Elan, Son of Two Peoples

March 31, 2014
Having one Jewish and one non-Jewish parent today is barely noteworthy. But in 1898, young Elan is the very definition of exceptional: his father, a merchant, is Jewish, and his mother ("Naya") is the granddaughter of an Acoma Pueblo Indian chief. When Elan turns 13, he is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah in a San Francisco synagogue. Then his family makes the long journey by train and horse to his mother's magnificent mesa homeland, where he dons a ceremonial eagle headdress and takes part in a Pueblo coming-of-age ceremony. "Always remember you are the son of two proud nations, whose roots are as sturdy and deep as this oak tree," says Naya. Inspired by the true-life story of Solomon Bibo (an afterword provides details), Hyde (Feivel's Flying Horses) uses spare but heartfelt prose to show how Elan's family bridges, but never blurs, their two cultures. Prevost's (Trouble Talk) watercolor and collage artwork combines beautifully subtle craftsmanship (the first rendering of the Acoma mesa is created from washes of color and folded paper) with the spontaneous, authentic feel of a period sketchbook. Ages 5-9.

March 1, 2014
Thirteen-year-old Elan learns about his dual Jewish and Pueblo Indian heritage on a trip from San Francisco to New Mexico where he will read from the Torah and participate in a traditional Pueblo ceremony of becoming a man. In 1898, Elan feels fortunate and special to have a Jewish father and a mother of Pueblo descent. While his family reviews the story of their mixed backgrounds, similarities between the two cultures become apparent. The transition from childhood to adult is respectfully addressed through Elan's two coming-of-age ceremonies, witnessed by both families. For his bar mitzvah Torah reading, Elan proudly accepts a special tallit woven by his mother with symbols of the Star of David, the Ten Commandments, a stalk of corn and an oak tree. His parents remind Elan that he is the son of two proud nations, as his name means "oak tree" in Hebrew and "friendly" in the language of his mother's people, the Acoma Pueblo. With his father, cousin Manolo and the other men of the community, Elan is welcomed into the Acoma tribe with rituals in the kiva (appropriately not depicted). Gouache scenes in soft, earthy tones gently depict the journey. Based on the life of a 19th-century Jewish man who became Pueblo governor, a sweet celebration of diverse heritage. (historical note, glossary) (Picture book. 8-10)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2014

K-Gr 3-Based on a true event, this picture book is set in 1898. Elan is "the son of two proud nations whose roots are as sturdy and deep as this oak tree." The boy's mother is the granddaughter of a Pueblo Indian chief and his father, the son of a cantor, emigrated from Eastern Europe and opened a trading post in New Mexico. Elan has just turned 13, and he is having two ceremonies, a traditional Bar Mitzvah in San Francisco, where he lives, and the Pueblo ceremony of becoming a man. For the latter, he and his parents travel by train to New Mexico. Along the way, his mother tells him about her culture and the rituals, and the art depicts what she is explaining. Their journey provides many interesting sights, such as a sheriff hauling a prisoner to jail and a blacksmith shoeing a horse. Finally, they reach his mother's home, and he meets his relatives for the first time. The realistic illustrations, done in earth tones, beautifully capture Elan's mother's family life and culture and the New Mexico desert. An unusual piece of American and immigration history.-Brooke Rasche, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.