Children's Story Time

Children's Story Time
BIODIVERSITY RESOURCE CENTER AT THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Native American Heritage Month
Saturday, November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th at 10:30 a.m.

Books

The Boy who Dreamed of an Acorn.
Leigh Casler.
Publisher: Philomel Books.
Public Juv. PZ7 .C26824 Bo 1994.
(A young boy's coming of age story)
A story of a young Navajo boy who follow his tribe's tradition of travelling up the steep mountain to dream a dream of power. Some dream of mountain lions, black bears, and eagles to become strong, excellent fishermen and great hunters, but this young boy dreams of an acorn. "To each a different gift is given, and to each a different dream does come." What significance does the acorn have and what will the boy become?

Coyote In Love.
Retold by Mindy Dwyer.
Publisher: .
Public Juv. E78 .O6 D98 1977.
(Coyote falls in love with a beuatiful blue star)
In Native American mythology, coyotes are known for thier magical powers and mischief to others. This is a retelling of an Native American legend about coyote, who finds his powers useless when he finds love and heartbreak with beautiful blue star.

Coyote Places the Stars.
Retold by Harriet Peck Taylor.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster.
Public Juv. E99 .W37 T39 1993.
(Coyote's adventures to the heavens)
This animated story is based upon an Wasco Indian legend about coyote and the origins of our constellations. Coyote dreams of climbling to the heavens and discovering their secrets. When he climbs to the moon, he comes up with a clever idea; he is going to make the most wonderful pictures for all the world to see.

Dancing Teepees .
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve.
Publisher: .
Public Juv. PM197 .E3 D36 1989
(Illustrated poems from various Native American tribes)
An illustrated collection of nineteen short poems from the oral tradition of various Native American tribes.

The Legend of the Blue Bonnet.
Retold by Tomie DePaola.
Publisher: The Putnam & Grosset Group.
Public Juv. E99 .C85 D4 1996.
(A legend of how a little girl brought the bluebonnet flower to Texas)
A Comanche legend of a young girl who's lost her entire family to a famine and is then raised by her tribe. To atone for their selfish ways and end the famine, the tribe members must give up their most valuble possession to the Great Spirits. The young girl decides to give up her cherished doll made for her long ago by her lost relatives. Her sacrifice and unselfishness brings great rewards.

Moonstick, The Seasons of the Sioux.
Eve Bunting.
Publisher: Harper Collins.
Public Juv. E99 .D1 B86 1997.
(A young boy's journey to manhood)
A young boy's journey to manhood under the thirteen moons of the Sioux year. At the rising of the first moon, the boy's father makes a notch on his moon-counting stick. With each notch made, the boy marvels at his famly, tribe, and the world around him. He observes the sometimes subtle and sometimes remarkable changes in the seasons. Changes come and will come again, it is so arranged.

The Star Maiden.
Retold by Barbara Juster Esbensen.
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company.
Public Juv. Pb Juv. E99 .C6 E72 1988.
(The Star Maiden in the sky wants to live on earth)
A bright star in the sky falls. An Ojibway tale of the Star Maiden, who, tired of wandering the earth with her star sisters, decides to live amongst the people on earth No earthly shape or form seems to fit her until one night she sees her reflection in the lake and she and her star sisters find home.

Ten Little Rabbits.
Virginia Grossman.
Publisher: Chronicle Books.
Biodiv Juv. E98 .S7 G87 1991
(A wonderfully delightful and colorful counting book)
A counting book that celebrates Native American traditions. It incorporates the description and illustrations of clothing, blankets, headdresses and more from various Native American tribes.

Two Bear Cubs.
Retold by Robert D. San Souci.
Publisher: Yosemite Association.
Pub Juv. E99 M69 S36 1997
(A Miwok legend about two playful bear cubs who get lost)
Deep in the Yosemite Valley, Mother Grizzly Bear discovers that her two playful cubs arenowehre to be found. Red-tailed Hawk reports that he has located them high atop a huge granite rock. Hoping to rescue the cubs, each of the animals in the village tries to climb the rock, but each fails. The cubs' only hope lies with the tiny measuring worm who is the last to climb the rock. Being a hero has little to do with one's size.

All books featured in Story Time are from the Academy Library and the Biodiversity Resource Center. If you have any questions, please contact the Biodiversity Resource Center at 415.750.7361 or biodiversity@calacademy.org