I loved this book. The book is about modern Pueblo peoples and how they are keeping their traditions alive. I love the close relationship between the boy and his Grandpa too. Great pictures of the dancing and costumes. I think books like this are particularly important after having done my presentation at Trinity. A couple of the students there thought that Native Americans were "extinct." The state of the Native American reservation education system is a disgrace, and as long as most Americans are blind to their plight, or even their continued existence, there is little hope for change. ( )

Curt and his family are Pueblo Indians. Every year, on June 24th, everyone in his town celebrates Feast Day. Feast Day is the day when Pueblo Indians dance in honor of their patron saint, and they celebrate the power of the summer sun. Curt has been dancing since he could walk, and he and his family look forward to performing at Feast Day each year. Curt’s grandfather, Andy, is an elder in their tribe, and he is one of the best dancers.
I enjoyed this book because it gave the reader an informative look into the culture of the Pueblos Indians. The book discussed several customs surrounding the festival such as why the dancers dress as animals, what the Pueblos Indians pray for when they dance, and what their make-up represents. This was all very interesting. The story also mentioned that in 1935, Indian worship was made illegal in the United States. It wasn’t until 1935 that Indians were allowed to dance again. I would recommend this book for students in grades first through sixth. The information in the book would complement a social studies class. The author does a very thorough job of explaining many aspects of the Pueblo culture. The photographs also help to capture the interest of the reader. The colors of the decorations on the costumes are vivid, and the pictures of the bread that was cooked for the festival made me hungry! ( )

This book chronicles the life of an Indian boy. Follow him and his family preparing for an annual Feast Day.Rich with traditions. They get dressed in their ragalia, each costume in beautiful and ornate. The children will associate this with our Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans.I bet not many kids know that Native Americans are the first. ( )