Big Thunder Magic

This book is in the tradition of the Native American legends of natural spirits that will aid you in time of need. Thunderspirit is a small and timid ghost; it is he that makes the sounds of soft rustling in the night. Nanabee the sheep is his best friend and Thunderspirit and Nanabee are residents in the pueblo of Great Chief. One day Great Chief decides to visit the city, so the three of them set out walking to the city. When they arrive and try to check into a hotel, Great Chief is told that sheep are not allowed. After a bit of haggling, the three of them end up spending the night in a city park. Nanabee is happy with this, as there is a lot of good-tasting grass. However, in the morning there is some commotion since sheep are not allowed in the park. After a significant jurisdictional dispute, the zookeeper arrives and locks Nanabee up in a cage. Thunderspirit hitches a ride on a taxi and goes to Nanabee's cage and through his magic, is able to snap the lock and free Nanabee. Much wider, the three walk back to their home and Great Chief wonders why he wanted to go to the city in the first place. While this book is written for children, the story is also a metaphor for the clash between European and Native American cultures. While in the city, the three of them are considered unusual; there is little tolerance for how they live. Therefore, if that analogy is explained, this book is an excellent resource for multicultural studies in elementary school.