School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-A young Lakota Indian girl narrates the story of how she and her little brother, Young Wolf, survive a prairie fire. They had wandered away from their village, entranced by the changing cloud shapes created by the Cloud People. They fall into a river and are guided home by their deceased grandmother, one of the Star People, who are the spirits of the Old Ones. The acrylic illustrations are inspired by the Native American ledger-book art of the late 1800s, with figures in profile, vivid colors, and bold shapes. The art enhances the text by blending the supernatural world with that of the children's reality. When Sister Girl and Young Wolf are lost, they are depicted in a heavenly space whirling and swirling with star groups outlined to show animals like the eagle, wolf, elk, and horse. According to the author's note, the Lakota Indians refer to clouds and stars as "Cloud People" and "Star People." A solid addition to collections of Native American tales and an enjoyable read-aloud.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Set in the 1800s, this traditional story retold by a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe, tells of Sister Girl and her younger brother, who are caught in the middle of a raging prairie fire. The two follow the lead of the animals and are saved by falling into a shallow stream. After the fire subsides, the two children realize that they're lost. Guided by their grandmother, who resides in the heavens with the Star People, the two return safely home. Once they came to a hilltop and see that their village is below, the two children's grandmother returns to her home. Although the figures in Nelson's illustrations are not as flat as those in the traditional Lakota ledger book art, the colored pencils, pens, and crayon drawings do emulate the style with earth tones, character profiles, and images of clouds, stars, and animals. An exemplary offering. (author's note) (Picture book/folktale. 5-9)

ALA Booklist (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

While exploring the land around their village, two young Plains Indians--Sister Girl and her little brother, Young Wolf--stray too far. After narrowly escaping a roaring prairie fire, the siblings find themselves lost and frightened in the dark, open land until the Star People, the spirits of the Old Ones who once walked on the earth, offer comfort and guidance home. In clear, captivating language, Nelson, the creator of Gift Horse (2000) and a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, tells a stirring, original story based on Lakota legend. An extensive author's note introduces Ledger Book Art, the nineteenth-century Plains Indian style of art that influenced Nelson's acrylic paintings. The graphic, stylized scenes tend to blur individual faces, but the swirling images of the celestial dance beautifully reflect the story's celebration and awe of the natural world. A fine choice for story hours, this will also find wide curricular use.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Simply but fluently, Sister Girl tells how she and her brother Young Wolf wander so far that they lose their way home after a prairie fire. That night, from the "Star People" comes the spirit of their grandmother, who comforts them and leads them home the next morning. Full-page impressionistic art advances the narrative and tone of the text.