The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
by Tomie dePaola

1. Bibliography:
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. ed. Tomie dePaola. New York: The Putnam and Grosset Group. Paperstar. 1988. ISBN 0698113608

2. Plot Summary
Little Gopher is a young Indian boy who lived with his people in their teepees on the Plains. He is smaller in size than the rest of the children so he was unable to compete and play with the other boys of the tribe. Little Gopher would sit and make toys of leather and wood, painting the toys with paints he had made from wild berries. One day, out of the clouds came an image of an old grandfather and a young Indian maiden to reveal the young Indian boy’s purpose and destiny in life. Little Gopher’s Dream-Vision is to become an artist for his people. He gathered wild berries and animal hair to make his paints and brushes to help him create many pictures. To fulfill his destiny, he should paint the sunset on a white buckskin. Little Gopher took the white buckskin and walked to the hillside to watch the sunset. Stuck in the ground were paintbrushes the colors of the sunset and he used these paintbrushes to deliver the beauty of the sunset to his people and left the brushes on the hillside. The next morning, the paintbrushes had bloomed into beautiful flowers known as the “Indian Paintbrush”. From that day forth, Little Gopher was known as “He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth”.

3. Critical Analysis
The book is an ABA Pick of the List Book that is retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. The reading level for ages 4 - 8 years but I recommend it for all ages. Reader’s will connect with and sympathize with the young Indian who wants to fit in. The reader will become aware of one of the many Native American cultures, their lives, beliefs and the legends associated with these people.

The illustrations are wonderfully created in bright and colorful watercolors that enhance the beautiful colors found in the Indian clothing and nature. They give one an image of how life may have been on the Plains.

4. Review Excerpts

From Horn Book

“A rhythmic and evocative retelling of an Indian legend that explains the origin of the Indian paintbrush flower. [The story of] how a young Indian boy, Little Gopher, becomes a man is an engaging tale of strength, perseverance, reverence, and obedience.”

From School Library Journal

“The humanity expressed in this story illustrates the value of perserverance and of endurance of effort that will bring its reward.”
From Booklist

“DePaola’s story, based on a Texas legend, is illustrated with full-color paintings rendered in the artist’s distinctive style. Earth tones, punctuated with splashes of bright color, predominate . . . . A handsome retelling.”

From Children’s Book Review Service

“The colorful illustrations accentuate the authenticity of a tale that encourages children to follow a different drummer.”


From Publishers Weekly

According to PW , this tale of Little Gopher's artistic dreams is "related with deceptive simplicity by dePaola; he enhances the plainness of the story with his primitive illustrations and . . . finds inspiration in the colors of the sunset." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Connections: Read the story to the children. Discuss the story and the Native American culture and seek out a Native American who may be willing to tell this story as an oral tradition. Create a painting as Little Gopher using tempera paints and white felt. Have photos available of the sunset for the children to use as a model. Hang the finished on a small mesquite branch with yarn tied to it for hanging. Display on the wall for others to view. This would be a good unit for the spring when wild flowers are in full bloom.

Additional suggested works by Tomie dePaola include:
The Legend of the Poinsettia
Strega Nona
Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself
The Popcorn Book
The Legend of Old Befana
The Legend of the Bluebonnet