When The Rain Sings: Poems By Young Native Americans [Hardcover]

Lee Francis (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

"The songs of the storm make me remember"

These lines are from one of the thirty-seven remarkable poems by young Native American writers from throughout the United States, collected in this anthology. Their heartfelt and striking words are paired with photographs of artifacts from the collection of the Smithsonian¹s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) that help to illuminate and extend the poetry.

Ranging in age from seven to seventeen, the young poets whose work appears in this volume were participants in a mentoring program for new Native writers conducted by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Most of the poems in this book were written in response to images from the NMAI collection showing objects from the writers¹ culture groups.

The combination of the voices and the images provides a powerful look at Native American life and history that is both beautiful and memorable.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-A collection of poems by Native Americans in grades 2-12. Most of these selections were written in response to images of Native artifacts or historical photographs. The young writers' personal reactions and associations to these images leave readers with a strong sense of each one's experience as a modern Indian, and of the values that each holds dear. The book is a work of art in itself, with dozens of full-color and black-and-white photos from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The pages are also decorated with detailed border designs. Eight nations are represented, with brief descriptions of the character of each people. While the poems are suitable for younger children to hear aloud, the book is small and would not work with a large group. There are no other collections like this.
Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Joy Harjo, Muskoke poet and musician Poems are peeled from the soul of this world we find ourselves in. The journey may be tough, almost unbearable, and it may be beautiful, almost unbearable -- but our songs, in whatever form, will ensure a path. There are some amazing young poets here.... This collection proves we are at "the dawn of good luck," "filled with Indian Power." It's true. You can hear it in these poems. -- Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 76 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689822839
• ISBN-13: 978-0689822834
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When the Rain Sings, November 24, 1999

By 

Tomas Martinez (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When The Rain Sings: Poems By Young Native Americans (Hardcover)

When the Rain Sings is a wonderful anthology of poems by Young Native American writers. The youth seem to capture what adults often seem to leave out. I definitely recommend this book to all those who love poetry. The work truly is universal.

5.0 out of 5 stars Voices of the Youth, April 11, 2011

By 

Katie McPherson - See all my reviews

This review is from: When The Rain Sings: Poems By Young Native Americans (Hardcover)

When the Rain Sings: Poems by Young Native Americans is a compilation of breathtaking pieces published by the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian Institution which spotlights the work and poetry of eight different Nations consisting of the Ojibwe, Lakota, Omaha, Navajo, Cochiti-Kiowa, Tohono O'odham, Hopi and Utes. These poems exist to reflect the people's way of life and their connection to communities, life, land and memory while telling the story of these tribes through the eyes of their youth. Accompanying these pieces are photographs, as well as traditional artwork, and a display of rhetorical sovereignty presented by the many insightful and promising youth which are representing their peoples.