Join us at Henry’s Books in Spearfish on Saturday, December 6 at 2 pm for a Black Hills Reads Bookstop Lesson with CAT Scratch Studios!

Early learners, ages one year to 4+ and their caregivers are encouraged to attend this free event. Lead educator Cary Thrall will offer an interactive read-aloud of local South Dakota and Lakota author Donald Montileaux’s book “Muskrat and Skunk.” Following the reading, a rich learning activity will be shared with children. Adults are encouraged to assist. Children will receive their own copy of the book to keep.

About the book… THUMP! BOOM! BAM!

Animals stop and listen. A new sound is in the forest. The beat vibrates through the trees and across the meadows. What is it? Where is it coming from?

Muskrat and Skunk thump on a hollow log. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Birds begin to dance. Buffalo and Antelope join in. There is a rustle in the bushes; a large shape emerges. The animals scatter. Muskrat and Skunk drum on.

The story of the drum connects the instrument's sound to the heartbeat of Mother Earth that beats inside all of us. For the Lakota people, the drum is more than something to be played. Its rhythm is felt, and it is central to many ceremonies.

Donald F. Montileaux retells the origins of the drum, using traditional stories that Lakota people still tell today. His colorful images breathe life into Muskrat and Skunk, enhancing our understanding of the Lakota culture.