This lovely collection of tales from the tipi, collected from many tribes and illustrated with the art of the times, is beautifully presented. The art is colourful and lively, horses, dogs, rabbits, buffalo and other creatures inhabit every page. Each story in THE MAN WHO DREAMED OF ELK DOGS is short and sheds light on the native people of the Great Plains.

Whether a man who dreams of the first horses to run wild in America, or a boy who was shown in a dream that dogs would help his people, or a girl who was captured by a Ghoul that intended to eat her, we meet a variety of resourceful, creative people living a hard life. Nature is up close and personal, in these days, food is hard to find and hard to kill, weather can help or hinder survival. Common themes include hunger, the family and the number four. A moral is not pointed out but the reader is left to figure it out for themselves; for instance befriending a wolf family helped a traveler more than killing them would have.

The author Paul Goble points out that he has deliberately not included any stories of war or revenge. Some tales may have been told by more than one tribe, but each has been attributed to the tribe which told it in the form used in the book. The Plains culture and mythology are respectfully represented, according to the foreword by Lauren Wauhau-Villagomez of the Menominee Indians. Whether a short story book for a young adult or a classroom text, this collection deserves to be read and enjoyed.