Bewildered for Three Days: As to Why Daniel Boone Never Wore His Coonskin Cap
Grade 1-4-This original tall tale tells why the legendary adventurer never really wore a coonskin cap. The first half of the story describes a fictional childhood friendship between Boone and a Delaware boy, Tu-muk-wayatut, from whom he learns wilderness skills. When the two part, young Daniel is able to use this knowledge in his wanderings. One day, pursued by braves, the boy hides in a hollow log, sharing the spot overnight with a raccoon and her kits. Emerging safely the next morning, the boy vows to the raccoon that he will "never again wear any of your kin on my head." An adult Daniel Boone narrates this story to a painter, and the first-person telling is lively and fast paced. Glass's impressionistic oil paintings are well suited to the tall-tale genre, incorporating expressive features and a vivid palette of primarily greens, browns, and golds. A detailed author's note describes the fact behind the fiction and offers interesting historical background about the man and his times.Steven Engelfried, Deschutes County Library, Bend, ORCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.