Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored

Book Description

The nursery rhyme begins, "In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Less well-known is the line that follows: "…to learn if the old maps were true." How can there be "old maps" of a land no one knew existed? Were others here before Columbus? What were their reasons for coming and what unexplained artifacts did they leave behind?

The oceans were highways to America rather than barriers, and when discoverers put ashore, they were greeted by unusual inhabitants. In Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America, the author of The Atlantis Encyclopedia turns his sextant towards this hemisphere. Here is a collection of the most controversial articles selected from seventy issues of the infamous Ancient American magazine. They range from the discovery of Roman relics in Arizona and California's Chinese treasure, to Viking rune-stones in Minnesota and Oklahoma and the mysterious religions of ancient Americans. Many questions will be raised including:

What role did extraterrestrials have in the lives of ancient civilizations?

What ancient pyramids and towers tell us about the people who built them?

Are they some sort of portals to another dimension?

What prehistoric technologies have been discovered, and what can they tell us about early settlers, their religious beliefs, and possible other-worldly visitors?

Did El Dorado exist, and what of the legendary Fountain of Youth?

Was Atlantis in Cuba?

What are America's lost races and what happened to them?

Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America brings to the fore the once-hidden true past of America's earliest civilizations

Frank Joseph is the author of The Atlantis Encyclopedia (New Page Books), as well as a dozen other books on history, prehistory, and metaphysics. He has been the editor-in-chief of Ancient American magazine since its first issue in 1993. He lives in Wisconsin.

Wayne May is the founder-publisher of Ancient American. Laura Lee is the award-winning producer and host of the nationally syndicated "The Laura Lee Show". David Hatcher Childress wrote the best-selling Lost Cities series. Zecharia Sitchin is the author of the best-selling Earth Chronicles series. Andrew Collins is world-renowned for his consistent bestsellers, including Gateway to Atlantis.

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous conspiracy theories based on facts.......2007-04-29

This book is a compilation of articles that take facts and add conjecture or speculation to arrive at a possible thesis.
The articles in this book are generally based on large leaps of faith which have little or no basis.
The editor, Frank Joseph, is from a historical conspiracy theory type magazine called Ancient American.
The book is a collection of articles from the magazine, printed in book form for a quick buck.
If you looked for this book in your local bookstore, you would most likely find it in the "new age" or "alternative history" section.
It is not possible to read this book as non-fiction because some of it is based on guesswork or patchwork history.
If fact and fiction are mixed, you have fiction, no matter how much fact is involved.
Unless you are a conspiracy theorist or you are looking for a book full of magazine articles of historical fiction, you can probably skip this one.
Some of the stories are interesting, but all are portrayted as journalism when they would more accurately be described as historical fiction.

Authentic Ancient American History.......2007-04-29

Finally, people aren't ignoring the evidence of pre-Columbus voyages to America. This change in thinking has been a long time coming. This book presents some of the most compelling evidences for the voyages and visits. Even skeptics will have a hard time putting this book down. See also: Columbus Was Last: From 200,000 BC to 1492, A Heretical History of Who Was First & The Island of Seven Cities: Where the Chinese Settled When They Discovered America

excellent seller and product.......2007-02-13

Item as described and received in a timely manner... an excellent buying experience!

Discovering Mysteries.......2007-01-03

This is exactly what I looked for. A collection of interesting articles, and among them strong evidences that the Vikings were in America before Columbus. Just what I was looking for. Great!

Be Realistic In Your Analysis..........2006-05-24

Childress' book cites numerous known abberations to the common perception that most relics and antiquities found in North America are of "native" cultural origin, and having these bits all in one place in one book is useful and entertaining. However, the speculation on aliens, portals, and Atlantis-type culture is, as always, tedious. Anyone can speculate and it is a writer's choice on how he or she chooses to speculate. The reader ,however, must be realistic in their analysis and truth behind the writer's speculation. If it is for entertainment purposes, the book and its speculations are wothwhile; if it is for actual information, the book is worth the price to read about the additional relics that have been found in North America that can really question our prevalent interpretations of North American history - however, the speculation on aliens and such is just that...entertainment value only. Early Mankind was a lot more innovative and flexible than people like Childress give them credit for - no use of aliens and portals is necessary to explain the historical evidence that is apparent in the antiquities record.

