Bøker av S. D. Nelson

Clara spends her summer visiting her grandma and cousin on Standing Rock reservation, where Clara and her family set up the ancestral tipi and grow closer together as they tell stories, sing songs, and learn about their Lakota roots.

Told from the Native American point of view, Black Elks Vision provides a unique perspective on American history. From recounting the visions Black Elk had as a young boy, to his involvement in the battles of Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, as well as his journeys to New York City and Europe with Buffalo Bills Wild West Show, this biographical account of Black Elkan Oglala-Lakota medicine man (18631950)follows him from childhood through adulthood. S. D. Nelson tells the story of Black Elk through the medicine mans voice, bringing to life what it was like to be Native American in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The Native people found their land overrun by the Wha-shi-choos, or White Man, the buffalo slaughtered for sport and to purposely eliminate their main food source, and their people gathered onto reservations. Through it all, Black Elk clung to his childhood visions that planted the seeds to help his peopleand all peopleunderstand their place in the circle of life. The book includes archival images, a timeline, a bibliography, an index, and Nelsons signature art. Praise for the work of S. D. NelsonWestern Writers of America Spur Storyteller AwardChicago Public Library Best of the BestOppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold AwardAn appealing story full of excitement, warmth, and wisdom. The Five Owls, starred reviewA fine choice for story hours, this will also find wide curricular use. BooklistA modern-day story in the Sioux tradition of storytelling. Winston-Salem JournalSplendid acrylic artwork captures the action, humor, and spirit of the tale. A solid addition to collections of Native American tales and an enjoyable read-aloud. School Library JournalNelson pulls it off with his confident style as a storyteller . . . polished illustrations . . . informative, well written. Kirkus Reviews F&P level: UF&Pgenre:B

Pickup trucks and eagles, yellow school buses and painted horses, Mother Earth and Sister Meadowlark all join together to greet the dawn. They marvel at the colors and sounds, smells and memories that come with the opening of the day. Animals and humans alike turn their faces upwards and gaze as the sun makes its daily journey from horizon to horizon. Dawn is a time to celebrate with a smiling heart, to start a new day in the right way, excited for what might come. Birds sing and dance, children rush to learn, dewdrops glisten from leaves, and gradually the sun warms us. Each time the sun starts a new circle, we can start again as well. All these things are part of the Lakota way, a means of living in balance. S. D. Nelson offers young readers a joyous way of appreciating their culture and surroundings. He draws inspiration from traditional stories to create Greet the Dawn. His artwork fuses elements of modern with traditional. Above all, he urges each of us to seize the opportunity that comes with the dawn of each new day.