Summary
This book speaks about a little Shawnee Indian girl learning about her Native American culture.

Personal Reflection
This was a very informative book because it teaches of family heritage and tradition. I really like how it was written in a manner that will draw on the attention of children that may not know anything concerning the culture.

Extensions
1. Have the children tell about their culture.
2. Make a family tree.
3. Have someone with Native American background to come in a speak about a green snake ceremony as told in the book. ( )

Summary:
Mary is a young girl, of the Shawnee tribe, who has become old enough to take part in a ceremony known as the Green Snake ceremony. The green ceremony is celebrated when the transition of life to adolescence occurs. Mary's role in this ceremony is the place a green snake in her mouth. The family goes on a hunt for a green snake but they are unsuccessful. Throughout the story there is a green snake that lives underneath her grandparents house. The green snake is horrified by the stories being told about being placed in Mary's mouth. Since they were unsuccessful with finding a green snake, a black snake was found and brought home. Mary's grandmother really didn't want a black snake placed in her mouth because she thought it would be bad luck so they wrapped the black snake around green cloth to symbolize the green snake.

Personal Reaction:
I loved this book because it was of the Native American culture and since I'm from Oklahoma, we have a lot of Native American history. I loved how the author showed not only the what is seen through the eyes of Mary and her family, but it also showed what was seen through the green snakes eyes.

Classroom Extension:
1. In a classroom, depending on what age they are, they could host their own ceremony symbolizing something, For example, they could have their own ceremony with the students transiting to another grade level.
2. In a classroom, the students could go on a hunt for a green snake. Of course if they find one then the teacher should handle it. ( )

Mary Greyfeather is old enough now to be blessed by the Shawnee Green Snake Ceremony. The green snake brings health to a young girl in the Shawnee beliefs, but Mary and her family are unable to find a green snake. They do not know that as they talk about looking for the green snake, there is one living right under the porch of Mary's grandparents house. The snake is horrified by the stories of being placed in a girl's mouth, and begins trying to figure out a way to keep from being found.

This story was not only informational about the Shawnee tradition, it was a fun story too. The illustrations were beautifully drawn and colored, and the pictures of the green snake were comical.

I would love to use this book in a unit to talk about different cultural coming of age traditions.

Mary is growing up and her family is very excited about this because it is their tradition to perform a ceremony to symbolize this wonderful transition of life. The ceremony is called the green snake ceremony where Mary will place a green snake in her mouth to represent her passage to adolescence. Mary and her grandfather go on the hunt for this green snake all over the place, but are very unsuccessful in their attempts to locate one. Meanwhile throughout the story there is a side story of a green snake that lives right under the Grandparents house. Mary and her grandfather finally give up and go to the pet store where all they find is a black snake. They bring home the snake and Mary’s grandmother is very cautious about placing the black snake in Mary’s mouth in case it might be bad luck. They decide to wrap a green clothe around the snake to symbolize the green snake. Mary completes the ceremony, and the green snake that has been watching all of this is very happy to see the black snake has not been ate like he thought.

I love this book! I am a fan of all Native American stories, I enjoyed this book. I loved how the author incorporated the hidden green snakes perspective on the story. The illustrations were beautiful and helped to tell the story in greater details.

A great extension idea for this book would be to introduce the children to another culture, and discuss how everyone needs to help to preserve nature and heritage. The children could make their own green snakes, or write about how they could help around their houses/communities to make sure their environments can sustain a safe and happy life for all animals.

This is a coming of age story about a little girl named Mary Greyfeather who is about to start school. As part of the Shawnee culture, children at this age put green snakes into their mouths because they bring good luck and good health.

This was such an adorable story! It also comes from Oklahoma, and I was impressed because we do not hear about many authors from our state. The illustrations are fabulous!! At the end of the book, there are some Native American facts and some great extension ideas!

As one extension, there are instructions in the back of the book on how to make your own green snake. This is a good way to incorporate art into the classroom. If some of the children have "coming of age" ceremonies, they may explain those to the class. As another extension, the teacher may assign students to research specific cultures and some of their customs; report those findings back to the class. ( )