Average customer rating:

endearing story

Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom
Patricia Polacco
Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0399214704

Customer Reviews:

endearing story.......2001-04-29

As a maker of cloth dolls, I am always on the lookout for books with wonderful illustrations. Imagine my delight when I also found a book with a sweet, simple story. The best kind for small children and the children's heart within adults. I will definitely buy more of her books to add to my collection.

Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest

Average customer rating:

Coyote wants to fly!
Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
A great book about a funny coyote!

Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
Gerald McDermott
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0152019588

Book Description

Wherever Coyote goes you can be sure he’ll find trouble. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows agree but soon tire of Coyote’s bragging and boasting. They decide to teach the great trickster a lesson. This time, Coyote has found real trouble!

Customer Reviews:

Coyote wants to fly!.......2006-10-21

My son ([...] years old) enjoys a lot this funny story about the silliness of the coyote and the tricky birds. We read it often and have a little song for the dancing of the craws.
The design makes it easy for children eyes to understand the story without words.
Another lovely book from Gerald McDermott, but not as good as Zomo The Rabbit or Papagayo. These are really great!!

Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest.......2006-01-15

This was a fair tale children seemed to follow the story better but did not want to hear this book again and again,I was disappointed.

A great book about a funny coyote!.......2000-03-30

I like it because when the Coyote meets some birds he wants to fly with, all the birds give him one of their right feathers, but he didn't balance. So they each gave him left feathers, but he still didn't balance. And the reason he didn't balance was because he needed one left feather and one right feather. - AMD, Age 7.

American Indian Myths and Legends (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

Average customer rating:

wow
authentic but inconsistent
166 Quickies
Fantastic Collection of Stories from the First Nations
Good storyteller

American Indian Myths and Legends (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)
Richard Erdoes , and Alfonso Ortiz
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0394740181
Release Date: 1985-08-12

Book Description

Gathering 160 tales from 80 tribal groups to offer a rich and lively panarama of the Native American mythic heritage. 100 drawings.

Customer Reviews:

wow.......2007-10-11

This is exactly what I was looking for!
The Indians legends and myths about nearly everything.
Maybe you have read the books of Carlos Castaneda and wanted to know more about the world of Indians? Maybe you are just wondering what is behind the white peoples world? Or maybe you just enjoy reading good stories for yourselves and for your children.

It would be wise for us to start reading a stories for our children again, instead of putting them before TV. This is kind of strong base for their mental structure- to face the everyday lifes stress and routine.

For all reasons this is a good choice.

I read al lot, maybe 60-80 books a year, but this book I will remember.
Enjoyable reading to you!

authentic but inconsistent.......2007-08-01

this collection is, for the most part, written directly from recordings of tribe members retelling the stories. there is a nice sense of authenticity in the collection, but many of the stories really seem to be collected for the sake of collecting the stories... in other words, there is a definite inconsistency throughout this book.

it can be tedious to get through some parts, because the legends occasionally seem to go nowhere. it seems that many of these myths are explanations of how something came in to being, rather than a moralistic message, and in this sense it is valuable in presenting insight into the worlview of the cultures represented. nevertheless, as a reader it is enjoyable to feel that a story is leading up to something, which is not always the case here.

i was surprised by the politically incorrect title (First Nations is the preferred term nowadays- "Indians" is considered offensive), but the book was published in 1984 so this makes sense- perhaps a reprint will have a different title.

166 Quickies.......2005-02-28

Sorting through many of the American Indian Myths (As if there was a homogenized group called American Indians) Richard Erdoes and Alfonzo Ortiz selected 166 short, one or two page, stories. These stories look like the pre-curser to the urban legends today.

The myths are artificially separated into ten subjects and lose the continuity of being divided by particular ethnic group; thus we never get a feel for the bigger picture of where the stories come from.

You need a great sense of humor as many of the stories are very kinky such as "TEETH IN THE WRONG PLACE" (PONCA-OTOE), which is exactly what it implies.

