Hiawatha

Based on Susan Jeffers' 1983 picture book which focuses on the childhood portion of Longfellow's epic poem "The Song of Hiawatha," this iconographic production is a rather lackluster adaptation. Hiawatha chronicles the relationship between the growing boy and the elderly Native American woman Nokomis who raises him. Nokomis teaches Hiawatha about the stars and constellations, the birds and animals, and the origin of the rainbow. But while Jeffers' illustrations are beautiful (we own a first edition ourselves), the story has little narrative arc...Hiawatha is merely introduced to his world. Too, Longfellow's poetic meter--which I remember resembling the beating of a drum when my teacher read it in grade school--is muted here in Maureen Anderman's reading, and the musical rhythm (which is arguably the best aspect of Longfellow's poem) is lost. Larger children's collections may want to consider, especially since the upcoming release of Disney's Pocahontas will spark interested in related Native American materials, but for others this is an optional purchase. Ages 6-9. (R. Pitman)