Sky Dancers

By Connie Ann Kirk
Illustrated by Christy Hale

     Set against Christy Hale’s warm and inspiring illustrations, Kirk weaves the uplifting story of a young Mohawk (Iroquois) boy, John Cloud, whose father builds sky scrapers in New York City in the 1930s. John Cloud is very curious about what his father does in the city, since he’s often away for long stretches of time when he’s working. Finally, John's mother and grandfather take him to the big city for a firsthand look at what his father does. John Cloud is impressed as well as unnerved by the hustle and bustle of the city.

When John Cloud gets his first glimpse of his father working way up in the sky on the steel beams, he is overcome with pride. His father is working on “the tallest building in the world” - the Empire State Building.

At the end of the book is some additional factual information about the massive role Mohawks played in steelworking and the construction of skyscrapers and bridges during the 1930s and 1940s.

The publisher, Lee & Low Books, prides itself on producing books that accurately portray multicultural viewpoints and characters. This book is a shining example of that philosophy. Not only is this a stimulating and engaging story for any child who is curious about what their parents do for a living, it also illuminates a fascinating piece of American history.