This book’s impressive array of primary sources includes photographs and quotations from Black Elk, a Lakota medicine man. Combining original paintings and drawings with archival images, Nelson creates a vivid context and powerful representation of Black Elk’s life. Timeline, Bibliography, Index, Author’s Note.

Lakota picture-book author and artist S.D. Nelson turns to the story of Oglala Lakota prophet and medicine man Black Elk in this deeply moving work of biography. Born near the Little Powder River in Montana in 1863, Black Elk had visions from an early age, but kept them to himself at first, for fear that he would be misunderstood by his people. In 1872, at the age of nine, he had his Great Vision, while he lay ill. Taken to the land of the Cloud People, he met the Six Grandfathers, who were the Powers of the World, and he learnt from them about the Circle of Life, and the powers of life and destruction that had been given to all peoples. He also learned about the great tree of life, growing at the center of all things, which can only flourish if all peoples care for it. Waking from his illness, Black Elk returned to a world where the beauty and hope of his vision seemed to stand in stark contrast to the ugliness and suffering of life around him. Witness to the end of the nomadic freedom of his people, Black Elk fought in the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876); traveled with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show to New York and London, and then with the Mexican Joe show throughout Europe (1886-1889); and witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee (1890). In 1932, he related his vision to the Euro-American author John G. Neihardt, and Black Elk Speaks was published to much acclaim. Since that time, Black Elk's vision has inspired countless others, and the wisdom it offers about the choices before humanity has remained as necessary as ever...

I was in high school when I read Black Elk Speaks, and I recall being deeply moved by it, both because of its subject's life story and experiences, and because of the spiritual wisdom that it offered. I am so very glad that Nelson has created Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story, as this makes the story accessible for younger readers as well. This was an intensely moving and poignant book, and I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion, as I read it. What a gift Black Elk's vision was, but what a burden it must sometimes have seemed, given the events unfolding around him. The idea of choice being central to the human experience - the choice between life and destruction - is one I find powerfully convincing, and the notion of a central tree of life, something that ties all of creation together, also speaks to me most strongly. Nelson's retelling of this story is respectful and emotionally resonant, the accompanying historical photographs fascinating, and the acrylic artwork gorgeous. The back matter, which includes an extensive note from the author/illustrator, a detailed timeline, notes, bibliography and index, provides additional information. On a very minor note, I appreciated the way that Nelson used the term "Euro-American," when he was not using the Lakota word "Wasichu," as I prefer that term myself. On a major note, I was deeply appreciative of his humane and hopeful vision, as he writes in his afterword that "Among the many lessons found in Black Elk's vision is this: All human beings have the power of choice. Through our actions we choose either to destroy life or to give life. It is no good to live our days with a blaming heart; that way leads only to suffering. We are not victims of a destiny forced upon us by others. Instead, we are the makers of our people's future. If we truly seek harmony, we will choose to carry the wooden cup of water. It alone holds the power to give life."

I loved pretty much everything about this book, from the subject matter to the telling, the beautiful artwork to the hopeful vision of both Black Elk and Nelson, and it ended up being one of my rare 5-star titles. Highly recommended to middle-school and more advanced primary school readers with an interest in Native American history and spirituality, and the story of the American West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ( )

This picture book tells the life of Black Elk, a holy Lakota Sioux man and his hope of peach and respect for all. He lives through the battles of Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee and toured the United States and Europe with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Later in life, he shared his visions with others and was respected as a holy man.

This is the story of Black Elk, a Lakota holy man. He was born into the last generation of Lakota who lived free on the plains before they ultimately surrendered to the Wha-si-choos (white men) and were forced onto reservations. He participated in the battles of Wounded Knee Little Big Horn. When his tribe was forced onto the reservation, he joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and toured throughout the US and Europe. As a boy he began having holy visions, but he lacked the confidence to tell anyone about his visions until he got older. Eventually he shared his visions and became a respected holy man. ( )

This picture book gives an autobiographical account of the holy Lakota Sioux man named Black Elk, his vision of peace and sacred respect for all beings, the decimation of buffalo herds by white settlers (from thirty million to under one thousand in only a few years), the overall struggle of the Lakota people against European colonialist forces and militia, the bloody battle at Little Big Horn where the Lakota defeat General Custer (also known as Custer's Last Stand), and the horrific massacre at Wounded Knee, near the Lakota's reservation near Pine Ridge, South Dakota. This book holds great value for classroom discussion of American history, of genocide, and of Native American cultural values, beliefs, and traditional ways of life. This book could also spark discussion about current native struggles over land and/or treaty violations.