sealth, who was a portly little fellow. Books like this one do a grave injustice to Native Americans.

This book is wonderful. I think it would be best for Middle school because the language is diificult for primary children. However, the younger students certainly respond to the beautiful illustrations in this book.
The lesson put forth it one that will stick in the minds of children. This is all we as parents, teachers, family friends, aunts and uncles can do for our children. Highly recommended.

This is a really good educational book for children. The pictures are beautiful as well as the message.

I was raised with this book, and it helped shape my opinion on things. Its enviromental message is valuable, and wasting time over whether it is a real speetch or not is pointless.

Let's imagine that one day it is revealed that the "I have a dream" Speetch never happened. Would its meaning be lost? Would we revert? No!
This is just the same.

Buy this for your children, and read it yourself too. You won't regret it.

What a stunning book! My 5 year old son was given this as a gift and it has become one of his favorites. He has been deeply moved by the book's message to protect the earth for future generations, that we are part of the web of life that the earth supports and we must preserve. The illustrations are terrific, and we find something new in them each time we read the story together. I now give this book often as a special gift, hoping that its message will spread.