Second Grade Book Collection: Week 7: Traditional Literature

The Legend of the Indian Paint Brush

by: Tomie dePaola

Second Grade

APA Citation: Depaola, T. (1988). The legend of the Indian paintbrush. New York: Putnam.

Description: "In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend. Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset. How the young Indian artist finally fulfills his Dream-Vision is lovingly told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, in words and pictures that capture the spirit and beauty of this dramatic legend." Retrieved from Amazon.com on October 17, 2017: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Indian-Paintbrush-Tomie-dePaola/dp/0698113608

Justification: This book overall celebrates the uniqueness of everyone and the importance of seeking and utilizing individual talents rather than just trying to fit in and conform to the group. This is an essential lesson then, for any age group to learn and to be reminded of periodically. The story will encourage students to be themselves, and to pursue their own talents, gifts, goals, and interests. I would read this book to my class as part of a story time presentation. Students would then fill out a worksheet about the meaning of the book, fulfilling CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.6 Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe, and also CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7 Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. This would lead to a guided discussion and personal reflection and written response time in which students think about their own strengths and dreams.

Review: "Little Gopher can't keep up with the other Indian boys; he prefers making and decorating small figures. When it's his turn to go out into the hills "to think about being a man," a vision tells him to become a painter, using colors "as pure as. . .the evening sky." But though he works hard, Little Gopher is dissatisfied with his dull, dark paintings. Patiently, he gazes at the sunset each evening till at last he is rewarded: brushes with sunset colors spring up for his use, returning next day--and each spring thereafter--as flowers. In a full-page note, dePaola traces this story to Texas Wildflowers, Stories and Legends, a collection of newspaper articles by Ruth D. Isely--which doesn't really give much clue to its Native American source. The retelling is pleasantly cadenced, even though it tells us more about the artist's need for serf-expression within any society than about Plains Indians. And dePaola's somber tones burst forth into satisfyingly brilliant sunsets. This should do well at picture-book tour." Retrieved from Kirkusreviews.com on October 17, 2017: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tomie-depaola/the-legend-of-the-indian-paintbrush/

Citation: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. (1988, April 15). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tomie-depaola/the-legend-of-the-indian-paintbrush/.

Second Grade Book Collection