Customer Reviews

If You Lived With The Hopi Indians

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was a very interesting book, and I enjoyed it as much as my five-year-old son (and I learned as much as he did, too). In fact, my 11-year-old daughter was compelled to join in the reading, too. The book's Q&A, second-person format makes the reader feel involved, and the author answers questions that cover basic Hopi beliefs and culture, as well as things that children really want to know: "What games would I play?"

This is a great book. It has a lot of facts in it. The illustrations and the text made it seem like you were there, and you really feel how you would live and work. They had to do a lot of work, even the children. Children collected firewood, beans, plants, and other things to help with the gardens and food. In Hopi culture, the boys and the girls were equal. They had different jobs, but neither were more important than the other. The Hopi also looked for baby eagles hundreds of feet off the ground to see if they're prayers would be answered. I would recommend this book to kids and grown ups who are interested in Hopi and in our country.

As a teacher I use some of the books in the series to read to my 8th grade History classes. I utilize the books around the units in American History to expand student knowledge of the people or situations we are discussing. I read 4-5 pages everyday and we discuss the information contained in the books. The students gain a much better perspective of what it was like.

Our kids were first exposed to the Hopi culture when they read "The Warrior Maiden" by Ellen Schecter. This book captured their imagination and inspired them to learn more about the fascinating Hopi. "If You Lived Among the Hopi" was the book I turned to in order to satisfy their curiosity. It was exactly what the kids were looking for.

A Hopi elder has pointed out that the information pertaining to the katsinam is inappropriate in its presentation for children of the Hopi culture. This truth must be honored. At the same time it should not keep Hopi "outsiders" from purchasing this wonderful book. Perhaps in the future the publisher will allow the author to write a version that is acceptable for Hopi children to read.

I recommend purchasing "The Warrior Maiden" in conjunction with this book. My children continue to return to this legend. Together these two books brought the richness and beauty of the Hopi people to life for our kids.

I was impressed with the accuracy and sensitivity of this book until it started talking about the katsinam as "men dressed as kachinas" and I was shocked at the drawing of men holding katsina masks. These are sacred matters which should NOT be presented in this manner in a book intended for children. Hopi children should not be exposed to this kind of information.