On the Road of Stars: Native American Night Poems and Sleep Charms - Hardcover

At The Shore Of The River (papago) by Anonymous
Bat Song (papago) by Anonymous
Bats (yaqui) by Anonymous
Birth Of A Song (inuit) by Anonymous
Black Bats (papago) by Anonymous
The Blue Up There Is Pretty by Anonymous
Charm To Make The Sun Go Down (haida) by Anonymous
Comforting Song (inuit) by Anonymous
Comforting Song (inuit) by Anonymous
Cradlesong Of The Sparrows (aguaruna) by Anonymous
Creator's Song (papago) by Anonymous
Dog's Song (pima) by Anonymous
Dreaming Songs (papago) by Anonymous
Eagle (papago) by Anonymous
Father's Song (inuit) by Anonymous
Grandfather's Words (yavapai) by Anonymous
Gray Mouse (pima) by Anonymous
Gray Owl (pima) by Anonymous
I Am The Moon (sioux) by Anonymous
In The Beginning (mbya) by Anonymous
In The Blue Night (papago) by Anonymous
Lullaby (lakota) by Anonymous
Lullaby Of A Dog To Her Pup (crow) by Anonymous
Medicine Song (pima) by Anonymous
Night Charm (omaha) by Anonymous
Night Drumming For Rain (pima) by Anonymous
Night Prayer (zuni) by Anonymous
Night Song To Bring Rain (papago) by Anonymous
Night Songs Begin (pima) by Anonymous
Nighthawk (yaqui) by Anonymous
Our First Father (mbya) by Anonymous
Owl (papago) by Anonymous
Prayer (omaha) by Anonymous
Prayer To The Creator (onondaga) by Anonymous
Red Fox (wintu) by Anonymous
Shooting Star (inuit) by Anonymous
Sleep Charm (crow) by Anonymous
Sleep Charm (hidatsa) by Anonymous
Sleep Charm (hidatsa) by Anonymous
Sleep Charms (crow) by Anonymous
Sleep Charms (hidatsa) by Anonymous
Sleep Song (potawatomi) by Anonymous
Sleep Song (yuma) by Anonymous
Sleep Song (seminole) by Anonymous
Song (wintu) by Anonymous
Song (papago) by Anonymous
Song Of The Stars (passamaquoddy) by Anonymous
Song To Straighten A Bad Dream (navajo) by Anonymous
Words For Healing (mazatec) by Anonymous
Words Of Creation (mazatec) by Anonymous
-- Table of Poems from Poem FinderŪ

Grade 2 Up-Over 50 night songs and lullabies from Native American cultures are gathered in this unusual collection. From the Passamaquoddy "Song of the Stars" to the Mazatec "Words of Creation," the short texts convey themes of oneness with nature, the beauty of the night, and the transcendent spirit of the Creator. Bierhorst's sources, which are all cited, are primarily the work of ethnographers and musicologists, rather than today's Native American traditional singers. Quirky pastel and mixed-medium illustrations create a dreamlike sense of wonder that is just right for the prayerful material as well as the comforting lullabies. What is missing is the rhythmic and melodic context. As is true of most Native American songs, the lyrics are spare, often no more than four to six lines. While there is value in reading them and in comparing the heartfelt words of people as diverse as Arctic Inuit and natives of Peru, the true experience of these songs-many of which are sacred-is only hinted at. Still, for young readers and for anyone interested in native cultures, there is a sweet glimpse into the sensibilities of the diverse cultures that developed on our continent.
Carolyn Polese, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.