Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Bruchac tells a sympathetic story about one of the better known Native American chiefs, Crazy Horse. During his early years he was known as Curly and even at a young age was recognized as a leader. After the murder of Chief Conquering Bear, Curly, in anger and frustration, went on a vision quest. While he eventually did have a vision, he was not allowed to reveal it until many years later, since he had not been properly prepared or guided by his elders before setting out on his quest. Curly's vision profoundly changed his life. He kept nothing for himself and devoted his life to the defense of his people against the encroachment of the settlers. In the end, as the author's note explains, Crazy Horse was stabbed at a supposed peace conference. The illustrations are unusual and draw upon Native American traditions. The colors have significance, as do the designs. Crazy Horse is shown in blue to depict his connection with the spirit world and the designs of lightening bolts and hail represent the powers of nature that gave him strength. The endpapers do look like the ledger books of the Plains Indians. Nelson recently illustrated another Native American story, Gift Horse (2000, Abrams) which has a similar look. 2000, Lee and Low, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9.

Michele Coulombe (Children's Literature)
Crazy Horse's journey from boyhood to manhood is retold in this informative and satisfying tale. Named Curly at birth because of his hair, he exhibits athleticism, curiosity and strength early on, qualities that mark him as a natural leader. After violence erupts between the white army and his people, he breaks with his tribe's customs and independently seeks a vision to guide them in their struggle. This vision, of a rider sacrificing himself, helps to mature him and is later translated as a portent of his future greatness. It also results in the change of his name to Crazy Horse. This book is effective in vividly and beautifully communicating information about the Lakotan culture. The imagery and poetic language convey the concerns of a people who relied on and respected nature. Additionally, the illustrations arrest the eye. The use of bold geometric shapes and bright colors, combined with traditional Lakotan artistic elements, add to our overall appreciation of this Native American group. 2000, Lee & Low Books, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2001)
The great leader of the Lakota people started out as a soft-spoken, smaller-than-average boy called Curly who never shied away from trying new things. When his father brought a wild horse into camp one day, offering it as a gift to the first man capable of riding it, 11-year-old Curly met the challenge. Two years later, he proved a skilled hunter when he accompanied his elders on his first buffalo hunt. Throughout Curly's childhood and adolescence, his people more frequently came into contact with white settlers encroaching on the Lakota homeland. During his vision quest, which earned him the name Tashunka Witco (Crazy Horse), he saw a warrior riding his own horse, surrounded by Lakota people, some of whom were trying to hold him on the horse while others tried to pull him off. This vision was recognized as a prophecy foretelling the boy's future role as a courageous leader. Sioux artist S.D. Nelson uses an illustration style inspired by 19th century Plains Indian ledger art in his acrylic paintings. CCBC categories: Biography and Autobiography; Picture Books for Older Children. 2000, Lee & Low, 36 pages, $16.95. Ages 7-14.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2000 (Vol. 68, No. 9))
Bruchac ("Sacajawea", 2000, etc.) teams up with a Lakota (Sioux) artist for an atmospheric view of the feared and revered Crazy Horse's youth. At birth, the child dubbed "Curly" did not cry, but "studied the world with serious eyes," quietly going on to lead all of the other youths in courage and, having watched his people being gunned down for killing a "wasichu" settler's errant cow, slipping away on a premature vision quest. His stormy vision of a rider with a lightning bolt on his cheek, spots like hail on his chest, and a clear, if unspoken, command to "keep nothing for yourself," led him to become a man as noble as he was brilliant and daring. Inspired by the ledger-book art of the Plains Indians, Nelson paints his figures with stylized forms, chiseled features, and indistinct expressions, adding realistic depth of field but giving Crazy Horse blue skin to emphasize his connection to the spirit world. The author and illustrator both append substantial explanatory notes. Like "A Boy Called Slow", also by Bruchac (1995), this makes inspirational reading and affords a glimpse into the heart of a renowned American leader. 2000, Lee & Low, $16.95. Category: Picture book/biography. Ages 9 to 11. Starred Review. © 2000 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

J. Cooper (Parent Council Volume 8)
Permeated with the principles of courage, helpfulness, and determination, this biography recounts the life of Crazy Horse, a Native American hero. Each page is filled with vibrant and colorful illustrations in the ledger-book style of the Plains Indians. The story and art combine to give the reader a feel for Native American culture. Beautiful to behold and inspiring to read, this would be a nice gift book for a favorite teacher! 2000, Lee & Low Books, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10.

