Buffalo Song by Joseph Bruchac

a. Bibliographic data
Bruchac, Joseph. 2008. BUFFALO SONG. Ill. by Bill Farnsworth. New York: Lee and Low Books. ISBN 1584302801

b. Brief plot summary
This story follows a buffalo calf as she is rescued by a father and son after her mother is slain. The boy and his father take the calf to Walking Coyote, a man who plans to raise the buffalo orphans until they are old enough to travel over the mountains to safety. The calf, now called Little Thunder Hoof, leads the herd through mountains and finally finds a home with a rancher named Michel Pablo.

c. Critical analysis
The acknowledgments and afterword written by Bruchac prove both a deep passion and understanding for the culture and the animals depicted in the story. Bruchac is able to take a small piece of history and use it to create a beautifully written book about the near extinction of the North American Bison, commonly referred to as buffalo.

The story identifies with a particular Native American people, the Salish and specifies the Flathead Indian reservation as the setting for Buffalo Song. The main character, Walking Coyote, is based on a real person, adding authenticity and historical value to the work. Although, most of the story itself does not include references to the Salish people, the reader is introduced to the culture through traditional Salish tale shared at the beginning, as well as the author’s well written afterword.

The depiction of the passage of time is shown through observations in nature (The sun rose and set two times) which lends a peaceful and historical quality to the story. The imagery (the whole earth was black with buffalo) used throughout Buffalo Song helps create a setting that is true to the mountains and valleys of the Flathead Indian Reservation in 1873.

The oil on canvas paintings that accompany the text intensifies both the tone and the setting of Buffalo Song. The human characters are drawn with great care so that readers are able to sense their emotions. The landscape artwork found throughout the book echoes Bruchac’s words as readers follow Little Thunder Hoof over the mountains and into the valley to become part of the historical Pablo-Allard herd.

d. Reviews/Awards
• From Booklist: “Partly fictionalized, the story begins with the only surviving calf of a herd destroyed by white hunters. Young Red Elk persuades his dad to take the calf to Walking Coyote’s shelter. Bruchac’s long, eloquent afterword fills in the facts of the near extinction and the people and organizations who prevented it, a story so dramatic, it didn’t need to be fictionalized. Farnsworth’s beautiful, full-bleed oil paintings picture a landscape black with buffalo, and then the calf with the people who help it grow strong enough to join the herd and roam free.”
• From SLJ: “The gentle narrative eloquently conveys the beauty and importance of this animal; though there is a bit of adventure during the journey, the heart of the tale is the respect and commitment shown toward the buffalo by Walking Coyote and others. The orphaned calf became the herd's leader, and her courageous actions represent the spirit of the species. Richly atmospheric oil paintings capture the magnificence of the creatures, the kindness of the people, and the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.”

e. Connections
• Teachers can use Buffalo Song to discuss animal extinction and conservation issues.
• To learn more about the author, visit Bruchac’s website at http://josephbruchac.com/
• Younger readers can enjoy some of Bruchac’s other picture books
o How Chipmunk Got His Stripes
o The First Strawberries
o Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back
• Older audience may try one of Bruchac’s novels
o Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two
o Trail of Tears
o Skeleton Man