There seems to be only three Zuni tales out of the 166. I wonder if there is a reason for this.

Fantastic Collection of Stories from the First Nations.......2003-12-25

Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz really did a wonderful job putting together this compilation. Taking various stories from North America, the duo covers traditional tales of everyone from the Aleut to the Toltecs and pretty much everything in between. Every region and culture group is represented, and tales from well known Nations such as the Cherokee, Lakota, Dine (Navajo), Apache and Iroquois appear beside those of less well known (but no less vibrant and culturally active) Nations such as the Miwok, Caddo, Metis and Shasta. Hopefully this will help expand people's views of Native American culture. After all, stereotypical views of "Indians" rarely include the Nations of California or the Pacific Northwest, or even the Southern Woodlands (the original homeland of the Cherokee and their neighbors). Obviously not every Nation could be represented, but this is still an excellent survey of the continent. It does a wonderful job showing how common cultural themes have woven their way across this entire continent, helping to reinforce the culture and customs of the First Nations. And at the same time, it also shows how each culture was different, having its own beliefs, customs and practices unique to themselves.

Each chapter was divided into a different theme, so the book covers the Creation of People, the Creation of the World, Stories about Celestial Bodies, Monsters, War Heroes, Love, Tricksters, Animal People, Ghosts and the End of the World. Hence the book goes full circle in exploring major themes in North American belief. Each chapter includes the stories of numerous Nations from different regions, linguistic families or "cultural groupings", allowing the reader to see them in a much broader light. All of the stories are short, and they range in mood from hilarious (Intome's description of his nightmare in "Inktome Has a Bad Dream") to being deeply moving (the sun's sacrifice in "The Scabby One Lights Up the Sky"). At the end of each story, the source is given and they come from quite a number of sources. Many are recorded in this book for the first time as far as I am aware, so it is certainly worth looking at even if you are very familar with Native American traditions.

To those familar with Native American culture, some things in this book should be familar, particularly the antics of Coyote, Inktome the spider, Raven and other tricksters, but also the tales of Glooskap, giants, floods, disembodied cannibal heads, the place of emergence, Hiawatha and so forth. One thing I should point out before going further is that some of these tales deal with adult themes (in the Inuit tale "Moon Rapes His Sister Sun" the moon commits the sins of rape and incest and forever chases his sister across the sky) and can be downright raunchy (as is the case with several of the Coyote and Inktome stories). There is nothing wrong with these stories, as they either are meant to teach a moral lesson (as is the case with the former) or because they are meant to amuse (in the case of the trickster stories). But it can come as something of a shock to those who are expecting "mere children's stories". Still, if you or someone you know has an interest in Native American culture, this book is certainly worth getting.

Good storyteller.......2003-04-01

Adult storybook....
I ordered this book to glimpse into the Native American mythology, and I have to say, I am very impressed. This book comprises of ten parts, each consisting of intelligent, sometimes even funny tales and facinating stories of Human Creation, World Creation, Sun-Moon-Stars, Monsters, Love and Sex, Animals and Birds, and Ghosts-to mention a few. It's filled with analogies taken from nature. All these stories come from the tribes once spread across all over the North American continent. The editors claim that some of the stories are completely "untouched" by white people and that they still convey the original folklores started some thousands of years ago.
If you are interested in idiosyncratic facts than forget about it, if you like good stories and folk-tales, this book is for you.

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)

Average customer rating:

Story of trials drawn in a rectangular style
Arrow to the Sun : A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)
Arrow To The Sun By Gerald McDermont
Level 5: Escape the serpents and the room of lightning
Why I love Arrow to the Sun

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)
Gerald McDermott
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literary Criticism & Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Essays | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140502114

Customer Reviews:

Story of trials drawn in a rectangular style.......2007-01-12

To those who pay attention to the myths of various cultures, the fundamental premise of this book comes as no surprise. The Sun, in this case a god to the Pueblo Indians, sends a spark of life down to Earth and impregnates a woman. The child is a boy who is ridiculed by the other boys because he has no father. He then goes on a search for his father and gets no results until he consults the arrow maker.
The arrow maker understands the situation and turns the boy into an arrow. He then shoots him into the sky so that the boy can converse with the Sun. After he claims to be to be the son of the Sun, the boy is given a series of trials, which he passes. He is then returned to the Earth and acknowledged by all as the son of the Sun. There is great rejoicing among the people as they now appreciate who the boy really is.
This is a delightful tale that is illustrated in the style of the Pueblo Indians. The drawings are made using almost exclusively lines drawn at right angles. Most shapes are made from a combination of rectangular figures, yet so well done that it is still possible to detect the emotions of the characters. It is an excellent story for young children, it will teach them something about another culture and that is always a good thing.

Arrow to the Sun : A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin).......2006-01-15

Children in my classroom didnt enjoy this story but it was worth reading.

Arrow To The Sun By Gerald McDermont.......2004-11-18

This is an inside look about Indian heritage and the kinds of myths they had in their times. The reader really gets a feel for how the strange boy feels when he gets picked on because he is different. This is a fictional and adventurous book with such great details that it almost seems real as you're reading it.
This story is set in a little pueblo where a mother is giving birth. Suddenly the God of the Sun sent down an arrow to the women and she gave birth to his son. As the little boy grows up, all the other boys make fun of him because he looks different and has no father. Then finally one day he sets off to find his father and to truly know who he is.
The author does such a fantastic job on his voice and sentence fluency that when you're reading the book it seems like you are the strange little boy. This is my favorite children's book because I read it over and over since I was a kid and I enjoy Indian myths. I also enjoy this book because the pictures are phenomenal and the colors are amazing.
People who like adventure and can relate to the little boy would love this outstanding book. This book is very inspiring and shows that you can do anything you want to if you try. I gave this book five out of five stars and I hope you'll like this awesome book just as much as I did.
By Tanner

Level 5: Escape the serpents and the room of lightning.......2004-11-10

I don't think I can judge Gerald McDermott's 1975 Caldecott winning picture book, "Arrow to the Sun" fairly. You see, I am a child of the 80s. I remember the early days of Colico Vision and Atari. I have very clear images in my head of some of the first arcade games, like Q-Bert, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Brothers. Why do I invoke such images when I'm (supposedly) reviewing "Arrow to the Sun"? Because like these games, "Arrow to the Sun" suffers for its time period. Author/illustrator Gerald McDermott strived very hard to make this story both deeply original and timeless. In many ways, he has succeeded. But if you, like myself, played a single pixilated arcade game in the late 70s or early to mid 80s then you'll take one look at this book and notice its video game aspects. It's a beautiful story. It's just tainted in the eyes of the children of the 80s.

In this retelling of an ancient legend (or so the bookflap assures me), we learn about a boy unlike any other. When the Lord of the Sun sent a "spark of life" to earth, it found a young woman in a pueblo. The woman then gave birth to a son who found himself desperate to know his father. The boy leaves home and finally comes to realize from whom he is descended. To prove himself to the Lord of the Sun he withstands numerous video game-like trials and finally is transformed so that he may bring the Sun's spirit to the world of men.

Echoes of this story have been found around the world in everything from the birth of Christianity to ancient Zeus-appears-as-a-shaft-of-light type tales. This particular rendition of such a story is a little more tasteful in its presentation. McDermott has always had a keen sense of storytelling. This is apparent in everything from his fan-freakin'-tastic, "Zomo the Trickster Rabbit" to the more contemporary "Creation". "Arrow to the Sun" has just the right tone of voice and increasing urgency one needs in a good story.

As for the pictures, they look like characters from a Commodore 64 game. According to all-knowing bookflap, this tale, "captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art". I'm fairly certain I've seen Pueblo Indian art before. And I'm almost certain it didn't give me urges to go play Load Runner or Frogger. While much of the art in this book is very beautiful (the design on our hero's chest is a lovely geometric shape) it suffers from its form. The colors are beautiful, no question. The designs on many of the pictures is great. But the odd blocky pixel-like look is jarring and (to my mind) overly familiar.

