Book Description
for Pushing Up the Sky by Joseph Bruchac and Teresa Flavin
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
These dramatizations of seven traditional tales written by one of the respected storytellers and interpreters of American Indian lore contain a virtual “recipe” for anyone who wants to bring these tales to life on stage. The tales are “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), and “The Strongest One” (Zuni). At the beginning of each script, Bruchac lists the characters the play requires and details the necessary props. He makes practical suggestions for scenery and costumes. Stage directions are minimal. These are plays anyone can produce or adapt, whether they are young thespians, busy classroom teachers, or relatively inexperienced community group leaders. Notes at the end detail each story’s origin. (Age 9 and older)
CCBC Choices 2001. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2001. Used with permission.