SUMMARY: This book is a detailed description of The Crow Fair, which is the largest Powwow celebration in North America. The author describes everything at the parade along with the history behind it. From the teepees, to the styles of clothing, to the music and dancing being seen and heard. For example, "Dresses are often made from the skins of animals such as deer or elk and are decorated with porcupine quills, cowrie shells, and elk teeth. But the influence of European trade can also be seen. Cotton and wool trade cloth can be used for dresses."

REVIEW: This book had excellent illustrations. The illustrations captivated exactly what the author was describing in the text. The book was advanced, but the main message was describing the Native American culture and the culture of celebrating Powwows. This book was filled with information.

I liked this book for a few reasons. For one, I liked the vocabulary used in the book because it can help students to understand the origin of the tradition. For example, the book starts by explaining where the word “powwow” comes from. It states that, “powwow came from French explorers who misunderstood the native word describing a gathering of people coming together to trade.” Then the book describes other origins of the word to help to explain what powwow is. I also liked the illustrations in the book because they show detailed pictures of the costumes the Native Americans wear. Their costumes are an important part of their tradition and in order to exemplify this, real photographs are essential. Finally, I liked the writing because it contains traditions that children themselves take part in. I think this is an engaging piece for younger students. They may be able to picture themselves taking part in some of the traditions and finding similarities to traditions they already take part in. I liked that the book ended with a comment from a child saying that “when [he] dances, he feels like a warrior.” The big message of Powwow is to inform students about the history and traditions of Powwow. ( )