So unfortunately, McDermott ended up doing something he didn't want to. His intentions, I'm certain, were to create something timeless. Instead, he make a picture book that remains firmly stuck in the age of Pac-Man. If arcade settings and characters don't disturb you, you may be the perfect consumer for this tale. If, on the other hand, you prefer your picture books to be a little lovelier and a little less circa 1983, you might want to pass this puppy by. Just a warning to you Gen X parents out there.

Why I love Arrow to the Sun.......2004-02-12

This book just calls to me. I love the words, I love the pictures. Most of the time when I read a book over and over I get bored with the book. But every time I read this book I love it even more. I give it 5 stars. I think it is the best book ever.

Average customer rating:

Dances with Bears
Beautiful Beardreams

Beardream (Aladdin Picture Books)
Will Hobbs
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0689835361

Book Description

Spring has come to the muntains, and the bears have emerged from their winter's sleep -- all but the Great Bear, who sleeps on in his den.

In the Ute village, a boy called Short Tail worries that the Geat Bear will starve if he doesn't waken. So Short Tail heads off into the mountains to rouse the Great Bear. But on the way to the Great Bear's den, Short Tail too falls asleep, and slips into a magical dream in which the Great Bear teaches him a wornderful secret to share with his people.

Will Hobbs's lyrical text and Jill Kastner's rich, evoctive oil paintings bring the story of a Native American tradition ot vivid life.

Customer Reviews:

Dances with Bears.......2003-03-11

A story about a boy named Short Tail, who is afriad that Grandfather bear has not survived the winter. No one has seen the bear, and it is past springtime. So Short Tail decides to climb the mountain and see if the bear is still alive. When he gets there he sees that the bear is still sleeping. Short Tail wakes the bear, and the bear takes him to a special meeting place of the bears. While at this place, the bears dance to celebrate the ending of winter. Grandfather bear tells Short Tail to go back and show his people the dance so they can do it also. It is a good story about why the Natives dance.

Beautiful Beardreams.......2000-10-31

This book displays the great respect for wildlife that Native Americans have. The telling of the Ute's relationship with the bears is an old tale that is presented well with this book. The beautiful paintings in the book reflect what is written in the pages with subtle dreamlike messages throughout. As an educator, this book will be an asset to my collection for my students.

Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places

Average customer rating:

Knowing other cultures is important for all children.
Beautiful book

Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places
Joseph Bruchac
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0152020624

Book Description

The silent stories of our ancient land and its native peoples are given voice in reverential prose poems and radiant paintings.

Customer Reviews:

Knowing other cultures is important for all children. .......2007-04-04

This is my third copy. . Its a wonderful overview of many Native American cultural traditions. The map in the back is also outstanding. I keep giving it away. I really think it is special

Beautiful book.......2007-01-12

This book is beautiful and has inspired my class to write & draw.

Average customer rating:

I love folk tales
Beautiful Tale of Creation
An Indian legend about how different people have different talents
Painting the Sunset
Indian Paintbrush

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Tomie dePaola
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0698113608

Customer Reviews:

I love folk tales.......2007-06-01

I really enjoy folk tales, and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush is a beautiful story. Little Gopher paints and spreads his brushes into the fields and the Indian Paintbrushes blossom. The illustrations are beautiful and interesting for children.

Beautiful Tale of Creation.......2007-04-16

I loved this book and think it is a wonderful way to teach children about how flowers came to be. This book is an excellent way to show students that being an individual is important and that each person is different and is needed!!

An Indian legend about how different people have different talents.......2006-08-28

As is the case in all cultures, there are people more and less suited for various tasks. In the world of the American Indians of the plains all life revolved around hunting the buffalo. However, not all boys are meant to be fierce warriors, some are simply not suited to the task. This book is about Little Gopher, a boy who had a Dream-Vision of his grandfather where he was told that he was to paint the pictures of the warriors rather than be one. His canvas was to be stretched white buckskin, his brushes made from the hairs of different animals and his colors were made from rocks and berries. He painted scenes of his people in action, but for some time he longed to make an accurate rendition of a sunset as he never seemed able to create the right colors.
One night he had another vision where he was told that because he had remained true to his calling, on the next day he would be able to sit on a hill and capture the sunset in a painting. He succeeded and he left his brushes on the hill when he carried the painting down to show it to his tribe. The next day his brushes had taken root and had turned into plants with brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Because of his deeds, the people of his tribe changed his name to He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth. This is the legend of how the Indian Paintbrush flowers came into existence.
Like so many other legends of the American Indians, this is a story worth reading. Superbly illustrated using a minimum of color, I recommend this story to all elementary school children.

