Knots on a Counting Rope

Summary

The book Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr is about a Native American boy named Boy-Strength-of-Blue- Horses and his grandfather who together recount important events of the child’s life, which are represented by the knots on the counting rope. As the grandfather tells the boy’s life story, we learn that his grandson was born blind. Through the power of storytelling Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses is reminded of the obstacles he already overcame despite his blindness, which ultimately gives him confidence and inner strength for future challenges. The grandfather ties a knot on the counting rope each time they reminisce about Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses life events and believes that the boy will know his own story by heart when the rope is completely filled with knots. The counting rope symbolizes the passage of time and emergence of the child’s confidence and inner strength when facing his greatest life-challenges: blindness and the approaching death of his beloved grandfather.

Genre

Historical Fiction

The book as well as Historical fiction “tells [a] stor[y] set in the past; it portrays events that […] possibly could have occurred. [The] author[…] create[s] plot and character within an authentic historical setting.” (Galda et al., 2010, p. 17). Historical fiction is deeply grounded in setting, where and when something took place and is bound to historical facts, which makes it realistic.

Thus, historical fiction is an imaginative narrative influenced by actual historical facts. The setting of Knots on a Counting Rope appears to be Monument Valley in Arizona which is the habitat of the Navajo Native American tribe.

Illustrations 

Illustrator Ted Rand used watercolor as a medium, which is the “material used in the production of a work” (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2010, p. 72). The rich watercolor illustrations spread across a full page and a half due to the book’s horizontal format. Rand’s skillful ability to use light and shadow, particularly striking in the campfire scene, capture the feeling of lighting the darkness. The dark surroundings with the yellow firelight beautifully reveals the expressive faces of the old, wise grandfather and his curious, young grandson. Happy memories are brought alive through bright blue skies and vivid earth colors, particular striking in the race scene.

Classroom Activities

Reader's Response Questions 

1. How did Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses get his name? Was this a good name for him Why?
2. How did Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses gain confidence to face life’s challenges?
3. When was Boy-Strength-of-Blue Horses courageous?
4. What is the book's main message?
5. How does the author use different things in nature to describe the color blue?

Activity 1

Watch the below online video of actors Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels reading Knots on a Counting Rope.

Sequencing lesson: Pass out the graphic organizer and have students cut out the event boxes and glue them according to the sequence of events in the boys life. 

Activity 2

Read aloud Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles. Discuss the similarities of the two Native American stories and the differences of them two. Instruct students to compare and contrast the main characters Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses and Annie with each other.

Personal Response

I believe Knots on a Counting Rope is truly an enrichment for every classroom. The book presents the trend of exploring diverse and cultural ideas and experiences. The author vividly depicts the attitude of a diverse culture towards great universal life challenges. The Native American boy deals with a life without eyesight by relying on the strength of his inner self, which was given to him by the great blue horses from the dark mountains. With the help of his grandfather he learned to “see” with his other senses and discovered the great strengths that come within him. The recounts of the boy’s life events has a therapeutic effect on Boy-Strength-of-Blue Horse. Through them he refuels on confidence and energy which ultimately gives him the great strength to deal with his disability. The grandfather also faces his grandson with another life challenge, which is the approaching death of a loved one. Once the rope is filled with knots, the boy is expected to know his life-story by heart, because there will come the day where his grandfather cannot tell them anymore, because just as every living thing on earth will perish one day, so will he. I also believe that the story's main message is beneficial to the lives of my students. It teaches them to have courage when facing life challenges, since they can be overcome by believing in the power of the inner self.

Similar Works

• Badger’s Parting Gift by Susan Varley
• Koala Lou by Mem Fox
• Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
• Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Author's Background Information

Bill Martin Jr. (1916-2004) truly was one of “America’s favorite children’s authors.” He wrote for almost 60 years. He is the author of the classic text Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? which  remains at the top of the Publisher's Weekly Bestseller list, as well as more than 300 other books for children. Bill Martin was elected into the Reading Hall of Fame by the International Literacy Association.

Other Books

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
• Here Are My Hands
• Barn Dance
• Old Devil Wind
• Swish
• Little Granny Quarterback
• Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
• The Ghost-Eye Tree

References

Galda, L., Cullinan, B.E., & Sipe, L.R. (2010). Literature and the child (7^th ed.). Belmond, CA:Wadsworths, Inc.

"knots on a counting rope" "knots on a counting rope" (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.storylineonline.net/activityguides/storyline_knots.pdf

Knots on a Counting Rope Sequencing Activity. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2016, from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Knots-on-a-Counting-Rope-Sequencing-Activity-828259