This book is a beautiful way to share Native American legends about the thirteen cycles of the moon and the changing seasons based on the thirteen scales of the turtle's back. It incorporates poems from thirteen tribes' stories that instilled respect for nature, animals, and spirits. ( )

I used this for a Cub Scout Bear Den achievement (9 year olds) called "Beat of the Drum" about Native American history and folklore.
An old man tells his grandson about the 13 moons (months) of the year, represented by the 13 scales on the turtle's shell.
Each moon has a separate story and illustration.
The stories are taken from 13 different tribal traditions, and the source is identified for that story. ( )

As a fan of Joseph Bruchac, I could go on and on about how amazing I think he and his works are. This picture book is a hybrid genre of both poetry and prose, that tells stories from thirteen different Native American tribes about each of the thirteen moons. Each moon has its own story within a poem and a detailed illustration. These are all different myths which Bruchac and London pieced together so beautifully. These traditional stories are important for all people to read and appreciate. Children need to learn not everyone views how the seasons and months change the same. Native Americans view it quite differently than what is considered the "norm" by popular culture. This book teaches children to respect these differences.

I would persoanlly teach this to children of all ages. I actually remember studying this in high school when my class started our unit on poetry because these poems are so beautifully done. This book teaches an appreciation for Native American culture and authors, with Bruchac being one of the most well-known in the industry. It may be considered a "childrens book" but it is so much deeper than that. It offers a connection to a lifetime many of us never experienced. For those who have, it deepens their affection for the natural world and their repsective cultures and upbringings.

Genre: Folklore/Fairytale
Sub-Genre: Picture Book

Beautifully illustrated with traditional indigenous stories for each moon of the year. ( )

The poems are each from a different tribe of Native Americans, and each poem centers around a different time of year and the seasons. It shows how the Indians think of seasons; it can be informational as to how to Indians tell seasons- from the moons in the sky. I really like this book because the illustrations are magnificent and the poems are very indicative of what time of year it is while also shining light on a particular tribe. The beginning of the book is a little boy talking to his grandfather about he turtle he is carving out of wood, and this sets up the grandfather to be the narrator of the story about the 13 moons on turtles back, which is equal to the number of squares on turtle's shell. This book can be informational, while also being quite enjoyable. The poetry is capturing, rhythmic and very descriptive. It makes the reader feel and sense the season that they are writing about, and makes the story very easy to get into. ( )