Paul Goble's newest book, Walking Along…Plains Indian Trickster Stories, includes six tales: Iktomi and the Boulder, Iktomi and the Berries, Iktomi and the Ducks, Iktomi and the Buffalo Skull, Iktomi and the Buzzard, and my favorite, Iktomi and the Coyote, which explains why prairie dog’s tails have burned-black tips. The book is a great read aloud with wonderful illustrations. This is a wonderful book, but it is probably more appropriate for middle elementary grades rather than younger grades. ( )

As usual, Paul Goble has done impeccable research into the Lakota folklore, and created beautifully rendered artwork, rich in color and pattern. I do wonder at the audience he had in mind, however; younger children, who would enjoy and respond to the comments in blue, would be confused by the blending of traditional and modern elements, and disturbed by some of Iktomi's more violent stories (I can picture the horror of my first and second graders at Iktomi's tricks on the ducks and prairie dogs). Older readers might be less bothered by violence and find the humor in Iktomi's tube socks and desire for hamburgers, but would rol their eyes at the idea of the "audience participation" of the blue text. ( )

This is a visually beautiful book with illustrations by a Caldecott medalist. It is also ideally suited to storytelling, with the text itself (and the occasional line of music conveniently included) in black, asides by the storyteller to encourage children's participation printed in blue, and the internal monologue of the character Iktomi printed in brown. This makes it very easy to read aloud.

The issue of cultural (mis)appropriation is coming more and more to the fore all the time, and with this in mind, I was very glad that the publisher has chosen to give this book the credibility provided by a foreword written by the renowned Lakota educator, author and linguist Albert White Hat Sr.

My grandchildren are still a little young for this book - I see it as appropriate for the middle primary grades and up - but I certainly look forward to reading it to them several years from now. ( )

This was a very interesting book of Indian folklore and beautifully done - as always. I would use it for 4th or 5th graders as some of the trickster stories were cruel and might be harder for younger children. ( )

A compilation of six books in one easy to find and enjoy book with Iktomi, the native American trickster, giving some good "advice" to his readers.