Library Happenings
Henning School

The “Birchbark House” is one of my favorite books to read to the fifth graders.  This wonderful book has been featured in this column before and is written by Louise Erdrich who was born in the town of Little Falls, Minn.  Being the daughter of a German-American father and a Chippewa Indian mother, this author explores the Native American cultures in her books.  

In the Birchbark House, the main character Omakaya is doing the job of tanning a deer hide and she truly hates the job.  To help the students understand what exactly she is doing that she hates so much, I brought in an Elk hide, two different sized Elk antlers, and the stone tools that were used long ago to tan hide. The students have been able to feel and lift the different sizes of antlers,smell, feel, and lay under the elk hide, and hold, feel and compare the stones used long ago.  

I have shared these items with preschool 4-year-olds all the way through the fifth graders.  Many of these items the children may never be exposed to again. This is a fun time in the library to bring in things that mean a great deal to me and to be able to connect them with a book that they are currently involved in reading.  

The elk antlers and hide will be on display at the library through the month of March.  Please feel free to stop up and see these items and let us help you find a book for yourself.  We are open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30-5:30 p.m. following the school calendar.