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Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
Paintings by Susan Jeffers

      How can you buy the sky? How can you own the rain and the wind? So began the moving words attributed to a great American Indian chief over one hundred years ago. The words eloquently and poetically captured the central belief of Native Americans: that this Earth and every creature on it is sacred. It is these words and this belief that have inspired a labor of love for Susan Jeffers - her most extraordinary paintings illuminate the words and world vision possessed by Native Americans.

      Susan Jeffer's paintings for Brother Eagle, Sister Sky combine the beauty of nature with the wisdom of Native American philosophy. "My aim," said Ms. Jeffers, "was to portray people and artifacts from a wide array of nations because the philosophy expressed in the text is one shared by most Native Americans." This inspired Ms. Jeffers to research the Northwest Costal Nations, Northern Plains, Southwest Plains, and the Eastern Woodland Native American tribes, all of which are represented in one or more of the paintings. "My hope in creating Brother Eagle, Sister Sky," continues Ms. Jeffers, "was that it might help us learn from the exemplary relationship Native Americans have with the Earth for the benefit of all our children."

      Winner of the 1992 ABBY Award (The book booksellers most enjoyed handselling in 1991). Paperback. 32 pages. Age level: Preschool. Puffin Books. 2002 Edition. ISBN: 0142301329.