Songs from the Loom: A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave (We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today) Paperback – August 1, 1995

While doing research on Navajo Weaving for a lesson plan, this came up. I couldn't find much information on this book, even though it's won 2 social studies awards, so I had to buy it to learn more about it. I don't know who the target audience is but it's too difficult for my third grade students. However, I can use it as a model for my students to author stories and songs about their own cultural experiences. It does provide some background information in developing a third grade lesson plan on Navajo Weaving, although the regional rug designs are somewhat obscure. I had hoped that this book would be more about the Navajo Girl "Jaclyn" and her life, so that the students could relate to her. Like I said, it's difficult to know who the target audience is from an Elementary School perspective. There are alot of photographs and some historic references, a map of the Navajo Reservation, and pockets of information related to Navajo Weaving. While the grandmother and girl wore traditional Navajo Clothing thoughout the photos, the clothing was not explained. (Navajo Clothing is another lesson plan that I'm working on). An enclosed CD of the Song from the Loom would have been a nice addition. I see lots of potential to fill in gaps, and perhaps there will be sequels, that incorporate other aspects of Navajo Culture.

This is a great book to learn about the Navajo origin of how Navajo woman learned to weave. It tells the old story similar to the stories of Spider Woman I have heard all my life, and how she taught the Navajos to weave. More importantly, it is the story of a young girl and her grandmother. She learns how to conduct herself, how to take care of her tools, and how to make a rug from sheep, dye, and turn it into a rug.

A little old for our 3 year olds. I'd think it would be a little better for a 5-7 year old. It is an excellent book, though.

A great price for the book. The description from the seller was accurate.

Nice photography and portrait of the author's family engaged in one of the traditional Navajo cultural practices, weaving. There seem to be fewer intact traditions being practiced.

This is a good book to be included into your library of Navajo folklore. It is good to read to young people to help them understand Navajo culture.

This book offers a remarkable sharing, not just of weaving, but of cultural traditions. The reader gains a new understanding and insight of Dine philosophy. It does an exceptional job of conveying a message of mutual love and respect between generations.A good resource for classroom studies of Native Americans and how they live today.

This book fit well into my Native American Unit. We study the Navajo tribe. We have a loom in our classroom.