Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children (Hardcover)

by Joseph Bruchac (Author), Teresa Flavin (Author) "The homeland of the Abenaki people is the area now known as northern New England, where the winters can be very cold..." (more)
Key Phrases: gai wah neh, hurries offstage, cannibal monster, Brown Bear, Big Rock, Star People (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-Anyone looking for an unusual way to introduce Native American cultures and stories might try this collection. The scripts are based on tales from the Abenaki, Ojibway, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Snohomish, Tlingit, and Zuni and are accompanied by brief introductions to each tribe and its culture. Many Native words and phrases are included in the dialogues, along with helpful pronunciations. The short, simple scripts are accessible to young, inexperienced actors. The casts include speaking and nonspeaking parts that can be adjusted to group needs. Suggestions are given for easy-to-make costumes, props, and scenery. A variety of pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the plays, as well as one lively gouache illustration per selection. Through color and style, the paintings reflect the regions and cultures of the tribes and add to readers' appreciation and understanding of the atmosphere and setting.
Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Bruchac adapts seven traditional tales from various tribes into plays for children. Each play is introduced with a brief tribal background, a list of characters, suggestions for props and scenery, and recommended costumes. Representing tribes from Bruchac's own Abenaki to the Cherokee, Tlingit, and Zuni, the plays are mostly pourquoi tales, explaining how mosquitos came into the world or why stars are visible at night. Black-and-white drawings, contributed by Teresa Flavin, suggest backdrops and enhance the reader's enjoyment. Easily modified for various numbers of children, and easily produced with everyday materials, these plays offer an excellent extension of American Indian studies for elementary students as well as models for student writing. Performance and photocopying rights are granted for school and home performances as long as no admittance fees are charged. Karen Hutt

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dial (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803721684
• ISBN-13: 978-0803721685
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,586 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book, July 31, 2001

By	Lee Francis (Laguna Pueblo), Ph.D (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This book is an outstanding work by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) for all theatre professionals as well as K-12 teachers. I strongly recommend that it be part of every school library collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Children will be Enchanted, April 14, 2009

By	Indecisive Andi (Illinois) - See all my reviews

"Pushing Up the Sky" is a collection of seven plays for children that are created from the myths and stories of seven different American Indian tribes. The plays are easy to produce and will hold children, as well as adult audiences, spellbound. The illustrations by Teresa Flavin are delightful and beautifully intricate. My favorite story in the collection is about two sisters who marry two stars in the sky. There is also an adorable story about an inquisitive ant who asks all the animals to tell him who is the strongest. The American Indian flavor of these plays are evident, and will add a unique spin on typical children's theatre. Some plays even include American Indian language, phonetically spelled out for the young actors. This book of plays is a gem for directors of children's theatre. I suggest anyone that works with elementary level children, or is interested in American Indian mythology, to go out and get this book today.