Review: Buffalo Song

Title:  Buffalo Song
Author:  Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator:  Bill Farnsworth
Review Copy Provided by: Lee and Low Books

About the Book:  Hetcha hey Hetcha ho Hetcha hey yeh ho
Walking Coyote gently lifted the frightened buffalo calf and sang softly. Lone survivor of a herd slaughtered by white hunters, the calf was one of several buffalo orphans Walking Coyote adopted and later raised on the Flathead Indian Reservaton in Montana.


For thousands of years massive herds of buffalo roamed across much of North America, but by the 1870s fewer than fifteen hundred animals remained. Hunted to the brink of extinction, the buffalo were in danger of vanishing. With reverent care, Walking Coyote and his family endeavored to bring back the buffalo herds, one magnificent creature at a time.
 
My Review:  Most of the Lee and Low books that I have reviewed have had African American characters, but this one is different.  You can probably tell from the title that it is about Native Americans.  This is another great historical fictin title that I enjoyed reading.  I knew that the buffalo were important to the Native Americans, but knew nothing of their fight to revive the herds and keep alive the animal that meant the most to their culture.  Joseph Bruchac tells the story of Walking Coyote and his family in a way that makes you feel as if you are there, helping them with their mission.  Being a Native American himself, I'm sure Bruchac feels strongly about this story.  The illustrations help bring this story to life.  Using paint, Bill Farnsworth creates vivid characters and scenes that do nothing but enhance this story.  I would recommend this one to fellow teachers who are studying Native Americans.
 
Thank you Hannah for sending me yet another great Lee and Low book to review!