Pushing up the Sky

Pushing up the Sky collects seven traditional Native American tales adapted for theater by Joseph Bruchac. Each story comes from a different Indigenous nation, including the Abenaki, Ojibway, Tlingit, and others. The plays range in length and complexity, with detailed stage directions and suggestions for sets, costumes, and music. Bruchac provides context for each tale's cultural origins and significance in brief introductions. The stories feature themes of creation, transformation, and the relationship between humans and nature. Music, dance, and traditional storytelling techniques are integrated throughout the performance scripts. These adaptations make Native American oral traditions accessible to young performers while preserving the cultural authenticity and teaching value of the original tales. The collection demonstrates how traditional stories remain relevant through new forms of expression.

Readers appreciate how these Native American plays can be performed with minimal props and sets while teaching cultural values. Teachers and librarians report successful performances with elementary/middle school students. Multiple reviews note the clear stage directions and pronunciation guides. Parents value the educational aspects - each play includes background information about its tribal origins and cultural context. A homeschool parent on Amazon said "perfect for teaching Native American history through drama." Some readers found the dialogue stilted and oversimplified. A few Goodreads reviews mentioned that the plays work better performed than read silently. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (78 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (21 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 5/5 (2 ratings) The book gets higher ratings from educators than general readers. Teachers consistently highlight its classroom usefulness, while casual readers sometimes critique the writing style.

Native American Stories by Jospeh Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto The collection presents traditional Native American tales along with related activities and crafts that connect readers to tribal cultures.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin This novel weaves Chinese folklore into a quest narrative about a young girl who embarks on a journey to change her family's fortune.

Keeper of the Night by Kimberly Willis Holt Set in Guam, this story incorporates Pacific Islander culture and folklore while following a family dealing with loss and cultural identity.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia Hamilton This compilation brings together African American folktales that were passed down through generations of storytellers during slavery.

Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen Based on true events, this story integrates Mayan culture and beliefs while depicting a Guatemalan girl's survival during civil conflict.

🌟 Author Joseph Bruchac is of Abenaki Indian descent and has written more than 120 books celebrating Native American culture and traditions 🌟 The title "Pushing Up the Sky" comes from a Native American tale about how people worked together to raise the sky when it was too low, demonstrating the power of cooperation 🌟 The seven theatrical plays in this collection are adaptations of traditional Native American stories from different tribes, including the Abenaki, Ojibway, and Cherokee 🌟 Each play in the book includes staging directions for authentic Native American dances, music, and drumming patterns 🌟 The stories featured in the book have been passed down through generations of oral tradition and were carefully researched by Bruchac through consultations with tribal elders