Brother Eagle, Sister Sky

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky was the first children's book I ever bought for my daughter. It is an adaption of the famous speech delivered by Chief Seealth (Seattle) during the 1850s. "We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." Although there is controversy as to whether Chief Seealth (Seattle) ever actually said these words, the point is moot in my opinion, especially in considering this quality children's book is written for children and not historians. The book has also been criticized for not representing the rich diversity of Native American cultures or representing images of Cheif Seealth's tribe; however, the message of Chief Seealth's word ring true! These words were spoken as an elegy for the way of life he saw ending. The beautiful, detailed images that accompany the text throughout evolve from Native Americans living in harmony with nature to a bleak clearcut from logging to a modern family planting trees. The final image leaves us with a sense of hope and renewal.