The Flute Player ~ Michael Lacapa (1994, Northland Publishing)

Summary: The story is about a young boy and young girl who seem to really like each other at a social. The young boy tells the girl that he can play the flute. He plays for her as she listens from upstream. If she likes the song she sends him a leaf. This goes on for a while then the young boy leaves to go on a hunting trip. The girl thinks that he doesn't like her anymore and becomes ill and dies. The boy returns and asks her brother what has happened to her. The brother tells her that she has passed and where she is buried. The young boy went there to play is flute and was never seen again. Anytime people hear the wind blow they remember the boy playing his flute for the young girl. 


The Review: I think this book is a beautiful retelling of an Apache Folktale. Michael Lacapa does a great job with the illustrations and retelling of the story. It would be a great book to share with multiple grades levels about folktales. 


About the Author: Michael and Kathleen are married and have three children. Michael, unfortunately, has passed away since writing this book. He was also a resident artist at several schools on the west coast. He learned his stories from his elders and wrote them to preserve their memory. 


Genre: Multicultural, Folktale
Theme / Skill: Learning the importance of retelling a folktale
Age LeveL 8+


Pre-reading Activity: Ask students if the know what a folktale is and explain to them that Lacapa is retelling an Apache story. Also explain the importance of retelling folktales from generation to generation. 


Post-reading Activity: Have students write a journal about why it is important for to share stories from one generation to the next. Students will need to give at least 3 different reason.