The Legend of the Bluebonnet: An Old Tale of Texas

by Tomie dePaola, Tomie dePaola (Illustrator), Tomie de Paola (Illustrator)

Overview

When a killing drought threatens the existence of the tribe, a courageous little Comanche girl sacrifices her most beloved possession—and the Great Spirit's answer results not only in much needed rain but a very special gift in return.

"An ideal complement to Native American and Texas studies..."Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780698113596
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/28/1996
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.88(w) x 8.02(h) x 0.11(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Born in 1934 into a large extended Irish/Italian family, Tomie dePaola received his art education at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and the California College of Arts & Crafts. Although he always wanted to create children's books, he spent several years applying his talents to the fields of education, theater, and graphic design. In the mid-1960s, he received his first commission to illustrate a children's science book. A year later, he published his first original picture book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin. Today, he is one of the most prolific -- and beloved -- author/illustrators in children's literature.

In addition to illustrating stories by other writers, DePaola has created artwork for collections of poetry, nursery rhymes, holiday traditions, and folk and religious tales. But, he is most famous for books of his own creation, especially Strega Nona ("Grandma Witch"), the beloved story of an old woman who uses her magical powers to help the people of her small Italian village. Written in 1975, this Caldecott Honor winner is still delighting children today.

DePaola admits that there are strong autobiographical elements in many of his books (Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, The Art Lesson, Stagestruck), but nowhere is this more evident than in 26 Fairmount Avenue, a series of charming chapter books based on his Connecticut childhood. Taking its name from the address of his family home, the series captures the experiences and emotions of a young boy growing up in the late 1930s and early '40s in the shadow of World War II. The first book in the series received a 1999 Newbery Honor Award.

DePaola and his work have been recognized with many honors, including the Smithsonian Medal, the Kerlan Award for "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal, and several awards from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. In 1999, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts bestowed on dePaola the Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure Award for the body of his work.

Hometown:

Connecticut and New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1935

Place of Birth:

Meriden, CT

Website:

http://www.tomie.com/main.html

Editorial Reviews

Tomie dePaola provides a charming retelling of the Native American legend about the origin of Texas' state flower, the bluebonnet. In this tale, the Comanche People experience drought and famine as a result of their selfish acts against the Earth. In order to restore life to the Earth, they must make a burnt offering of their most valued possession. One night after everyone is in bed, a young girl named "She-Who-Is-Alone" burns her most precious possession, a warrior doll, and scatters the ashes to the North, South, East, and West. When she awakens from her nightly sleep, the young Indian girl finds herself surrounded by beautiful blue flowers and a lush green Earth. As the People celebrate, the rains return and they praise the sacrifice of the young girl, whose name becomes "One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-People."

Children's Literature - Debra Briatico