The Flute Player [Paperback]

Lacapa Michael (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

An introduction to Native American folklore - illustrated by the author

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-- Through a simple story line and easy, concrete language, Lacapa offers an Apache pourquoi folktale he remembers from his youth. The tale explains that the sound of wind echoing through the canyons comes from the flute of a young brave serenading his sweetheart. When the young man goes on his first hunt without telling her, she is sure she's been forgotten; she becomes ill, and dies. Returning home, the boy learns of her death, and continues to play his flute at her grave. In large, full-page, boldly colored drawings filled with dramatic, abstract shapes and earth colors that are somewhat reminiscent of Gerald McDermott's art in Arrow to the Sun (Viking, 1974), Lacapa creates his own eye-catching style with imaginative stippling, applying one color over another. The print is large, and there are just a few lines of text to a page. This would be a good introduction to Native American folklore for beginning readers, but the sad, sweet story begs to be told aloud--just as it was originally intended. --Yvonne Frey, Peoria Public Schools, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Publishing Llc (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873586271
• ISBN-13: 978-0873586276
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,486,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Science > Folklore & Mythology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flute Player is a great love story for all ages!, March 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flute Player (Paperback)

I myself being a White Mountain Apache, love the idea of haveing one of our legands written, I think it is very good to let the outside world see what the Apaches are like, we are not the blood thirsty people Hollywood makes us out to be, infact, we are so the oppsite. Mr. Lacapa shows that the Apache people had a lot of love, in having the girl fall ill, after not being with the boy for a long time is so sweet! I totally loved the story! The illustration is so nicely done! You have to read the book on your own to really appriciate it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Legend, April 22, 2010

By 

Misha's Mom (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flute Player (Paperback)

This is such a lovely story.

As an elementary school teacher, I read the hardcover edition of The Flute Player (sorry, my computer won't let me underline the title as I should) to my second and third grade students every year when we studied Native American Cultures and Literature. It is simply and beautifully written, and the illustrations are magnificent. The story is classic drama and tragedy, very profound, and I never had a student utter a single word while it was being read to them. It was as though they instinctively knew, though they were from widely diverse cultural backgrounds, that what was being told here was a tale of universal significance. It touched them deeply. They understood the symbolism.

I believe this story is appropriate for, and would be enjoyed by, people of any age above seven, although it's been sold primarily as a children's book. That is probably because it's a "picture book." But, oh what pictures!

I have a background in the arts, and I've always thought this story would make a wonderful ballet with its universal themes of conflict, romance, joy and sorrow, parents and children. There is something for everyone here. I can almost visualize it being performed to evocative flute music. I hope someday it is.