Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children [Paperback]

Michael J. Caduto (Author), Joseph Bruchac (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Keepers of the Earth

These traditional Native American stories along with related activities show parents and teachers how to teach children the importance of wildlife in Native American traditions. As the stories unfold and the activities come to life, the importance of our connections to animals became apparent.

Features traditional Native American stories.
Includes field-tested activities appropriate for all ages.
Connects wildlife ecology and environmental issues.
Fosters creative thinking and the synthesis of knowledge and experience.

The stories in this book present some of the basic perspectives that Native North American parents, aunts and uncles use to teach the young. They are phrased in terms that modern youngsters can understand and appreciate, along with eye-catching illustrations and photographs throughout.

Look for other Fulcrum books in this series: Keepers of the Earth, Keepers of Life and Keepers of the Night.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Keepers of the Animals helps children understand their interdependence with all living beings and life forms, to respect the learning stories and lifeways of our Native people, and to confront their own significance in the circle of life...The book is a winner!" —Karen D. Harvey, author of Teaching About Native Americans, Bulletin of National Council for the Social Studies and Indian Country

"Schools with Native American units will be interested in the stories and activities that this book provides for kids to enjoy." —Booklist

"Keepers of the Animals is a comprehensive and effective resource for inspiring children to love and respect animals." —Joseph Cornell, author of Sharing Nature with Children

Keepers of the Animals provides a magical path to unlocking the richness of the storytelling traditions of Native Americans. It is a must for all storytellers, parents and teachers." —Jimmy Smith, Executive Director, National Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling

About the Author

Joseph Bruchac, coauthor of The Keepers of the Earth series, is a nationally acclaimed Native American storyteller and writer who has authored more than 70 books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for adults and children. He lives in upstate New York. Michael J. Caduto is an award-winning author, master storyteller, poet, musician, educator, and ecologist. He has received numerous awards, including the New York State Outdoor Education Association's Art and Literary Award, New England's Regional Award for Excellence in Environmental Education, the American Booksellers' "Pick of the List" Award, and the Association of Children's Booksellers' Choice Award, among others.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing; 1 edition (July 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555913865
• ISBN-13: 978-1555913861
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keepers Series, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keepers of the Animals: Native American Animal Stories (Audio Cassette)

Joseph Bruchac is a natural stort teller. This whole series is wonderful. I have used these books with children from the ages of four through fourteen. But of all of them the cassette of The Keepers of the Animals is my favorite and the only one that I cannot keep because I am continually giving it away. It is not only the quality of Bruchac's voice but also the cadence that he brings to the telling that adds a resonance, a native rhthym to the stories, that enhances understanding. This is the way that these stories should be told and should be heard. Native American culture has a rich oral tradition and the sounds, the rhthyms of the language are an important part of the telling of a story. We may not have the sounds of the language per se except in the names but we can hear a little of the native cadence in Bruchac's delivery. These are wonderful tapes for small children and again this is my very favorite.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Native Stories to Life, July 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Paperback)

I've been lucky enough to see Michael Caduto perform theseNative stories in person. He brings Native beliefs to life inunexpected and delightful ways. The stories he and Josheph Bruchac have put together here do the same thing. They give young readers a chance to explore Native cultures while they learn and enjoy the stories! In addition to Native tales, this book provides factual information and activities on nature and animals. It's an outstanding resource for teachers, parents, and kids of all ages.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly insightful!, October 7, 2007

By 

D. Perkins (Grand Junction, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Paperback)

I discovered the "Keepers" series two years ago. At first I was unsure of the format, and it took me a while to appreciate all the activities, but now they are the foundation in my homeschool curriculum. The stories and activities are suitable for a wide range of ages so that they may be used for years with the same child. There is so much depth and insight to all of the Keepers books that it is a compliment to any style of homeschool. For naturalists, home schoolers, un-schoolers, classical educators or public schools - these books are absolutely a must for every child living in North America! I can't say enough about these books.