Children of Clay: A Family of Pueblo Potters

by Rina Swentzell

Book Overview

Like their Pueblo ancestors, Gia Rose and her family treat the clay with respect. They believe that Clay-Old-Woman, the spirit of clay, watches over their work and that she lives and breathes within each piece of pottery. Many things have changed at Santa Clara Pueblo, but the making of pottery remains the same. It is still done completely by hand, using clay taken from the earth and other natural materials. Follow one family as they carry on the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082259627X
• ISBN13: 9780822596271
• Release Date: August 1992
• Publisher: First Avenue Editions (Tm)
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 9.3" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Wonderful entry into the world of clay and the modern pueblo indians

With beautiful photographs that even young children will relate too, this book works on so many levels -- how pots are made, how one modern American Indian family lives and works together, and a little bit of the history of the pueblo potters. The pictures and the text provide a thorough view into a unique way of living based on the traditions of many generations in the desert southwest. Children love to seeing pictures of children working with clay. It shows so many of the steps -- actually going out and digging for the clay to firing the pots. My daughter still asks me if we can go dig for some clay so she can make some pots. Use it as a travel guide for children especially if you are going to New Mexico and will be visiting pueblos and are interested in the adobe structures and pots. It pairs well with Grandmother's Adobe Dollhouse.