"The text's quiet mysticality suits this intermingled natural world of people and animals, and a few entries offer satisfyingly condensed drama, such as the story of the crows' battle assistance and the tale of a family's escape with the birds. . . Fifield's earth-toned watercolors depict a decoratively stylized but never fussy landscape, where animal faces are more expressive than those of people and balanced compositions give animal gatherings a stately if somewhat stolid pageantry." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The stories demonstrate something that is common to nearly every Native tradition: that we do not see ourselves as better or on a different level than all the other forms of life with whom we share this Earth." —MultiCultural Review

"Erdrich's gentle language is natural and has a cadence that makes it perfect for reading aloud. In hues as varied as the earth they celebrate, Fifield's pictures spill across the page. Though these are new stories rather than fresh interpretations of old narratives, each has the feel of a familiar and much-loved tale . . . [The] book is a true treasure." —BookPage

"The strong pairings of image and word found in this understated collection join human and animal life once more, drawing a modern audience back into that circle." —Ruminator Review

"This collection of paintings and original stories expresses the teachings and cultures of woodland and plains Native American tribes, highlighting the relationships between humans and wildlife. Fifield's watercolor artwork, rich in earth tones and Indian symbols, depicts animals. . . as equals. Themes emphasize the natural world, particularly lifecycles and seasons, including events such as naming ceremonies, aging, and death, and rebirth during spring. Each folkloric-style tale is presented on a double-paged spread; the artwork dominates with the text superimposed on a birchbark background. Fifield and Erdrich, who are both of Native American descent, offer a good choice for a primary-grade read-aloud or for classes studying Native Americans." —Booklist

"Erdrich's "language is natural and lyrical, and reads well aloud. . . Fifield's watercolors, in vabrant earth tones, cover half or two-thirds of each wide spread. Her piecework-like compositions solidly straddle the line between realism and imagination. . . this is still evocative of traditions very much alive today, though not widely evident in children's literature." —Kirkus Reviews

"Lise Erdrich's tales add piquant spice to Lisa Fifield's exquisite artwork, creating simple sumptuous servings of Northern Woodlands lore. In these pages, bears, moose, deer, loons, eagles and people mingle in tales that will provide a rich feast for the whole family. Whether parents read to tiny tots or listen to older children sound out the words all by themselves, the short stories will satisfy kids' appetite for imagination ." —Native Peoples Magazine