"It Is a Good Day to Die" tells the story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn using the eyewitness accounts of eleven Indians who were there, from Sitting Bull of the Hunkpapa and Low Dog of the Oglala to White Man Runs Him, a Crow scout in Custer's cavalry unit. Herman J. Viola simply arranges the various parts of these varied accounts chronologically: Antelope Woman of the Cheyenne talks about the great camp on the Little Bighorn and Young Hawk, an Akira scout for Custer, then tells of finding a Sun Dance circle in an abandoned camp. You really get a sense for the excitement of the battle as the warriors in the camp learn about the white soldiers, prepare themselves for battle, and ride off. Viola weaves together the accounts so that you get a true sense of how the battle progressed and what happened when Custer and his command were dead.

These accounts are drawn from varied sources, such as the biography of Black Elk, the Holy Man of the Oglala, and accounts collected by Dr. Thomas Marquis, who interviewed many of the old warriors early in the 20th century. Viola notes that years passed before the Indian side of the Battle of the Little Bighorn was ever told, because those who had participated feared reprisals from the government, the relatives of the slain soldiers, or the U.S. Army. However, despite these obvious gaps in the historical record, "It Is a Good Day to Die" certainly gives young readers a sense of what happened on June 25, 1876. There are no illustrations in the main body of the book to distract readers from this oral history of the battle, but the Introduction and Epilogue contain historic photographs and provide necessary background information. There is also a map of the battle, a photograph of Custer's last message, and an example of a Indian painting showing Crazy Horse in the battle. While this is not the first book students or teachers should read to learn about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, it is certainly a book that anyone truly interested in the subject should read at some point in their studies.

Final Note: The accounts use the word Sioux throughout the book, although we now know the term is inaccurate, having been a derogatory term used by the enemies of the Lakota people. Viola is much more specific in his identification of the tribes of the different eyewitnesses.

This is an excellent and clear told story of the Battle of Little Big Horn. I read this to my fifth grade son and we both "enjoyed" it. It is a very sad tale told from the perspective of people that were at Greasy Grass. I truly recommend this for ALL teachers that teach our children about westward expansion and ALL parents that want our children to learn the truth and the importance of the truth. It tells the story of Native Americans and the destruction of their life and culture.

"The Last Frontier" was Howard Fast's first bestseller, and rightfully belongs on any short-list of best books. In some of the most beautiful and moving language used by any American writer, Fast tells the story of how 300 Cheyenne Indians -- starving on their Oklahoma reservation -- packed up in 1878 and started a 1,000-mile trek back to the happy hunting grounds of their beloved Wyoming. Hounded by the U.S. cavalry, outnumbered and outgunned, they fought their way north inch by bloody inch.

Although "novelized," the characters and events Fast portrays are real. He reportedly conducted extensive research before the writing process began, and then crafted one of the most heartwrenching stories to come out of the American West.

As a side note, the 1964 John Ford western "Cheyenne Autumn" was based on this book.

Highly recommended reading, but be warned: this was not a pleasant chapter in American history, and the outcome of this story may be upsetting. But I hope so. It is good that we do not forget.

Here he is a man who has lived through everything and is still a star! This book is one of his best....a must read!

THIS BOOK WAS USED FOR A 3RD GRADE CLASS. IT WAS VERY GOOD IN TEACHING ABOUT SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS. HOWEVER, IN MY SITUATION, I USED THE BOOK FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAD TO ACT AS IF THEY WERE IN THE THIRD GRADE. IT WAS A VERY GOOD BOOK TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN TEH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS. ALSO, IT HAS MANY ACTIVITIES AND THINGS TO DO, QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK AS WELL. THE TRADE BOOKS THAT GO ALONG WITH TEH BIG BOOK IS ALSO GOOD AS WELL BECAUSE IT HELPS CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG. THE BIG BOOK HELPS CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE BETTER AND FOLLOW ALONG FOR ASSIGNMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THEY SEE THINGSD RIGHT THERE AND UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. IT WAS A VERY GOOD BOOK AND I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER USING IT IN MY CLASSROOM WHEN I BECOME A TEACHER.

There are a lot of retellings of this favorite fable out there, but this one has a unique freshness, with its accessible language and bold illustrations. It's great to use in the classroom to teach 1st and 2nd graders about punctuation marks. They can take turns acting out the "quotes" for the lion and the mouse. It's also good for teaching about opposites. They can also learn a lot about cooperation and generosity. I highly recommend this trade book for teachers, students, and parents too.

In addition to being one of the most innovative and revolutionary aircraft projects in the past 50 years, the AH-56 Cheyenne program also stands out as an interesting look at how on one hand great aerodynamic minds can elegantly overcome seemingly insurmountable problems, only to be mired down by short-sighted policies and entrenched cliques. This book is a long time in coming, is informative and insightful and is without a doubt an essential addition to the collection of anyone who appreciates clever design, aviation history and is prone to wonder 'what if?' about the projects that could-have-been.

Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne is volume 27 of the Specialty Press "Warbird Tech" series and covers all aspects of one of the most radical and highly developed helicopter to be built and flown today. Authors Tony Landis and Dennis Jenkins collaborate to relate an authoritative and informative account of the evolution and eventual failures of the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne. Included is the aircraft's structural breakup in wind tunnels, factory tech photos and cutaway views, propulsion and weapons system details, rigid rotor explanation, and a great deal more. As with all books in this outstanding series, Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne is profusely illustrated throughout with black and white as well as color photographs. Highly recommended.

Moki is a girl who would rather be a boy than a girl. She wants to prove that girls can be just as good as boys. Even though her friends don't understand her, Moki has made up her mind, and nothing can stand in her way! I like this book for one reason. Moki is a courageous girl. I recommend this book for all ages. So get the book now, because this a book you cannot put down.

Moki is a girl who would rathe be a boy than a girl. She want's to prove that girls can be just as good as boys.Even though her friends don't understand her Moki has mad up her my ,and nothing can stand in her way! I like this book for one reason, and one reason only.Moki is a courgous girl. I recommend this book for all ages. So get the book now,and this is a book you can not put down.

I am a third grade teacher and I use this book every year in my classroom when we study Native Americans. It tells the story of how the big dipper was created. It shows the culture of the people. My students always enjoy it.

Ostentively written for children, Terri Cohlene captures the spirit of a Cheyenne legend explaining the origin of stars. She then goes it one better by compiling an entertaining and educational perspective on the historical and cultural aspects of the Cheyene civilization. After reading her marvelous tale I was surprised to find the entire last half serving as a text book to further educate me. I learned something reading this and so can you.

This was my first exposure to a book by this author, and I was very pleased. The story covers a period of time interesting to me and in an area near my home. The heroes are good people with normal character flaws, and the villians are the kind of people you can easily hate. The story is tied in to real times and real events. The author is obviously very familiar with the Cheyenne Indians and the frontier during the latter 1800's. A spellbinding book.

In 1879, Brad Randall, the Commissioner for Indian Affairs feels ineffectual in his post because he knows how the Indians are being treated and is in no position to help them. When he finds out his wife is cheating on him with his assistant, he leaves her and journeys out west, hoping to help the Native-Americans. He also wants to find Eden Murdoch who he has not seen or heard from in ten years to tell her the son she thought died is very much alive.

When the two ex-lovers meet, Eden is in jail protecting the fact that the Indians are no longer allowed near Solomon Spring, a sacred site to many tribes. He gets her out of jail and takes her to see her son who is not pleased to see her because her husband, Lawrence Murdoch has found him first and fed him lies about her. When Lawrence is found dead, Brad confesses to his murder but the only one who doesn't believe him is Eden who intends to find the real killer before her lover hangs.

SOLOMON SPRING is a great work of historical fiction and an equally good historical mystery. Through the characters eyes we are able to see the plight of the Indians and their courage in the face of adversity. The romance between the two protagonists is quite good but takes a back seat to the who-done it. Michelle Black is a talented writer who will appeal to readers of mystery, romance and history.

Harriet Klausner

I read this book in conjunction with some research I was doing on the Sand Creek Massacre for a term paper I was doing in college. My prof. gave me the book to use and I found myself totaly immersed in it. Mendoza does a wonderful job of describing why the massacre took place, how it took place, and the aftermath of the massacre. I would highly recommend it for anyone interested in American history.

Pat's book is the most accurate account that I've read of the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre and the years that followed. Beautifully written and researched, this book will take you there, to Sand Creek on that fateful and sad November morning so many years ago. This book was written with sensitivity and respect for all those touched by this unfortunate event in history

Women and Warriors of the Plains features the pioneer photography of Julia E. Tuell, whose black and white photos documented Native American women's lives and times. The Tuells lived among the Sioux from 1912 to 1929, with Julia using her photography to document their rapidly-changing way of life. Her photos are both artistic and historically important documents of early Sioux women's lives.

An excellent pick, Dan Aadland's Women And Warriors Of The Plains provides a review of the early photography of Julia Tuell, whose black and white portraits of Native American women are accompanied by fine accounts of life with the Northern Cheyenne and others.