The Horse and the Plains Indians: A Powerful Partnership

by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Author)

The Horse and the Plains Indians: A Powerful Partnership
Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
From the award-winning nonfiction team behind "The Buffalo and the Indians" comes a new companion work that tells of the transformative period in the early 16th century when the Spaniards introduced horses to the Great Plains, and how horses became, and remain, a key part of the Plains Indians' culture. Full color.
Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-8--In this companion to The Buffalo and the Indians (Clarion, 2006), Patent and Munoz show how the introduction of horses to North America transformed the lives of the Native American tribes living on or near the Great Plains. The book opens with a chapter on the "dog days" before horses, when Plains Indians used dogs for hunting buffalo and as pack animals. Subsequent chapters discuss how they "acquired" Spanish horses and rapidly developed an equine culture that revolutionized their buffalo-based existence and changed economic, social, and inter-tribal relationships throughout the region. Patent also examines how tribes incorporated the horse into their cultural and spiritual beliefs and rituals and warfare. She concludes with a discussion of how white expansion and confinement to reservations threatened the relationship between horses and Native people and describes the modern resurgence of Plains Indians horse culture, including tribal fairs and riding events that highlight their traditions and rituals. This book shares the same format as the previous title, and it features a well-written and readable narrative, appealing and informative full-color photographs, and reproductions of period illustrations. Although the two titles complement each other and give readers a comprehensive look at Plains Indian culture, this book can also stand alone and is certain to draw readers who are interested in Native American history or horses, making it a good choice for middle level collections.--Mary Mueller, formerly at Rolla Junior High School, MO

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Certain to draw readers who are interested in Native American history or horses, making it a good choice for middle level collections."—School Library Journal, starred review "Simple language and clear organization help readers fully engage with the material."—Horn Book "Very well done; and important resource."—Kirkus "Thoroughly entertaining . . . readers will easily sit back and enjoy the fun."—Booklist
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent holds a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives with her husband in Missoula, Montana. You can learn more about her on her website: www.dorothyhinshawpatent.com.

The children's book photo-illustrator William Muñoz graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in history. He has provided photographs for more than eighty books. He lives in Montana with his family.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780547125510
Lexile Measure
1200
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
July 20, 2012
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF018040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - Native American
JNF003110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Horses
JNF025170 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/General
Library of Congress categories
Human-animal relationships
History
Indians of North America
Domestic animals
Horses
Great Plains

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