Keeper of the Night: Native American Stories and Nocturnal Activities for Children

By Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto

Book Overview

Discover the Magic of the DarkKeepers of the Night is a captivating guide designed to help children overcome their fear of the dark by exploring the wonders of the nighttime world. Combining Native American traditional stories with hands-on nocturnal activities, this book introduces young readers to the animals, plants, and celestial bodies that come alive after sunset. From understanding the phases of the moon to learning how owls hunt, it provides a holistic view of the night as a time of beauty and biological importance.Perfect for summer camps, scouting groups, and family camping trips, this volume offers practical lessons in astronomy and nocturnal ecology. Each story is followed by detailed scientific discussions and interactive projects that encourage children to use their senses of hearing, smell, and touch. Keepers of the Night teaches that the "dark" is not something to be feared, but a vital part of the Earth's natural rhythm that deserves our protection and respect.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555911773
• ISBN13: 9781555911775
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 6 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 1 and higher

Customer Reviews

I love these books!

The entire series is excellent!!! I have all four and I highly reccomend them. They teach science, literature, native american culture, and give children a respect for the natural world at the same time. (there is even the occasional bit of math thrown in). My son loves doing the activities with me! Excellent for unit studies!

My favorite of all the excellent "Keepers" series

While all of the "Keepers" books are excellent in their presentation of Native American stories and activities to enhance learning about the natural world, this one is my hands-down favorite. There is something magical about the night, and we have strayed so far from that magic in our incandescent world. The stories and activities in this book will allow you to try and recapture some of the enchantment of the nocturnal world for your kids and maybe even for yourself. The stories themselves are very tellable. I have had sixth graders learn and tell these tales. The activities are broken into categories, such as the night sky or nocturnal animals. This is an excellent resource for anyone working with groups such as Scouts or nature centers, wishing to incorporate enjoyable activities and stories into their night-time programming. As humans have done for eons before us, take this guidebook with you to your next campfire, and share the magic of stories spun by fireside.