An ok story with very charming illustrations.

*Note: I received this through Early Reviewers. I was disappointed because what I received was basically the pages of the book, stapled instead of bound. I got the dust jacket as well, but it wasn't an actual bound book. Which made it a bit difficult to read and impossible to share with my 2 year old niece, who was my original inspiration in requesting the book for review.

Seeing as how this came from a small publisher, South Dakota State Historical Society, I didn't particularly hold it against them. It was a somewhat unpleasant surprise, but shouldn't be used to judge the finished product. ( )

The illustrations are unique, bright, and interesting. They appear to modeled after pictographic art.
The introduction was also interesting and well written.
This book is by Frank Baum, author of the Oz stories, and I am reasonably sure this is why the South Dakota State Historical Society Press chose to republish it.

The story was disappointing. It's a fairy-tale about a murdered buffalo king, the treacherous buffalo who sold his soul to an evil spirit for power, and the young calf who overthrows him because of the traitor's own stupidity. It's that last bit that just does not ring true. Supposedly, a king of the buffalo forgets that black panthers are deadly enemies and so, when given the ability to turn his young foe into anything he likes, he chooses a black panther instead of, oh, a field mouse or a small lizard.

As a fairy-tale the predictability is part of the genre, but the telling is tedious, overly long, and lacks a certain literary flair that makes a good fairy-tale. The language is stiff, not lilting, and, a small quibble, but it really irked me to read of an older buffalo calling a younger one a 'cub' instead of a calf. It made me twitch.

This is a good book for Baum collectors, and for those who like works by Indian artists. The artist, Donald F. Montileaux, deserves a better vehicle than this.

A simple animal transformation tale accompanied by beautiful illustrations. A relatively simple story but that is to be expected from this type of fable. The illustrations are the main draw for this tale. Do not get it thinking it will be like an Oz book. ( )

Treachery, revenge, persistence in the face of impossible odds--this story has it all. Donald Montileaux's beautiful illustrations perfectly complement Frank Baum's tale. An excellent book to read to your kids when you/they are studying south-west Native American culture.

I’ve been a fan of Baum’s Wizard of Oz books ever since I was quite young, but I wasn’t familiar with any of his other works. I was quite interested to learn that Baum had spent several years of his life in Aberdeen, Dakota Territory (as it was then known) back in the 1880s and 1890s, both as a newspaperman and storekeeper since I also have deep personal connections with South Dakota. My ancestors on both parents' sides were early settlers, both my parents grew up there, and most of my extended family still lives there.

The story itself was not so interesting. It's a fairly simple children’s fable involving Barrag, the buffalo who becomes king of his herd by murdering the old, feeble king Dakt. When the Dakt's young son challenges his right to rule, Barrag seeks to neutralize the threat he poses by enlisting the aid of Pagshat, the Evil Genius whose magic helped him win the crown. Pagshat gives Barrag a magic powder which turns the young buffalo into a panther. Ultimately, of course, the wicked usurper is overcome and good triumphs.

Knowing Baum’s background and familiarity with the place he was writing about, I anticipated perhaps greater authenticity or a heightened sense of place from the tale. The story fails in this, however; it feels as completely removed from any real place as the land of Oz.

The illustrations, by Lakota artist Donald Montileaux, are another matter. His depictions are colorful and vivid and lift the book above the ordinary. Mainly for that reason, I am able to recommend this book. ( )