Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
Plan to cry and get chills every time you read Knots on a Counting Rope by Martin and Archambault. This poignant tale tells of an Indian youth who sits by the fire with his aging grandfather. The grandfather tells the boy of his birth and young life, suggesting that this may be the last telling, urging that the boy learn to tell his own story. The boy is undone by the thought of his grandfather's death and asks for a promise against that event, but the man consoles him "I promise you nothing, Boy. / I love you. / That is better than a promise." Hidden in the story is the fact that the boy is blind, making the theme of owning one's own life even more powerful. Illustrations by Rand are as stirring as the words. His clear blue-skied scenes and the tenderness between grandfather and grandson are unforgettable. 1987, Henry Holt, $15.95 and $19.95. Ages 5 up.

Sally M. Hunter (The Five Owls, January/February 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 3))
Knots on a Counting Rope is the story of a grandfather educating his grandson, an Indian elder passing on to a young family member wisdom for living. Although it is never specifically stated, the reader gradually begins to understand that the child, who is around nine or ten years old, was born blind. The story is illustrated with full color watercolor paintings on every page. The scenery, dance costuming, jewelry, and other details in the illustrations indicate that the boy and his grandfather are Navajo, but no tribe name is used. In a way this is unfortunate, since many children will never know contemporary Navajos personally and this book may be their only contact. Some children may assume that all Indians live as those in the story, unless they are told that one group called the Navajo live in the desert of the southwest. The marvelous watercolors and many night scenes lend a mysterious, compelling quality to the book. The text, through the use of imagery particular to Native Americans, gives readers a romantic feeling. One caution for readers, however, is that the beautiful imagery, vivid description, and symbolism may be so overpowering that children do not grasp the subtle message of the boy's handicap unless they are carefully guided by an adult. I find this book a refreshing and positive influence on the images of Indian people compared to most other books used in classrooms today. The artwork successfully ties the old times to contemporary times, showing one boy in a baseball cap as they all race their ponies. Indians are not delegated to the past in this story, where old values and modern life meet in a child on the reservation. For the grandfather to tell stories of the child's early life is more than appropriate because of the universality that all children are intrigued by stories of when they were babies. According to most Indian traditions, a boy is not supposed to tell the story or interrupt when an elder is speaking. Instead he is taught to listen quietly. To make the story tribally accurate, some words could have been chosen more carefully. For example, Indians would not call a storm strange, because storms are a part of nature. A boy's "strong" name is generally called a "special" name or a "spirit" name. Yet I like the use of description names for the family that would be similar to translating them from native languages. In one scene, readers get a tiny feeling of what being Indian and closely tied to nature might be all about. The grandfather recounts for the child--and the reader--the excitement and thrill of a horse race in which the boy learns to trust his senses and his horse. After the race, the grandfather says, "You now can see with your heart, feel a part of all that surrounds you. Your courage lights the way." The message of finding strength within is a beautiful one and makes this book very special for Indians and non-Indians alike. 1987, Henry Holt, $12.95. Ages 5 to 8.