The Star People: A Lakota Story

A grandmother’s love is forever in Star People, a picture book about remembrance and tradition from S. D. Nelson, award-winning author and member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

“A young Lakota Indian girl narrates the story of how she and her little brother, Young Wolf, survive a prairie fire.” —School Library Journal

“A stirring, original story based on Lakota legend . . . The swirling images of the celestial dance beautifully reflect the story’s celebration and awe of the natural world.” —Booklist

Sister Girl and her brother, Young Wolf, wander away from their village and soon find themselves far out in the surrounding prairie. They sit down in the grass and watch the clouds passing above billow to form an eagle, horses, and other creatures.

We sat in the dry, sweet-smelling grass, watching the clouds drift overhead. Young Wolf pointed and said, “Sister Girl, that cloud looks like a buffalo’s head!” We both laughed with amazement. “There’s an eagle,” I cried!

Suddenly, animals begin to race past the children on the ground—followed by a wall of fire! Fleeing along with the frightened beasts, Sister Girl and Young Wolf save themselves by tumbling into a shallow stream. The fire leaves behind ash and a barren, forbidding landscape. The children realize that they are hopelessly lost. Night is coming—how will they get home to their parents? And why are the evening stars dancing so?

Drawing upon traditional Lakota ledger book art, S. D. Nelson’s illustrations bring to life a memorable new legend about the Star People.