Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story

Nelson, S.D. (2010). Black Elk's Vision:  A Lakota Story. NY,NY:  Abrams ISBN 9780810983991

Author:  S. D. Nelson

Author Website:  www.sdnelson.net/

Illustrator:  S.D. Nelson

Illustrator Website:  www.sdnelson.net/

Media Used: Acrylic paint, pencil drawing and some early photographs

Publisher:  Abrams

Year of Publication:  2010

ISBN:  9780810983991

Annotation: The story of Black Elk the famous medicine man.  Although as a young person he had spiritual visions and as a young adult did he become a leader. Throughout his life he witnesses the destruction of the Indian way of life and relocations by the U.S.

Personal Reaction: This is an informative biography told in an engaging manner.  It is personal but also the story of all the Indians in this country.  The time table at the end of the story as well as the front and back piece illustrations help to put this important part of our country’s history into an understandable context.  I could see this book being used in history classes as well as cultural studies.

Illustration:  This book is interspersed with full page color Indian art illustrations, nineteenth century photographs and pencil drawings.  The simple drawing by the Indians of the number of dead soldiers after the Battle of Little Big Horn is juxtapositioned with the full color depiction of the Indians and soldiers in full battle on the opposite page.

Use of Media: The author/illustrator uses various media to define the narrative.  There are full color acrylic paintings of the six grandfather vision and full page photograph of the massacre of a herd of buffalo.  Both different mediums but carry an impact that the author is trying to convey.

Use of literary device: Allusion is used in the artwork to depict the major ceremonies and battles in Black Elk’s life.