Dog People: Native Dog Stories

By Joseph Bruchac and Joseph M. Bruchac

Book Overview

In Dog People, acclaimed Abenaki storyteller Joseph Bruchac explores the profound and ancient connection between Native Americans and their canine companions. Set in the woodlands of the Northeast 10,000 years ago, this collection of interconnected stories follows the adventures of several children and their loyal dogs. Through these narratives, Bruchac illuminates how dogs were not merely pets, but essential partners in survival, spiritual guardians, and beloved members of the tribal circle.Drawing on extensive research and traditional oral histories, Bruchac weaves a rich tapestry of Pre-Columbian life. Readers are transported into a world where the bond between human and animal is tested by the challenges of the wilderness and celebrated through shared triumphs. This lyrical work serves as both a thrilling adventure for young readers and a reverent tribute to the enduring "dog people" who have walked alongside indigenous nations since the dawn of time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555916864
• ISBN13: 9781555916862
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.4" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Wonderful stories by Indigenous Peoples

The special relationship people share with dogs (and vice-versa) are wonderfully captured in this collection of Abenaki stories. Written, it seems, from an oral tradition the sentence construction has a rhythm that feels both unfamiliar and soothing in English. The stories themselves are touching: tales of how the dogs chose to be with human beings, how dogs defend us and save us in times of need, and how important the relationship between dog and man is. Its a great book for young children age 5 - 8. Recommended.