ELLEN PEFFLEY
The legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Today’s column is week two of ideas to keep youngsters engaged this summer. While not exactly a gardening column topic, “The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush” is a charming legend of how the Indian paintbrush wildflower came to be named.
In just a few pages Tomie dePaola captures the visions of how the Texas High Plains may have looked just a few generations ago as the home of Native American tribes.
Young readers will find a friend in the young Indian boy, Little Gopher, and wonder at his role in the naming of the Indian paintbrush. Young readers may come away with the notion that it is okay, maybe even preferred, to follow a different path.
For adults, perhaps before introducing this charming book, take your young person on a hike, recounting any legends you may have of the Native Americans that called this land their home to set the stage for the story. Identify the wildflowers they find. If you are lucky enough, you may even come upon a clump of Indian paintbrushes. Count how many colors are found in the petals. Then begin the retelling of the legend of Little Gopher and his quest to capture the melding colors of our West Texas sunsets found in the Indian paintbrush wildflower.
Meet Little Gopher found on the pages of “The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush” as retold by Tomie dePaola.
“Many years ago when People traveled the Plains and lived in a circle of teepees, there was a boy who was smaller than the rest of the children in the tribe. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep up with the other boys who were always riding, running, shooting their bows, and wrestling to prove their strength…. But the boy, who was called Little Gopher, was not without a gift of his own. The wise shaman of the tribe understood that Little Gopher had a gift that was special. “Your path will not be the same as the others…. you will be membered for a different reason.”
“The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush” (ISBN 978-0698-11360-2) is a PaperStar book of Penguin Young Readers Group and an ABA Pick of the List Book.
After reading the legend, or the youngster having been read to, travel to a hobby store and recreate the sunset colors Little Gopher used to create his Indian paintbrushes.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
