Picture book that tells the story of the first peace pipe, given to Lakota Indians to connect to the Great Spirit, thus helping them through life's hardships.

The Legend of White Buffalo Woman tells the inspiring story of the first peace pipe, presented to the Lakota people to connect them to the Great Spirit, who will guide them through the hardships of life.

I liked this story for many reasons. First, I really enjoyed the illustrations and feel that they would be appropriate and engaging for 5th and 6th grade students. Each page is illustrated with a great deal of detail, texture, and patterns, which makes the story more realistic and enjoyable to read. I also like how the author takes an old legend and retells it turning it into an informational book about buffalo culture. The author gives definitions in the back of the book that explain in more detail some of the things that are discussed in the story. For example, the author explains that the buffalo fur on the pipe is meant to honor "the animals and everything that walks and moves on Earth." The big idea of this book is to describe the imagination of Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit and the Buffalo Indian Traditions. ( )

I had never considered the significance of the pipe before reading this legend. This book helped me to understand a very important piece of First Nations history and ceremony. I loved the illustrations, which spread over two pages, and I thought they really captured the prairie sky and plains beautifully. The additions of author's notes about the pipe were important to better understand the historically references in this text.

This book tells the Lakota legend of the buffalo woman that brought buffalo to the people of the plains. She brought them a pipe that they could pray with then turned into a white buffalo calf and to everyone’s surprise ( )