Eureka!

It Is a Good Day to Die

Publication Information

Author: Viola, Herman

Illustrator:

Title: It Is a Good Day to Die

Date: 2001

Publisher: University of Nebraska

City: Lincoln, NE

ISBN, paperback: 0-8032-9626-6

ISBN, hardback:

Recommended audience:

ABE/ABLE: Yes

ESOL:

Family:

Young Adult: Yes

Picture:

General Information:

Book Type(s): nonfiction, biography and autobiography

HSE Descriptor(s): social studies

Summary:

A brief introduction explains why the account of Custer's battle at Little Bighorn is told through individual recollections long after the encounter. In addition to the personal accounts, the book includes a helpful chronology of events, short biographies of the storytellers, an epilogue, source materials, and an index.

Teaching Ideas:

Of course, the book would be useful in a text set on Native American history and how it continues to be revised. A Venn diagram would help readers sort out the cultural conflicts that led to the battle of Little Bighorn, which was the beginning of the end of Native American life. Readers might want to read the chronology of events at the back before reading the personal accounts of the battle. Teachers might prepare students by finding a couple of other accounts of this battle so that students can compare and contrast as they read. Developing a matrix of the people telling the history, their tribe, age, and role in the battle should provide material for discussion and writing, especially on point-of-view. Students will want to discuss Sitting Bull's quote on p. 7 rejecting reservation life that would make Indians "neither red warriors nor white farmers...neither wolf nor dog." The book raises many questions for further research: Why did the Indians scouts help Custer? Why did Sitting Bull return to U.S. from Canada? What was the appeal of the Ghost Dance religion? Readers interested in Indian spiritualism would enjoy looking into Black Elk Speaks. Libraries may have the movie Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman.

Teaching Strategies: