The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

Bibliography

DePaola, Tomie, Retold. 1988. The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. Ill. by Tomie DePaola. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590447068

Plot Summary

This is a legend of how the beautiful flower, the Indian paintbrush, came to be. Little Gopher is told by the Shaman that he has a different calling than the other boys in the tribe. One night he has a dream vision where he is told he will be a painter to help people remember his people forever and he will paint a picture that is like the pure colors from the sunset. He draws great pictures of hunts and deeds of his tribe, but cannot find the pure colors. Years later, Gopher wakes up to find paintbrushes with these pure colors up on the hill. He uses them to paint a beautiful picture and leaves the paintbrushes there. The next day and every spring the hill is full of beautifully colored plants. So the people call him, He-Who-Brought-Sunset-To-The-Earth.

Critical Analysis

The setting is quickly established on the plains. The main character, Little Gopher, represents a good person who is stays true to his tribe and what the wise shaman tells him. He waits patiently until his dream vision comes to him.
The plot is very logical as Little Gopher begins as a young boy and grows to be a young man. He has a quest to make his dream vision come true. It says, " he never gave up trying." The solution in his dream vision give him the tools he needed because he was faithful to his people. This represents the theme that if you are true then good things will come to you.
The style includes the supernatural that comes to him in a dream vision.
The illustrations are good representations of Indian tribes. Also. The beautifully bright colors of the sunset help bring out the beauty of the story.

Review Excerpt(s)

School Library Journal Review
"The humanity expressed in this story illustrates the value of perseverance, and of endurance of effort that will bring its reward. DePaola's softly rounded shapes and his hero's diminutive stature, downcast eyes, and sober mien breathe attitudes of acceptance, of quiet waiting, of diligent persistence."

Connections

*Read other legends and have the students try and create a story with a theme from one of them.
*Read many books written and illustrated by Tomie DePaola and discuss his characteristics of writing and illustrating. Also visit his website: http://tomie.com/