All the quotes in this book are from people who were born before 1904. They are passing on the wisdom of the Plains Indians so that young people can learn who they were and how their life was lived. While tribes and their stories differed, they had many unifying themes and needs. There are beautiful photographs of the day, some of which are very rare. Alongside these are placed toys such as a carved horse or a toy tipi, and clothes. These belonged to CHILDREN OF THE TIPI.

Standing Bear of the Lakota tells how his father made him a bow and taught him to fire arrows. This was to be his way of gaining food and his means of defence. Sarah Winnemucca of the Piute passes on her own mother's advice to her: "Be kind to all, poor and rich. Feed all who come to your wigwam. In this way you will make many friends." The division of work is described, differing between tribes as some cultivated corn and others hunted buffalo. Standing Bear described training ponies - boys drove them into deep water where they could not kick and played with them until the ponies understood that the boys would not harm them, and mounting proved easy. Ponies were trained with kindness, he says, and were more trustworthy because of it.

Chief Joseph and Sitting Bull are among those quoted. A very impressive scene of a field of tipis reminds us that a tribe was a town. But then the images move to modern times and colour photos show us the legacy of these people; today's children in colourful costume sitting on their ponies.

I was impressed with the work that has gone into this beautiful book. The images are each exceptional and at 48 pages the short content works to capture the attention of children - adults would wish the book was longer. I thought it would be a good book to pair with the beautifully illustrated The Man Who Dreamed of Elk Dogs by Paul Goble, which tells the legends passed down by these same tribes. Michael Oren Fitzgerald, who previously taught the Religious Traditions of the North American Indians at Indiana University, has written several books on the Native Americans and these would suit those interested in further reading on the topic. CHILDREN OF THE TIPI is a lovely book.