Biography

Title: A Boy Called Slow
Author: Bruchac, Joseph
Illustrator: Baviera, Rocco
Publisher & Date: Philomel Books, 1994
Genre: Biography
Age Range: 2nd-5th grade
Summary: Every Lakota Indian is named when they are born, by how they act as a child. When Returns Again's son was born, they noticed that he was slow to react, so his name became Slow. He was teased when he was older and did not like his name. So, in order to change his name, he had to do a great deed or win a major victory. When he was 14, he went with his father on his first war battle. Because of him, his tribe was able to obtain many more horses and supplies because of his victory in the battle. Because of this victory, they named him Sitting Bull.
Response: This biography read more like a story than the typical boring biographies. I could see how this could be a beneficial book when talking about Native Americans. The book incorporates many Indian words in the context of the story with it's meaning. With this biography, children would learn a lot about the Lakota Indian culture.