Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Authors: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Illustrator: Ted Rand

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: Reading Rainbow Program Selection (1989), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (1992), William Allen White Children's Book Award Nominee (1990), NCTE Books That Invite Talk, Wonder, and Play (1996)

Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: This book is is set back to the time when Native Americans were settled peacefully in the land of America. It is about a Native American boy and his grandfather who tells him the story of the day he was born. The little boy loves to hear this story and asks his grandfather to repeat it to him many times. The grandfather tells the story about how the little boy was born, but almost didn't make it. Until one day, the little boy came across two horses who had given him the will to live. The little boy was blind, but he never let that stop him. Instead, the grandfather shows him how he "sees" using his other senses like feeling the trotting of his horse allows him to know where he is going. The story ends when the grandfather ties a knot on the counting rope and explains that when the rope is full of knots, the boy will be able to tell the story himself, even when the grandfather is no longer around.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this book and I feel it will be a good book to use when doing a lesson over Native Americans. I feel that it shows the way they live and how they handled difficult situations. I also feel that it shows the strength and endurance that they had during different and difficult times. I will be happy to add this book to my classroom library!!