Customer Reviews

Little Runner of the Longhouse (I Can Read Book 2)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As an Iroquois (or as we prefer to call ourselves Haudenosaunee), I am deeply urked by this book!!! The book's sacriligious use of allowing a young boy to play with a false face mask rips at the core of my religion. A child would never be allowed to show such disregard for such a sacred object. This book should NOT be read!!!!!!!! At best it should be used to show the disregard for Native American religion and culture by the dominate society!!!

When I was younger I really liked my dad to read this book to me. Now that I am almost 8 I can read it to myself. I like Little Runner because he is funny and tries really hard to get maple sugar. It also shows the ways of the Indians long ago. I like the part when he steals his little brother and hides him the best

An excellent choice for a beginning reader or for reading aloud to a small child. It is especially appropriate for children living in parts of the country where maple sugaring is done, but every child will identify with the idea of "all the maple sugar they can eat."

I remember this book from when I was a little kid. I clearly remember the story - the older bother exploring the many ways he could get his hands on some maple sugar. I also remember the cool, yet simple, pictures that graced the inside pages. My mother must have red the book to me a thousand times and that is why I just had to have a copy of my own. I might even give it to my nephews. Maybe not. ^_^
I don't remember the book having any BAD influence on me. I never tried to kidnap my bother, I never tried to blackmail my parents, I never mishandled museum objects at the museum I work at and I never tried to hunt down deer to trade their skins for a tiny canoe. This is a simple story for kids to enjoy. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

this was my favorite book growing up as a child. i was so happy today when i remembered the name of it. i'm going to order a couple of copies for my children

A favorite from my childhood. Glad to see it's still around even if it doesn't sit well with everyone.

Reason for Reading: Ds read this aloud to me as his reader.

This easy reader starts off with introducing us to Little Runner's way of life in the Indian village, eventually leading up to telling us that today is New Years Day for them. The older children play a game involving masks and an old woman with a basket where they go from longhouse to longhouse asking for maple sugar. The alternative is, if a family does not give maple sugar each boy may take something from them. The indigenous game has some similarities to the traditional roots of modern day Hallowe'en. Of course, Little Runner wants to play, too, but Mother says he is still to little so he cooks up a plan where he has taken Little Brother from Mother and won't give him back until she gives him some maple sugar. Of course, Mother can play the game too and it's quite a funny predicament Little Runner finds himself him.

This is a fun story. We had previously learned about longhouses when we studied Indians last year so ds was pointing things out in the pictures he would not have otherwise noticed or known. He thought Little Runner's idea of taking Little Brother was hilarious. The story is quite simple, but the use of repetition makes it fun and, of course, works on those reading skills. Lobel's artwork is as always just as expected from him. Except for the round baby faces on Little Runner & Brother, the adult Indians have been drawn realistically and respectfully. Recommended but unfortunately is out of print at this time. It is easy enough to find secondhand copies though.

This book, written in 1962, sadly reflects the worst tendencies of Indian-themed children's books.

Little Runner, whose tribe is never identified, looks Anglo and dresses like Daniel Boone. His life is made to look like a cartoon. Sacred items are treated in a disrespectful, offensive way. Imagine a book showing a young Jewish boy playing with a Torah, or a young Christian tossing about a crucifix, and you might get the idea of how offensive this book is.

Avoid this at all costs, and toss it out of your school library. There are many, many children's books with Native themes that are beautiful and entertaining. (...)