I included the YMMV because of the spiritualism in this book. So if you avoid mention of alternative religions this is not necessarily for you.

I did enjoy this folktale.

With the importance of storytelling at the forefront, I might use a book like this to expand on stories students know or have heard. Because this is such a critical part of literature for many, I think it opens many conversation doors. ( )

This was one of my favorite books growing up. I especially loved the last line: "You are not alone." That used to comfort me so much as a child.
The cover the book says it's a retelling of a traditional Pawnee tale. The story follows a young boy who is poor and wishes he had a pony of his own. He makes one out of white clay one day and while he's out playing with it, his tribe packs up and moves on, following the trail of some buffalo that were sighted. The boy is left behind. That night he dreams his clay pony is alive and speaking to him. When he wakes up, he finds that the pony really is alive and they both embark on a journey to find his tribe.
I also really enjoyed the artwork. It seemed as though the characters and the scenery were emerging from a dream to tell the story.
All in all, a great book. ( )

A boy makes a pony out of mud. With his new friend, he moves up the ranks in his tribe. A story that shows growth and leadership, with beautifully done illustrations. ( )

A poor, Native American, boy becomes a powerful leader, after trusting his new pony, that Mother Earth brought to life from mud.

The illustrations in this book are done with a watercolor medium, which wonderfully displays the idea of constant motion within the story. This story can be used during a unit about personification and characterization, because the mud pony speaks to/guides the boy throughout his trip. This would also be an excellent book to use during units about Native American culture or folktales. Students could be given clay to create their own animal, and then write a story about what kind of guidance their animal offers. ( )