The Spindle Whorl - (Native American Art Activity Book) by Nan McNutt (Paperback)

About the Book

Sulsuliya, a Coast Salish teenager, uses her spindle whorl to prepare yarn for her uncle's wedding gift, a new robe in the traditional style. She shows her younger sister the skills she was taught by their grandmother, and in doing so, takes on an adult role within her culture. Includes a craft activity, templates, and instructions.

Book Synopsis

In a story set before the coming of the Euro-Americans in the 1700's, Sulsuliya, a Coast Salish teenager, uses her spindle whorl to prepare yarn for her uncle's wedding gift, a new robe in tribe's traditional style. She shows her younger sister the skills she was taught by their grandmother, and in so doing, begins to come of age, taking an adult role within her culture.

Following the story is a teaching guide that also includes background information on the craft of spinning wool, map, and bibliography. Activity pages for children follow the story and include design templates for creating a whorl, suggestions for designing one's own, questions on artistic concepts like positive and negative space, and creating animal impressions using printmaking techniques.

All titles in the Native American Art Activity Book series include an original story, a craft activity (with templates and instructions), a teaching guide, and bibliography. Tribal members have reviewed these volumes for cultural accuracy, and noted Northwest Native artists have created original works for the series.

The Spindle Whorl focuses on the art represented by the carvings on the whorl of a spindle - a tool used in spinning wool. The carved whorl was used specifically by the Central Coast Salish peoples - other tribes did not carve the whorls.

Review Quotes

"This series is a valuable resource for teachers, leaders of youth groups, artists and art teachers, and library programmers. There is so much valuable information included that libraries searching for ethno-cultural materials will welcome the author's unique approach. The drawings and artwork by various Northwest coast artists are finely executed and visually appealing.

Highly recommended. "

CM: Canadian Review of Materials, published by the Manitoba Library Association.

About the Author

Writer and educator, Nan NcNatt is the creator of the Native American Art Activity Book series. Nan's experiences as a Euro-American teenager growing up in Micronesia made a strong and lasting impression on her. She grew up with great respect and curiosity for cultural differences.

She has a Masters in Education from the University of Washington.