John Stewig (Parent's Guide, Fall 2000 (Vol. 3, No. 1))
Among the best-known of Native American heroes, this Lakota warrior's life presented from the moment of his birth, until his father interprets his vision quest for his son, and renames him Tashunka Witco, who will grow up to defend his people. The well-known Abenaki author once again brings to life a culture that has been distorted by popular myth and sensitively presents a more accurate picture than has been available before. S.D. Nelson, adapting the ledger book style of the Plains Indians, splashes his intensely colored, flat art across double-page spreads. 2000, Lee and Low Books, $16.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2000 (Vol. 54, No. 1))
A fictionalized account of the early life of Lakota leader Crazy Horse has the authoritative ring of an oft-told tale. There are no specific source notes or bibliographic references, so it is difficult to say on what Bruchac is basing his account; be that as it may, the text has the tone and emotional feel of apocryphal stories linked together on a sturdy chain of narrative. Named “Curly” at birth for his curly hair, the title character was an observer who “studied the world with serious eyes.” Curly grew up brave, strong, and bold, proving himself time and again, whether taming a wild horse or hunting buffalo. When white settlers moved into Lakota territory hostilities between the two groups erupted into violence, and Conquering Bear, leader of the Lakota, was killed. Curly sought a vision to tell him who should lead his people; his vision was a man in blue leggings riding a horse, and a voice that said, “Keep nothing for yourself.” Curly’s father decides that the vision means his son will be a great leader, and he gives Curly a new name: Tashunka Witco, or, in English, Crazy Horse. Nelson’s paintings are based on the traditional ledger book style of his Lakota ancestors, and an illustrator’s note includes information on the painting style, the important symbolism of color, and other traditional icons used in the paintings. Nelson’s reimagining of the ledger book style in a more modern vein results in illustrations of unusual power and substance. Diagonal lines cut across arcs of human and equine shoulders adding an invigorating sense of energy and motion; graceful rolls of mountain, hill, and sky give a sense of spacious, open land as yet unsullied. The final illustration of Crazy Horse galloping over a hill on a dappled charger is a heroic and memorable concluding image. Author’s and illustrator’s notes are appended. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2000, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2000, Lee & Low, 34p, $16.95. Grades 3-6.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2000)
This fictionalized biography covers Crazy Horse's early years. Focusing on his vision quest, in which Crazy Horse sees himself as an invincible leader, Bruchac paints the stoic but brilliant tactician and warrior as a hero. Nelson's acrylics on wooden panels, patterned after children's drawings in ledger books from the Indian boarding schools, are also reminiscent of the figures drawn by Plains Indians. An author's and an illustrator's note are appended. Category: Picture Books. 2000, Lee, 36pp, $16.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Gloria Hummingbird (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 13, No. 2))
CRAZY HORSE'S VISION has to be one of the better picture stories concerning Native Americans and their ability to be able to use their sense of feeling to interpret the outcome of events to come. The book is wonderfully illustrated with bright, vivid colors of almost a surreal quality. The reader almost feels like he/she is having a "vision" while reading the book. The book flows very eloquently with each turn of the page. All the words tie together nicely. When Curly prepares himself for his vision quest, the intensity of his emotions to succeed and foremost to help his people is nicely told. His transition from a boy to a man in both spirit and strength is a turning point to make his vision a reality. This story is a good portrayal of true Native American background, history, and vision. n/a. 2000, Lee & Low Books, Unpaged, $16.95.