Knots on a Counting Rope (Reading Rainbow Books) [Paperback]

John Archambault (Author), Ted Rand (Author), Bill Martin Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Reading Rainbow Books

In this poignant story, the counting rope is a metaphor for the passage of time and for a boy’s emerging confidence in facing his blindness.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gathered near a campfire under a canopy of stars, a Navaho Indian boy hears the tale of his birth from his grandfather. Born on a windy night, the child was weak and frail. In the early morning, Grandfather brought him out to meet the morning. Two blue horses galloped by, stopped and looked at him; the baby raised his arms to them. Grandfather said, "This boy child will not die. The great blue horses have given him the strength to live." Named Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses, the child later needs that well of strength to deal with the fact that he is blind. Rand's atmospheric, vivid paintings evoke the tale's sensibility as they move it along. The beauty and vastness of the Western sky and the intimacy of two loving figures by a campfire are portrayed with equal fluidity. A rich tale of intergenerational love and respect, this is bittersweet and unsentimental. It is a moving collaborative effort that reverberates long after the book is closed. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4 Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses begs his grandfather to tell him again the story of the night he was born. In a question-and-answer litany, the boy and his grandfather share the telling of the events on that special nightthe wild storm; the frantic ride for the grandmother/midwife; the birth of the frail, sickly boy; and the blessings of the blue horses. Through a staccato dialogue, readers learn how the boy, who was born blind, teaches his horse to run the trails. They enter a race, and although the boy does not win, his grandfather tells him that he has ``raced darkness and won.'' The boy and his grandfather each have such a distinctive voice and cadence that there is no need of imposing qualifiers such as ``he said.'' The story unfolds naturally, exhibiting the love between the boy and his grandfather. The illustrations, executed in strong watercolors, capture the beauty and strength of the southwest. Through form and color, Rand creates enduring mountains, fluffy clouds floating in a brilliant blue sky, and the gritty textures of the earth. The people exhibit character, individuality, and pride. And the loving bond eloquently expressed in the text is also reflected in the profiles of the two seated figures surrounded by the glow of the campfire. Parents and grandparents should share this book, and then their own stories, with children. Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805054790
• ISBN-13: 978-0805054798
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Special Needs > Fiction
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Native North & South Americans
  • #51 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > Native North & South Americans

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book filled with everything we hope to teach our chilldren, October 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Knots on a Counting Rope (Henry Holt Big Books) (Paperback)

this is a book that has more intensity and insight with each new reading. it is the story of a physically handicapped child who with the support of his grandfather takes on a difficult challege and competes to his highest potential. the story integates overcoming challenges, uncondition parental love, hard work, and aging while finishing with a realistic outcome. the reader will be moved with pride and hope.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly powerful, December 2, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Knots on a Counting Rope (Series C) (Hardcover)

This book explains the passing of the generations in a child's terms. The grandfather explains that he will die, and the grandson does not want to hear it. But the grandfather shows that the powerful love of the family will support and strengthen the child as he faces the challenges of life and growth. This is the only book I've encountered that makes me cry when I read it to my kids.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book filled with everything we hope to teach our chilldren, October 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Knots on a Counting Rope (Henry Holt Big Books) (Paperback)

this is a book that has more intensity and insight with each new reading. it is the story of a physically handicapped child who with the support of his grandfather takes on a difficult challege and competes to his highest potential. the story integrates overcoming challenges, uncondition parental love, hard work, and aging while finishing with a realistic outcome. the reader will be moved with pride and hope.