Bibliographic Data:
McLaughlin, Timothy. 2012. Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky. New York: Abrams. ISBN: 978-1419-701795
Summary:
Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky is a collection of poems written by fifth through eighth grade Lakota students attending Red Cloud Indian School. A teacher working in the school compiled the poems, and they share insight about what life is like for these students, based on their special, distinctive, and interesting cultural background.
Critical Analysis:
Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky begins with a forward by Joseph M. Marshall, a member of the Lakota tribe, cautioning against not using one’s voice, memories, and history to share one’s story. He speaks of the children writing these poems, as authorities on the subject matter despite their young age, as they have are old and wise with history. The author, Timothy McLaughlin, then writes a brief introduction describing his purpose for compiling the poems in this book, mainly, to honor the Lakota Tribe and his students. The book is then divided into seven sections, with pictures and poems that correlate to the theme. The different themes are: Natural Wolrd, Misery, Native Thoughts, Silence, Spirit, Family, Youth, and Dreams (these three are all on section), and then language.
Surprisingly, the group of poems that resonated with me the loudest and hardest seems to fall under the theme of “Silence”. “Silence is the loudest noise I ever heard”, and “Silence is when I saw my mom for the last time/ The air stopped/The people were silent/ and my heart was still”. The children write these poems from such a pure place that is impossible not to be overwhelmed by the subtly in their meaning, and in the vastness of their wisdom. Many utilize repetition or emotion to convey their message, and although there are less textbook poetic elements, they are beautiful poems.
The poems yearn to teach about the importance of family, respect, land, the respect for elders, the importance of history, pride, and nature, as well as being grateful for any and every blessing.
The rich, mixed-media illustrations by S.D. Nelson, a renowned artist who graciously shares never before seen works of art, are beautiful. He utilizes paints, pens, and other materials to create images reflective of his life as a Native American. Perhaps my favorite are the images he scrawled on ledger paper, mainly the one entitled “I’ve Got Your Back” (spotlight picture).
This is a book for everyone.
Reviews:
--Booklist- "This is an important collection that offers opportunities for insight into a culture that has too often been either ignored or misunderstood."
--Kirkus Reviews "A moving, fascinating glimpse across cultures. Vivid, polychromatic illustrations by Nelson accompany the students’ evocative works."
--Library Media Connection- "As a collection, the poems present an interesting, eye-opening look at the Lakota culture, which is one that is often overlooked. The paintings by S.D. Nelson are gorgeous and vibrant."
Connections:
This book is an excellent way to teach children about Native Americans, and the inherant cultural differences that lie within us all. I would choose five themes, all related to family and culture, and have the kids write their own poems based on their heritage/their own lives.
Spotlight Poem & Spotlight Image:
McLaughlin, Timothy. 2012. Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky. New York: Abrams. ISBN: 978-1419-701795
Summary:
Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky is a collection of poems written by fifth through eighth grade Lakota students attending Red Cloud Indian School. A teacher working in the school compiled the poems, and they share insight about what life is like for these students, based on their special, distinctive, and interesting cultural background.
Critical Analysis:
Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky begins with a forward by Joseph M. Marshall, a member of the Lakota tribe, cautioning against not using one’s voice, memories, and history to share one’s story. He speaks of the children writing these poems, as authorities on the subject matter despite their young age, as they have are old and wise with history. The author, Timothy McLaughlin, then writes a brief introduction describing his purpose for compiling the poems in this book, mainly, to honor the Lakota Tribe and his students. The book is then divided into seven sections, with pictures and poems that correlate to the theme. The different themes are: Natural Wolrd, Misery, Native Thoughts, Silence, Spirit, Family, Youth, and Dreams (these three are all on section), and then language.
Surprisingly, the group of poems that resonated with me the loudest and hardest seems to fall under the theme of “Silence”. “Silence is the loudest noise I ever heard”, and “Silence is when I saw my mom for the last time/ The air stopped/The people were silent/ and my heart was still”. The children write these poems from such a pure place that is impossible not to be overwhelmed by the subtly in their meaning, and in the vastness of their wisdom. Many utilize repetition or emotion to convey their message, and although there are less textbook poetic elements, they are beautiful poems.
The poems yearn to teach about the importance of family, respect, land, the respect for elders, the importance of history, pride, and nature, as well as being grateful for any and every blessing.
The rich, mixed-media illustrations by S.D. Nelson, a renowned artist who graciously shares never before seen works of art, are beautiful. He utilizes paints, pens, and other materials to create images reflective of his life as a Native American. Perhaps my favorite are the images he scrawled on ledger paper, mainly the one entitled “I’ve Got Your Back” (spotlight picture).
This is a book for everyone.
Reviews:
--Booklist- "This is an important collection that offers opportunities for insight into a culture that has too often been either ignored or misunderstood."
--Kirkus Reviews "A moving, fascinating glimpse across cultures. Vivid, polychromatic illustrations by Nelson accompany the students’ evocative works."
--Library Media Connection- "As a collection, the poems present an interesting, eye-opening look at the Lakota culture, which is one that is often overlooked. The paintings by S.D. Nelson are gorgeous and vibrant."
Connections:
This book is an excellent way to teach children about Native Americans, and the inherant cultural differences that lie within us all. I would choose five themes, all related to family and culture, and have the kids write their own poems based on their heritage/their own lives.
Spotlight Poem & Spotlight Image: