Reviews
Aimed at middle school and junior high school students, this collection of Cherokee stories is of interest to all levels.-- KLIATT, "The Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokeeprovides a high-interest way of integrating elementary language arts and social studies curricula. Fables, folk tales, myths, poetry, geography, and history can all be taught through a text that is authentic, interesting, imaginative, and even funny. The rich history of the Cherokee people takes on meaning and depth when students can 'hear' the voices of the Native American people. This book gave my students a much clearer understanding of oral traditions and their place in Native American cultures." - Jen Meyer, fifth grade teacher, Durham (N.C.) Public Schools, "Aimed at middle school and junior high school students, this collection of Cherokee stories is of interest to all levels."-- KLIATT, " The Origin of the Milky Way can be enjoyed as a delightful collection of tales to instruct children, but it is really much more than that. It contains a living history of a proud nation of very gifted people." -- The Midwest Book Review, "The stories are well chosen, and they are beautifully presented. . . . A model for bringing high quality folklore research to young readers." -Journal of Folklore Research, "This is a book for children who are 10 years and older, but any adult who wants to know more about the Cherokees would enjoy its stories and the informational introductions to the sections."-- Fayetteville Observer, "The stories are well chosen, and they are beautifully presented. . . . A model for bringing high quality folklore research to young readers."-- Journal of Folklore Research, "The Origin of the Milky Waycan be enjoyed as a delightful collection of tales to instruct children, but it is really much more than that. It contains a living history of a proud nation of very gifted people." -The Midwest Book Review, "The living stories—because they're still being told, they remain alive—teach in a traditional way what's important in Cherokee culture. . . . Highly recommended." —Multicultural Review, " The Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokee provides a high-interest way of integrating elementary language arts and social studies curricula. Fables, folk tales, myths, poetry, geography, and history can all be taught through a text that is authentic, interesting, imaginative, and even funny. The rich history of the Cherokee people takes on meaning and depth when students can 'hear' the voices of the Native American people. This book gave my students a much clearer understanding of oral traditions and their place in Native American cultures." -- Jen Meyer, fifth grade teacher, Durham (N.C.) Public Schools, "All of the stories-which range from very funny to very sad to very scary-teach connection to land, culture, and community. . . . Highly recommended." -Oyate, "The Origin of the Milky Waycan be enjoyed as a delightful collection of tales to instruct children, but it is really much more than that. It contains a living history of a proud nation of very gifted people." —The Midwest Book Review, "As a Cherokee scholar, citizen, and mother, I appreciate the contribution Duncan makes to Cherokee children's literature. . . . Teachers, scholars, and parents should welcome this work and its contribution to Cherokee scholarship."-- Journal of Appalac, As a Cherokee scholar, citizen, and mother, I appreciate the contribution Duncan makes to Cherokee children's literature. . . . Teachers, scholars, and parents should welcome this work and its contribution to Cherokee scholarship.-- Journal of Appalachian Studies, "The stories are well chosen, and they are beautifully presented. . . . A model for bringing high quality folklore research to young readers." -- Journal of Folklore Research, "All of the stories--which range from very funny to very sad to very scary--teach connection to land, culture, and community. . . . Highly recommended." -- Oyate, "As a Cherokee scholar, citizen, and mother, I appreciate the contribution Duncan makes to Cherokee children's literature. . . . Teachers, scholars, and parents should welcome this work and its contribution to Cherokee scholarship."-- Journal of Appalachian Studies, This is a book for children who are 10 years and older, but any adult who wants to know more about the Cherokees would enjoy its stories and the informational introductions to the sections.-- Fayetteville Observer, " The Origin of the Milky Way can be enjoyed as a delightful collection of tales to instruct children, but it is really much more than that. It contains a living history of a proud nation of very gifted people."-- The Midwest Book Review, "The Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokeeprovides a high-interest way of integrating elementary language arts and social studies curricula. Fables, folk tales, myths, poetry, geography, and history can all be taught through a text that is authentic, interesting, imaginative, and even funny. The rich history of the Cherokee people takes on meaning and depth when students can 'hear' the voices of the Native American people. This book gave my students a much clearer understanding of oral traditions and their place in Native American cultures." — Jen Meyer, fifth grade teacher, Durham (N.C.) Public Schools, The Origin of the Milky Way can be enjoyed as a delightful collection of tales to instruct children, but it is really much more than that. It contains a living history of a proud nation of very gifted people.-- The Midwest Book Review, "The living stories-because they're still being told, they remain alive-teach in a traditional way what's important in Cherokee culture. . . . Highly recommended." -Multicultural Review, The stories are well chosen, and they are beautifully presented. . . . A model for bringing high quality folklore research to young readers.-- Journal of Folklore Research, "The living stories--because they're still being told, they remain alive--teach in a traditional way what's important in Cherokee culture. . . . Highly recommended."-- Multicultural Review, All of the stories--which range from very funny to very sad to very scary--teach connection to land, culture, and community. . . . Highly recommended.-- Oyate, "The stories are well chosen, and they are beautifully presented. . . . A model for bringing high quality folklore research to young readers." —Journal of Folklore Research, "All of the stories--which range from very funny to very sad to very scary--teach connection to land, culture, and community. . . . Highly recommended."-- Oyate, The living stories--because they're still being told, they remain alive--teach in a traditional way what's important in Cherokee culture. . . . Highly recommended.-- Multicultural Review, "The living stories--because they're still being told, they remain alive--teach in a traditional way what's important in Cherokee culture. . . . Highly recommended." -- Multicultural Review, "All of the stories—which range from very funny to very sad to very scary—teach connection to land, culture, and community. . . . Highly recommended." —Oyate
Synopsis
Cherokee people have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for thousands of years. During all this time, they have told stories to each other to explain how things came to be, to pass on lessons about life, and to describe the mountains, animals, plants, and spirits around them. The Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokee collects 27 stories that are great for kids and are still being told by storytellers today. Presented by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in their own words, the stories appear in free-verse form, like poems on the page, so that if you read them aloud, you can hear the rhythm of the stories as they were originally told. Barbara R. Duncan provides a helpful introduction that describes Cherokee people's past and present ways of life and their storytelling traditions. The book also includes a glossary of key words from the stories, suggestions for further reading, and notes on the storytellers. For young readers, for parents to read aloud to young listeners, and for teachers and libraries, The Origin of the Milky Way provides an excellent introduction to Cherokee culture. (For readers age 9 and up.)Storytellers: Davy ArchRobert BushyheadEdna ChekeleleeMarie JunaluskaKathi LittlejohnFreeman Owle, Cherokee people have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for thousands of years. During all this time, they have told stories to each other to explain how things came to be, to pass on lessons about life, and to describe the mountains, animals, plants, and spirits around them. This book collects 26 of these stories that are suitable for kids., This book features kid-friendly stories, based on the classic ""Living Stories of the Cherokee"".Cherokee people have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for thousands of years. During all this time, they have told stories to each other to explain how things came to be, to pass on lessons about life, and to describe the mountains, animals, plants, and spirits around them. ""The Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokee"" collects 26 stories that are great for kids and are still being told by storytellers today.Presented by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in their own words, the stories appear in free-verse form, like poems on the page, so that if you read them aloud, you can hear the rhythm of the stories as they were originally told. Barbara R. Duncan provides a helpful introduction that describes Cherokee people's past and present ways of life and their storytelling traditions. The book also includes a glossary of key words from the stories, suggestions for further reading, and notes on the storytellers. Suitable for young readers, for parents to read aloud to young listeners, and for teachers and libraries, ""The Origin of the Milky Way"" provides an excellent introduction to Cherokee culture.