Painting the Sunset.......2004-02-12

This legend is based on how the Great Plain Indians were given the colors of the sunset by one of the talented Indians. This book shows how Little Gopher, the Indian that painted the colors of the sunset for his People, remained true to his destiny. Even though he felt like he didn't have a special gift, Little Gopher continued to stay dedicated, until he was guided in the right direction by an old grandfather and young maiden in his Dream-Vision. The overall theme of this legend is that perseverance pays off in the end.
This book could be used by teachers to introduce the lesson of how those who are dedicated to a dream or goal can succeed in the end. The plot of the story can be used to demonstrate and teach students how to do story maps. Also, other activities this book can be used for in the classroom are for Literature Circles and Idea Circles.

Indian Paintbrush.......2003-08-10

This story is about Little Gopher who was sad because `he couldn't keep up with the other boys who were always riding, running, shooting their bows, and wrestling to prove their strength.' Luckily for him he had his own special talent, a talent for painting and creating.

When Little Gopher went out into the hills to think about becoming a man, he had a dream vision. This vision told him to find a white buckskin and to `keep it and one day you will paint a picture that is as pure as the colors in the evening sky.'

Little Gopher got the white buckskin soon after, but didn't have the right paints to paint the sunset. He kept trying to achieve the right colors. Every morning he mixed paints in hopes that these ones wouldn't be dull and flat like the others, but to no avail.

One night a voice told him to go up on top of a hill next evening at sunset, `Because you have been faithful to the People and to your true gift, you shall find the colors you are seeking.' Little Gopher went to the hill the next evening and, lo and behold, there are brushes full of paint the color of the sunset waiting there for him to paint his masterpiece.

Little Gopher painted his masterpiece and when he got done he walked back to his tent, leaving the brushes strewn across the hillside. In the morning the brushes had multiplied and turned into flowers, and little Gopher became known as He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth.

This book carries several good messages about being true to yourself and not giving up in the face of adversity. It is also a wonderful retelling of a Native American Legend. He book flows wonderfully and the pictures are bright and colorful.

Book Description

A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this practical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies. Milton D. Heifetz is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School. This is his first astronomy book. Wil Tirion is the author of numerous sky guides, including The Cambridge Guide to Stars and Planets (1997), The Cambridge Star Atlas (1996), and The Monthly Sky Guide (Cambridge, 2003). Previous Edition Hb (1998): 00-521-62513-0

Customer Reviews:

Suits me........2007-09-04

I like to look at the constellations in my backyard. In other books, the constellations are presented separately, and you have to guestimate where they are. This book shows you one constellation, and then shows you how to line up the stars for the next one. For example, most people can find the big dipper, and from there most people can line up the stars on the front of the dipper part, and be directed to the North Star. Well, this book shows that if you follow the curve of the handle, you can find the star Arturus, in the constellation Bootes. All the constellations in this book are connected this way, so that you don't have to guess where they are anymore. Every constellation points to another.

Also, most books have the stars on a dark blue background with black writing. It's hard to read. This has the stars white, on a light lavender background, so the black and white writing stands out much better. All in all, it make the diagrams much easier on the eyes. I am going to try to learn one constellation each night.

Has correct constellation segment connections unlike Rey's "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".......2005-09-26

Undoubtedly lots of beginning astronomers will be trying to decide between Rey's book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them" and Heifetz/Tirion's "A Walk Through the Heavens". I just wanted to point out something that could be a deciding factor for some people: "A Walk Through the Heavens" teaches you to find contellations which are drawn using the time-tested line segments between the stars of the constellations. In other words, the connections between the stars in any given constellation are the "traditional" connections. As an astronomy purist, this is the way I prefer to see them.

In contrast, H.A. Rey used his imagination to re-draw the line segments between the stars in his book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them". Put another way, Rey diverges from the accepted norm in that the connections between the stars in any given constellation are drawn differently than the accepted connections. That means if you look at a planisphere or any other observing aid, the constellations' connections will be drawn differently than in Rey's book (but will appear the same as they do in "A Walk Through the Heavens").

That said, some people find Rey's "new way" easier since Rey's constellation connections are more intuitive for some people to grasp. But if you learn from Rey's book then be prepared to re-learn the conventional constellation segments once you graduate to any other astronomical reference.

A Great Learning Guide.......2004-06-05

One of the best, if not the best, book I have found to easily teach you the night sky and how to find and identify the Constellations. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn the night sky easily and complete. A++++

Confusing Constellation Relationships - Good Basic Astronomy.......2002-09-28

Those who consider this a really good beginners' book must not have seen Hans Rey's classic "Find the Constellations" or "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".
The latter book was "new" generations ago when my now grown children marveled at the heavens using our heavily worn hard copy of "The Stars" with Rey, and is now collecting grubby fingerprints from the frequent use by my grandchildren in our original and several paperback copies.
Part 2 of the Heifetz/Tirion book uses a labored method of originating and extending lines all over the sky from "Star n" of Asterism "m" through several other hard to define positions of far removed stars and further on to numbered or named stars in destination constellations for its "Walk Through the Heavens".
Too complicated for the purpose for beginners.
One could spend all night trying to imagine these lines in the sky while a few minutes with either of the Rey books would have the beginner naming and knowing half a dozen constellations and then star hopping to others.
Parts 1, 3 and 4 save the book. Part 3, the section on Legends of the Heavens, Milky Way, etc. is very good. Part 4, sort of a Misc. chapter has a small collection of good viewing information.
The book is a good buy, but the Rey books are a lot better for learning the constellations for any age group, and only slightly more expensive.
The Time-Life Skywatching/Advanced Skywatching volumes for a few more bucks are a little more advanced but orders of magnitude better for beginning teenagers, adults or advanced elementary schoolers and provide a lot more bang for your buck.

An Excellent Primer to the Constellations.......2002-09-02

This book makes finding constellations in the Northern Hemisphere(the author has a similar book for the Southern Hemisphere)an interesting and successful endeavor. It is not just for youngsters, but for anyone with an interest in learning how to find constellations and the names of the major stars. The diagrams illustrate the relationships between stars and constellations in simple drawings that make it like an easy-to-read roadmap. It builds from the pointer stars of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) to all the constellations and how to find them. Instead of frustration and doubt you'll feel the exhilaration of discovery.

Book Description

Find hidden stories and pictures in these paintings of Native Americans and the western wilderness. Eighty-three thousand copies sold.

Customer Reviews:

Classroom Saver.......2006-11-06

I have this book available in my middle school classroom and the students love it. It is a favorite book among my students and it is always being used during free times: silent reading or those students who finish early. The artwork of Bev Doolittle is very beautiful, eye-cathing, and inspiring.

The Forest Has Eyes.......2005-10-10

Very interesting book. The art work is spectacular and the text just amplifies the presentation. This book lead me to purchase all five of Ms. Doolittle's books.

once again great!.......2002-11-20

Bev Doolittle books are a tremendous way to introduce kids to nature and all the wonderful things we share with animals, respect for all living things on earth and wildlife to be cherished.....

The Forest Has Eyes is a wonderful story........1999-04-09

This book is a wonderful experience in the moment of reading. But more importantly for me, it begins to help both children and adults learn how to "see" differently. That makes it a great introduction to the appreciation of art for children. In addition, the subject of the story is very enriching and helps to develop a connection to nature. No small feat in todays technological/video environment.

EXCELLENT: DOOLITTLE'S work is displayed Beautifully.......1998-09-16

This book gives you a collection of Doolittle's work that makes a GREAT conversation piece. It shows her work and displays a story with each piece. A must have for all lovers of Bev's work

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books