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Rating: 
Summary: The Oglala legend of the origin of the peace pipe
Review: Although the title of "The Secret of the White Buffalo" mentions the sacred white buffalo that is a part of many Native American legends, the story retold and illustrated by C. J. Taylor in this volume is actually about how the peace pipe was brought to the Oglala people. The peace pipe is still one of the great symbols of brotherhood and friendship, and while every tribe has its own legend about its origin, it is not surprising that the Oglala's origin story is mixed with that of the legend of the white buffalo as well. The story begins with one village in the Black Hills of South Dakota where it has been a long, cold winter and the people are growing restless waiting for spring. The elders know that when the buffalo return in the spring everything will be better, but when the weather grows warm the buffalo do not return and the tribe's two best scouts, Black Knife and Blue Cloud, are sent to search for the herds. They do not find the buffalo, but they are approached by a beautiful woman who gives one of them a message to be delivered to the people of the village. Tell are to stop fighting and to prove they can work together by building a great tipi in the center of the village in which she can live. When the village has done as she has requested, the woman comes to the tipi and tells the people that she has a gift for them. Teachers who use "The Secret of the White Buffalo" in classes will want to take advantage of the information that Taylor provides on the last page of the book where she talks about the Oglala Sioux. Young students being told this tale will need to appreciate the importance of the buffalo as the basis for the domestic economy of the Plains tribes. For these people the return of the herds each spring was uncertain, which was why there were rituals and prayers designed to persuade the buffalo to come back in the spring. There is a Lakota version of this story that is essentially the same, although it talks about how the beautiful woman comes to the village not only to give a gift but to see Buffalo Walking Upright, who is an especially good man to whom she gives a sacred prayer. Consequently, the version that Taylor tells her is pretty much the most popular of the legends surrounding the origin of the peace pipe, although she does make the story appropriate for kids in telling what the beautiful woman does to the young warrior who does not respect her. Taylor has produced a series of such books retelling Native American legends, such as "How Two-Feather Was Saved From Loneliness," "The Ghost and the Lone Warrior," and "Little Water and the gift of animals." Each tells its story in a simple and direct style while the accompanying oil paintings make use of the vivid colors of nature. In reviewing these books several publications have talked about Taylor's work as being uniquely Canadian, but certainly there value extends to young readers south of the border as well.
Rating:
Summary: The Oglala legend of the origin of the peace pipe
Review: Although the title of "The Secret of the White Buffalo" mentions the sacred white buffalo that is a part of many Native American legends, the story retold and illustrated by C. J. Taylor in this volume is actually about how the peace pipe was brought to the Oglala people. The peace pipe is still one of the great symbols of brotherhood and friendship, and while every tribe has its own legend about its origin, it is not surprising that the Oglala's origin story is mixed with that of the legend of the white buffalo as well. The story begins with one village in the Black Hills of South Dakota where it has been a long, cold winter and the people are growing restless waiting for spring. The elders know that when the buffalo return in the spring everything will be better, but when the weather grows warm the buffalo do not return and the tribe's two best scouts, Black Knife and Blue Cloud, are sent to search for the herds. They do not find the buffalo, but they are approached by a beautiful woman who gives one of them a message to be delivered to the people of the village. Tell are to stop fighting and to prove they can work together by building a great tipi in the center of the village in which she can live. When the village has done as she has requested, the woman comes to the tipi and tells the people that she has a gift for them. Teachers who use "The Secret of the White Buffalo" in classes will want to take advantage of the information that Taylor provides on the last page of the book where she talks about the Oglala Sioux. Young students being told this tale will need to appreciate the importance of the buffalo as the basis for the domestic economy of the Plains tribes. For these people the return of the herds each spring was uncertain, which was why there were rituals and prayers designed to persuade the buffalo to come back in the spring. There is a Lakota version of this story that is essentially the same, although it talks about how the beautiful woman comes to the village not only to give a gift but to see Buffalo Walking Upright, who is an especially good man to whom she gives a sacred prayer. Consequently, the version that Taylor tells her is pretty much the most popular of the legends surrounding the origin of the peace pipe, although she does make the story appropriate for kids in telling what the beautiful woman does to the young warrior who does not respect her. Taylor has produced a series of such books retelling Native American legends, such as "How Two-Feather Was Saved From Loneliness," "The Ghost and the Lone Warrior," and "Little Water and the gift of animals." Each tells its story in a simple and direct style while the accompanying oil paintings make use of the vivid colors of nature. In reviewing these books several publications have talked about Taylor's work as being uniquely Canadian, but certainly there value extends to young readers south of the border as well.
Rating: 
Summary: White Buffalo Calf Woman brings the Pipe to the Sioux
Review: As a member of the Santee Sioux, I grew up with this story about White Buffalo Calf Woman. This is a central and integral story of the Dakota/Nakota/Lakota (called Sioux by Anglo-Americans)people. This is a theological story, a story of how the Dakota received the gift of the pipe and its meaning as a communion of the peoples, creation, and reality. This is a lovely re-telling of the story with wonderful illustrations. The themes of unity, thanksgiving, rightful living, and spiritual preperation are seen throughout this short story. Both children and adults will enjoy and value this book.
Rating:
Summary: White Buffalo Calf Woman brings the Pipe to the Sioux
Review: As a member of the Santee Sioux, I grew up with this story about White Buffalo Calf Woman. This is a central and integral story of the Dakota/Nakota/Lakota (called Sioux by Anglo-Americans)people. This is a theological story, a story of how the Dakota received the gift of the pipe and its meaning as a communion of the peoples, creation, and reality. This is a lovely re-telling of the story with wonderful illustrations. The themes of unity, thanksgiving, rightful living, and spiritual preperation are seen throughout this short story. Both children and adults will enjoy and value this book.
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