From acclaimed Native American storyteller Joseph Bruchac comes a collection of seven lively plays for children to perform, each one adapted from a different traditional Native tale. Filled with heroes and tricksters, comedy and drama, these entertaining plays are a wonderful way to bring Native cultures to life for young people. Each play has multiple parts that can be adjusted to suit the size of a particular group and includes simple, informative suggestions for props, scenery, and costumes that children can help to create. Introductory notes and beautiful, detailed illustrations add to young readers' understanding of the seven Native nations whose traditions have inspired the plays. Grade 2-5-Anyone looking for an unusual way to introduce Native American cultures and stories might try this collection. The scripts are based on tales from the Abenaki, Ojibway, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Snohomish, Tlingit, and Zuni and are accompanied by brief introductions to each tribe and its culture. Many Native words and phrases are included in the dialogues, along with helpful pronunciations. The short, simple scripts are accessible to young, inexperienced actors. The casts include speaking and nonspeaking parts that can be adjusted to group needs. Suggestions are given for easy-to-make costumes, props, and scenery. A variety of pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the plays, as well as one lively gouache illustration per selection. Through color and style, the paintings reflect the regions and cultures of the tribes and add to readers' appreciation and understanding of the atmosphere and setting. Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Bruchac adapts seven traditional tales from various tribes into plays for children. Each play is introduced with a brief tribal background, a list of characters, suggestions for props and scenery, and recommended costumes. Representing tribes from Bruchac's own Abenaki to the Cherokee, Tlingit, and Zuni, the plays are mostly pourquoi tales, explaining how mosquitos came into the world or why stars are visible at night. Black-and-white drawings, contributed by Teresa Flavin, suggest backdrops and enhance the reader's enjoyment. Easily modified for various numbers of children, and easily produced with everyday materials, these plays offer an excellent extension of American Indian studies for elementary students as well as models for student writing. Performance and photocopying rights are granted for school and home performances as long as no admittance fees are charged. Karen Hutt Filled with heroes and tricksters, comedy and drama, Native American tales have entertained children from their ancient origins in the oral tradition to the present day. Now renowned Native storyteller Joseph Bruchac has adapted seven traditional tales from Native peoples around North America as delightful plays for children themselves to perform. Each play has multiple parts that can be adjusted to suit the size of a particular group, and includes simple suggestions for props, scenery, and costumes that children can help to create. From "Gluskabe and Old Man Winter", a battle of wits between an Abenaki hero and the frosty ruler of the Winter Land, to "The Strongest One", a Zuni tale that offers a dazzling procession of characters, children are sure to enjoy presenting these lively pieces. Introductory notes and Teresa Flavin's beautiful, detailed illustrations add to young people's understanding of the seven Native nations whose traditions have inspired the plays. Gluskabe and Old Man Winter Abenaki Star Sisters Ojibway Possum's Tail Cherokee Wihio's Duck Dance Cheyenne Pushing Up the Sky Snohomish The Cannibal Monster Tlingit The Strongest One Zuni Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in hundreds of publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored many books for adults and children including Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two , Skeleton Man , and The Heart of a Chief . For more information about Joseph, please visit his website www.josephbruchac.com. Possum’s Tail Cherokee The Cherokee people originally lived in the area now known as the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Because they adapted so quickly to the European way of life, they became known as one of the “civilized tribes.” However, long before the coming of Europeans they had a sophisticated form of government and lived in large, well-organized villages.    In the early 1800s many Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes and move to Indian Territory by traveling the infamous Trail of Tears. Today Cherokee people live all over the United Stat