The Value of Truth and Trust: The Story of Cochise

ValueTales Series

by Ann Donegan Johnson, Steve Pilligri (Illustrator)

A biography of Cochise, the Apache chief, whose life illustrates the values of trust and truth.

Genres: Biography, Childrens, History, Nonfiction, American History, Picture Books, Kids

62 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1977

Reviews

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing I do totally love about this book is that even non-humans get reactions. In the illustrations, tents have sad faces in depictions of fighting, horses look sly when their owners are being untrustworthy, the sun is pleased when people are being honest with each other, and a vulture embodies Cochise's doubt, like an anti-Jiminy Cricket.
I also appreciate that the book neither lambastes nor white-paints either side; mistakes were made, and some people were wrong and a bit crap, and that happened. Such balanced presentation is great for kids just starting to learn about how much white folks effed over the natives. Of course, they don't go into the later near-eradication, but hey, they get a good head start.
One of the things I wasn't too keen on, though, was the constant correlation between telling the truth and "feeling better," as in you'll "feel better" if you don't lie. I can see where this is coming from, and sometimes it's true, but I look at encouraging kids to tell the truth more as an installation of knowing what is right and also helpful to other people, not what makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Besides, under this system, the minute a kid lies and DOESN'T feel like crap, the whole system goes out the window. Yes, I do know this from personal experience.

[Matt "MJ" Paladino · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite childhood book. My parents tell me they used to get so pissed at me- it was a 45 minute read; and i made them read it to me over and over.

[F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age appropriate history lesson for 9 to 12 year olds. Besides the moral values emphasis and Cochise's biography, his blood brother / white man friend, Thomas Jeffords, is introduced along with General Oliver Howard.

[Dave Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the last of a few books our family had in this series (the Values series). I wish I had the chance to read the rest.

[Vittoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai aimé le livre parce que Cochise et un garçon blanc sont devenus des amis et ils ont arrêté la guerre entre les Britaniques et les indiens.

[William Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember there was a drawing of Cochise outrunning bullets, and then becoming a blood brother with a soldier. Dude was badass.

[Tyrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable history lesson and great morals story

[C.G. Fewston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a kid and remember it fondly, and will have to revisit it with my children.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Value of Truth and Trust: The Story of Cochise (Value Tale Series) by Ann Donegan, Illustrator Steve Pileggi- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- the book narrates the story of Cochise, an Apache Chief () whose life illustrates the value of truth and trust. Cochise resided in the area that is now the northern region of Sonora, Mexico; New Mexico, and Arizona, which they had settled in sometime before the arrival of the European explorers and colonists. In 1871, General Oliver O. Howard was ordered to find Cochise, and in 1872, Howard was accompanied by his aide 1st Lt Joseph A. Sladen and Captain Samuel S. Sumner to Arizona to negotiate a peace treaty with Cochise. Tom Jeffords, the Apache leader's only white friend, was also present. A treaty was negotiated on October 12, 1872. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Jane Ashby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my young boy recently. I was surprised because it didn’t seem like one he would like. But he seems to love it.
It’s a really good, historical story and teaches about good values and always telling the truth, even when it’s hard to do so!

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute educational book

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how good this book is at showing us the importance of honesty.