The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

Title:  The Shaman's Apprentice 

Author/Illustrator:  Lynne Cherry and Mark J. Plotkin/Lynne Cherry 

APA Citation:  Cherry, L., & Plotkin, M. J. (1998). The shaman's apprentice: A tale of the Amazon rain forest. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company. 

Lexile Score: AD890L-Recommended as adult read to child book 

Target Audience:  I felt as though this book could appeal to a variety of people both young and old.  With a good plot line and historical accuracy, I believe it would be a great book to inspire critical thinking of a variety of topics. 

Summary:  This was a wonderful story that introduced ideas of colonialism, protecting the rain forest, and using natural resources to make medicine.  Throughout the story, the beliefs of the shaman were questioned by the tribe due to the arrival of missionaries and their powerful medicines.  It was not until a female scientist arrived to study the natural healing powers found within the Amazon that the tribe regained its faith with the shaman.  

Evaluation:

	4	3	2	1
Theme/Moral	The theme/moral of the story was worthwhile and provided a non-biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was worthwhile but portrayed a somewhat biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was somewhat worthwhile, but portrayed a biased message for the reader.	Theme/moral of the story was not worthwhile and portrayed a biased message for the reader.
Characterization	Characters in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Illustrations	Illustrations in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were not relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Multicultural Aspects	Story provided accurate representations of  several cultures.	Story provided accurate representations of more than one culture.	Story provided accurate representation of only one culture.	Story did not provide accurate representations of  the culture discussed.
Historical Value	The story's historical references were accurate and did not convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were accurate, did not convey some biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were somewhat accurate, and did convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were not accurate, and conveyed a biased opinion of the event depicted.
Self and Social Identities	This book positively counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book attempts to counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book does not reinforce stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book reinforces stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.
Language	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, and used alternatives to generic terms.	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, but did use some generic terms.	This book did not contain "loaded" words, however, consistently used generic terms.	This book did contain "loaded words, and consistently used generic terms.
Overall Rating	I would use this book in my future classroom and recommend it to other teachers.	I would try to use this book in my future classroom and might recommend it to other teachers.	If the occasion arose, I might read this book, but probably would not recommend it.	I would not use or recommend this book.

Overall Score: 31/32 

Literary Elements: Use of quotations within a text, use of Author's Note, Title and Subtitle 

Social Justice Elements:  Believing in self, discrediting the superiority of the white man, protecting the natural resources found in the rain forest.

Sample Lesson:  One of the elements of this book that I found very interesting was the pictures and names of a variety of plants found within the Suriname Rain Forest.  I think it would be interesting to use this book in a science lesson and to have the students research some of the plants and discuss ways to preserve our rain forests.