Crazy Horse's Vision

"The outer work will never be puny if the inner work is great." Meister Eckhart's quote is the awe-inspiring depiction of Crazy Horse and his vision which can be almost as illuminating as his very own enlightenment. This self-actualization brought Crazy Horse, once called Curly as a child, an aura of wisdom. His modesty, compassion, and generosity, made him known by many. With every page the reader is drawn in with both story and illustration. Each aesthetically stunning with detail to help bring the past to life. When the unthinkable happens and one's way of life is hastily seized; what cannot be taken is the freedom to choose. Crazy Horse knew this as he always chose his words mindfully. A perfect read as a reminder of the deep wisdom show more that lived on the lands in America long before white settlers impetuously plowed their way through. show less

Joseph Bruchac, whose prolific output as a children's author seems to span every conceivable genre, here turns his attention to the tale of Crazy Horse, the famous Lakota leader. Focusing on his childhood, this picture-book "biography" relates the story of young Curly, a quiet Lakota boy who decides to seek a vision after he witnesses the murder of Conquering Bear by U.S. soldiers.

The winner of the "Parents' Choice Gold Award," Crazy Horse's Vision pairs Bruchac's skillful narrative with S.D. Nelson's fabulous illustrations. Inspired by the ledger book style of painting created by Lakota artists of the 19th century, Nelson's colorful palette and stylized forms are a breathtaking complement to the story. Well worth the time of any young show more reader interested in American history, or the story of the Lakota people. show less

Summary:
Crazy Horse's Vision is about a young Native American boy named Curly who was strong, brave, and a good leader. At the young age of thirteen his people became in danger when white settlers and an army enter their lands. Curly knew he had to do something, so he went on a vision quest to see what he could do for his people. In his vision he is told, "Keep nothing for yourself," (p.22). In his vision he sees a man riding on his horse, but doesn't realizes that that man is him. With help from his father he soon realizes that he is the man from his vision, and that if he keeps nothing for himself that he will not be harmed. By following his vision, he can help his people. The father changes Curly's name to a name more fitting to his show more vision, Tashunka Witco. Which means crazy horse.

Critique:
This is a good book to teach little kids that no matter their age or their size that they can make a difference in the world. The little boy from the book was never going to be tall, but that didn't stop him being a leader and doing his part to help protect his people. This book is meant for students in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. These students are not the tallest or strongest, but if they believe in themselves they too can make a difference in the world around them. Just like Curly did.

Prompts:
Think Aloud- Stop reading the book in certain areas and have the students predict what they think is going to happen next. Give them time to talk to their neighbors. For example, on page 9 and 10 where the village is divided in half between the Indians and the settlers ask the class what they think might happen next.
On page 13 and 14 it shows the Indians fighting the settlers. The teacher could have the class split up into two groups. One group is the Indians and the other group is the settlers. Then the teacher could have them act those pages.

Craft Elements:
Reading- Making predictions before reading, and throughout the reading
- Picture walk before reading to see if the students can guess what
the book will be about
Writing- Have the students create plays from events from the book and act them out
-Have students write as if they were Curly and write about a day in his shoes. show less

I really loved this book. First, I like how this book represents the Lakota or Sioux people. Although the story is fiction, it is based on a person and actual Native American traditions and culture. In the back of the book there is an author's note with some more information regarding Crazy Horse and his people which is very informative and interesting. Second, I love the illustrations. They are vibrant and bright. There is an illustrator's note in the back too. The illustrations demonstrate perspective, color, and texture. There is also symbolism in the drawings, "I painted Crazy Horse blue because blue represents the sky and a connection with the spirit world." Finally, I liked the characters. The reader gets to see Curly develop from show more a small boy to a brave man called Crazy Horse. He is a brave character and he is also wise. I think the theme of this book is to be courageous and bold in difficult times. show less

This book recounts the story of how the Lakota chief Crazy Horse received his name, as told in Lakota legends. The story is well written and authentic to the legend if not necessarily the historical facts. S.D. Nelson's illustrations are extremely vibrant and eye-catching, and he is an award-winning author and artist in his own right, in addition to illustrating this book. This book is worth it for the artwork alone, and it makes a nice addition to any kind of mythology or folklore set for younger readers.

I believe that this myth does do a good job reflecting the culture of the Lakota's and other Native American tribes. Native Americans are very spiritual and believe in the visions that come from their gods or the elders that have passed on. They believe that they can speak to them in various ways and tell of how to better themselves and their tribal communities. Many of these rites are still practiced today. The author and the illustrator both come from Native American backgrounds and therefore do a very good job of portraying what daily life was like, what fears they had, and their spiritual beliefs. The illustrator used colors that have different symbolic meanings. For instance, he painted Crazy Horse blue because blue symbolizes the show more sky and the connection with the spirit world. show less

Summary of the book
Crazy Horse's Vision by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by S.D. Nelson is a great book. It tells the story of Curly, a Lakota Indian boy, and a natural born leader. He was brave and strong even as a young boy. He lived during the traditional Native American period and his tribe was facing changing times with Army moving in nearby to keep the peace between Lakotas and Whites. The killing of a cow prompted US forces involvement and began a battle in which Chief Conquering Bear was killed. Curly sought vision from his ancestors and granted such. The vision told him to, "keep nothing for yourself" and Curly moved onto to become the great leader he was destined to by and became known as Crazy Horse, his father gave him his show more own name.

Personal reaction to the book
I truly enjoyed reading about Crazy Horse. As a Native American Child there weren't many books that portrayed Natives in a traditional way, that didn't involve their slaughter, at least that I was exposed to. The illustrations are colorful and aid in bringing the story to life.

Classroom Extension Ideas
1. I would use this book as an introduction to Native American studies.
2. In the classroom, have students cut, color, and paste a Crazy Horse template of him on top of his horse.
3. I would use a template, sticks, and a base and allow older students to build a traditional tepee (miniature size). show less