Lump Lump and the Blanket of Dreams: Inspired by Navajo Culture and Folklore - Hardcover

Gwen Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University with a B.A. in psychology. She won a Ford Foundation Fellowship and attended the University of Michigan, where she received an M.A. in psychology. An avid lover of history, anthropology, and people, Gwen has traveled to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Sicily, Capri, the Greek Islands, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, and India. Gwen's main wish in life is Thurber's Dog Wish: "a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog."...

"K-Gr 3"  "The prospect of downtime is tough on many a rambunctious young one.  Lump Lump, a bear cub, is not keen on hibernation, until he hears Blue Bird's song about a 'blanket of dreams.'"..."There are many sweet, noninsistent lessons gathered into this tale drawn from Navajo tradition..."  "Along with the life lessons it contains, this story has an incantatory rhythm that would lend itself beautifully as wind down to sleep." --Sandy MacDonald, Booklist 
                                

"Numerous adaptations of folk tales from other cultures appear as children's picture books, yearly; but few are as compelling and highly recommended..." "...its full-color illustrations are simply gorgeous, eye-popping productions that truly stand apart from what is normally presented in a picture book..."  "Not only did Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas contribute a blanket to the story line for illustration, but she served as a consultant for the story...(Ms. Ornelas' weavings are in the Smithsonian, the British Museum, and many other galleries)."  "...evocative, soaring, image-filled language which will attract all ages with stunning metaphors and visual and verbal beauty..." "...will easily move beyond the category of 'picture book folklore read-aloud' and into the realm of Native American studies (especially as the author intends to support it with lesson plans and ESL materials, produced in conjunction with language arts, wildlife biologist, and Native American cultural specialists."  --Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"...In this tale drawn from Navajo tradition, the cub and his mother gather from other
animals the components needed to create the blanket (the white light of morning, a net
of twilight) and ask Spider Woman to weave it.  Along the way, Lump Lump learns
sharing, gratitude, and to appreciate nature."  -- Angela Leeper, Book Links Sept. 2017