The Kokopelli is a loved icon in much of the 4-corners area where I grew up. I personally didn't know much about him until I read this book. I previously only new that he represented dancing and music, specifically flute, and Native American folklore. Most pictures showed him with a moon in the background which I believed meant he was a party starter type of character. I learned through reading this songlike book that he is humpbacked, or possibly carrying a sack of songs, and loved by all creatures, not just humans. I find it interesting, if we take the humpbacked approach, to consider how Native Americans treated differences and disabilities. Several tribes believed that homosexuals or transexuals had more power or insight and we see that this magical character possibly had a physical deformity. Yet how do we treat these groups in 2002 or even 2018? ( )

This is an interesting book about a tale from an Indian tribe. The night dancer shows that we can bring together people and animals of all kinds by song and dance. I thought this was a cute book and would love to share it to my future students. I would definitely have this book in my classroom library for the students that were interested in rereading it. ( )

Gorgeous illustrations. ( )

This a beautiful Native American folktale about Kokopelli. He appears at night to play his flute throughout the desert. Through the book he gathers more and more creatures to dance with him as he plays his melodies from his instrument. It's a very simple story but it's an easy way to introduce Ntaive American culture to young children. ( )

Native American tale of the piped piper named Kokopelli. His song can only be heard at night as he brings the melody to all the creatures and children. They follow him in a line through the deserts joining him in his dance of the night. Just as the night is over the music will stop as they all stand in silence. As the sun rises all the ones following Kokopelli head back to their homes to greet the day and in the distance you hear the song fading away. ( )