Customer Reviews

Great Spirit Horse

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Native American tradition says that when a white buffalo calf is born and the Great Spirit Horse of the plains return, they will experience a rebirth of their culture and traditions. The first of these events occurred several years ago, and folklorist and storyteller Linda Little Wolf believes the second has as well in the form of her companion, a blue-eyed Tobiano paint named Enough Stuff.

To celebrate this, she has written a charming version of the story of Sunka Wakan, the Great Spirit Horse, for young readers. Her protagonist is an ugly-duckling foal who flees the scorn of his herd-fellows and takes refuge in the Black Hills, where he learns he has a proud and important destiny.

Although Ms. Little Wolf occasionally overdoes the anthropomorphism of her equine cast, she has down a superb job of making this traditional story both educational and entertaining. The book is a fine introduction to Native American folklore and traditions for both the youngsters it is intended for and their parents. For certain, this gently amusing book will appeal to horselovers of all ages.

She has subtitled her book "Otoka," which is a Lakota word for "beginning." One hopes this means there will be more tales like this one-and the quality of this first book makes that something to be eagerly anticipated.

Attention all horse lovers! This is a great read. My horse crazed daughter got this for Christmas and LOVED it. She's an avid reader and consumed this book in 2 days. She is looking forward to reading other books written by this author.