I dunno, maybe 3.5 stars. I'm not sure just how accurate everything is, for example I thought the nation preferred to be called Lakota, not Sioux. But the book did bring home the idea than the First Americans were regular people, not 'other' - and anything that has a strong message of humanity is a good thing. I also admire the sense these people have to count 13 moons, instead of 12 months - much tidier and more consistent - I wish that system had dominated! ( )

Summary: A young Native American boy describes his childhood journey through the different moon phases of the Sioux tribe. For the beginning moon phases the boy describes what his father and brother does during the time because he is too young to go with them to hunt or gather. Throughout the story the boy comes of age and participates in the different moon phases with his family. The book ends with the boy, now a man, describing his new life with his family and how times have and will always change.

Review: Bunting does an excellent job at capturing a young readers attention by her central message, which is that the world is constantly changing. Children can gain a better understand about Native Americans and their culture through this book because they [children] can see the stories from a boy their own age. The boy discusses in the book how he will be old enough to go with his father soon and later on in the book the boy tells the readers that his mother wrapped a robe on him to keep him warm while hunting, showing the passage of time between childhood and manhood. When the boy has become a man he explains to the readers about his new life that him and his family have taken on. His brother now works in a barbershop, his father has passed on, and he makes headdresses. As a grandfather he then tells his grandson that "changes come and will come again," but to embrace the change. This helps the reader grasp an idea that yes, change is not always what we want, but we cannot stop the change from happening. Time passes everyday, just like how in the book it started with a boy and ended with the boy as a grandfather. ( )

“Moonstick” describes a young boys journey to manhood. It informs children about the Native Americans culture and their belief in the thirteen moons of the Sioux year. This book allows you to appreciate the respect Native Americans had for the animals and nature around them. They appreciated everything that mother nature provided them. “Moonstick” also shows how the world is constantly changing. Seasons change and with it bring new situations and the world in general changes bringing on new struggles. The Native Americans believed that at the rise of the first moon was a new beginning for everyone. This powerful description can be relatable for children because everyone believes that at the start of a new year can be a new beginning. The book allows children to have a better understanding of Native Americans and with that a greater respect. ( )

A serious of poems that aid the reader into seeing the life of an average Sioux indian. The book ends with his life being very different from the times when he was a child, but he still tries to carry out some of the traditions that his father taught him to his grandson. ( )

This book is a wondergul way to show the Indian culture. It is the story of a small child and his tribe. They move with every new moon. It shows the different rituals of the Indian culture, and also exposes children to the different seasons. This book is a 2.9 reading level. For more about this author, parents and teachers should visit www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp.