This wonderful children's book, about the Lenape Tribes who lived peacefully along their beloved river, the Delaware River, in many parts of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware, remains a strong Native American legend of history.

The illustrations by E.B. Lewis are rich and colorful pictures painting the history of the Lenape Tribe. The poetic, mystical storytelling of Trinka Hakes Noble shares with us the legend of the mighty Delaware River moving its waters south to the Bay of Cape May. We discover that it takes two thousand years for these small pebbles to complete their travels downriver.

Later on in the story, we learn that a young Kechemeche boy named Ma-eh-hu-mund, One-Who-Gathers-Things, finds one of these 'precious daughters of Delaware,' glistening like teardrops in the sand.

It is said that one of these 'little traveling stones' was used as a seal of friendship (symbol of loyalty) between and Indian Chief, King Nummy and a settler Christopher Leaming. He has the stone fashioned and polished and it became known as the Cape May diamond... "This will please the river."

A favorite part:

"Like dutiful daughters the little stones did as the river asked. For thousands of years they journeyed along the river bottom, unseen. Over and over again the little stones were naturally scoured and burnished and polished by the rough riverbed, then washed clean by the slow-moving currents until they began to shine like gems."

I love the book! ***** stars. ( )

This book is for adults and children and should be on every beach house table. It is a beautifully illustrated tale about the journey of special clear quartz crystal found at the end of the Delaware River. I enjoyed reading about the Native American use of the stones, especially for anyone interested in New Jersey history. It creates a strong desire to go to the Cape May sandy shores and look for stones now. ( )