Culture 4 - Native American: The Great Ball Game

Bruchac, Joseph. THE GREAT BALL GAME. Ill. by Susan L. Roth. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1994. ISBN 0803715390

Bruchac retells the Muskogee Indian Nation legend about the disagreement between the animals and the birds. Bat has characteristics of both groups but proves invaluable for one side in the end. It is fun to read pourquoi tale.

The introduction to THE GREAT BALL GAME is the first indication of cultural authenticity. It explains where the story comes from, "the Muskogee (also known as the Creek) Indian Nation that lived in the area we now call Georgia" and the fact that similar stories abound from various regions of the United States. It also mentions that this version is based on a telling from an elder in the Muskogee Nation.
Showing the animals and birds working out their disagreement by playing a game as opposed to fighting shows Indians to be peaceful where typically many think of them as battle ready: " ' Let us have a ball game,' Crane said. 'The first side to score a goal will win the argument.' "
One positive thing the book does is tell a story from a Native American perspective but does not use things that too many people associate with Indians such as feathers, war paint and violence.
The artwork does not identify the story as a Native American story because there are no people or other objects that most would expect in a story from Indians. The artwork is memorable because it is collages with different types of papers to add lots of visual interest. The papers give lots of texture and the colors are earthy while still being colorful.
This is a fun book that tells a great story but more importantly gives children a culturally authentic view of Native Americans. It is a good springboard for creating interest in this culture.

BOOKLIST: "Short and well told, this appealing pourqoui tale lends itself to reading aloud."

HORN BOOK GUIDE: "Artful cut-and torn-paper collages feature creatures juxtaposed against brilliantly colored or patterned backgrounds."

Read another version of the tale by Lloyd Arneach called THE ANIMALS' BALLGAME.
ISBN 9780516051390

Visit the official Muscogee (Creek) Nation website:
http://www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov/index.htm