Native American/American Indian books
Title: Jingle Dancer
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
ISBN #: 31389013560867
Copyright date: 2000
Summary: This book is about a young girl named Jenna who wants to honor a family tradition of dancing at the next powwow. She has to learn to dance as well as find enough jingles for her dress in order to be able to do so. With hard work, dedication and help from her grandmother, she is able to make her dream a reality.
Would you use this book?: Yes
The only problem that I have with this book is the stereotyping of Native American/American Indians as wearing headdresses in one scene. If I were to use this book, I would tell students that Native American/American Indians do not always wear their traditional clothing, as can be seen on the other pages. In the end of the book, there is an explanation of some terms and traditions. Overall, the book teaches about persevering and working hard toward a goal and is a good resource for teaching about the Native American/American Indian culture and traditional ceremonies.
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
ISBN #: 31389013560867
Copyright date: 2000
Summary: This book is about a young girl named Jenna who wants to honor a family tradition of dancing at the next powwow. She has to learn to dance as well as find enough jingles for her dress in order to be able to do so. With hard work, dedication and help from her grandmother, she is able to make her dream a reality.
Would you use this book?: Yes
The only problem that I have with this book is the stereotyping of Native American/American Indians as wearing headdresses in one scene. If I were to use this book, I would tell students that Native American/American Indians do not always wear their traditional clothing, as can be seen on the other pages. In the end of the book, there is an explanation of some terms and traditions. Overall, the book teaches about persevering and working hard toward a goal and is a good resource for teaching about the Native American/American Indian culture and traditional ceremonies.
Title: Grandparents Song
Author: Sheila Hamanaka
Illustrator: Mark Luttrell
ISBN #: 0688178529
Copyright date: 2003
Summary: This book is about a girl who explores her ancestry and her grandparents’ cultures. She learns that her grandparents have come from multiple countries and loved each other despite any adversity. She finds that all of her grandparents’ individual backgrounds make her who she is today.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book could be used for many purposes—teaching about diversity, history, families, ancestry, self-esteem, poetry, etc. The text of the book is educational but developmentally appropriate for elementary students. The illustrations are beautiful oil paintings that emphasize the storyline. Overall, a great book for teaching about the Native American/American Indian culture that can incorporate many other cultures and disciplines as well.
Author: Sheila Hamanaka
Illustrator: Mark Luttrell
ISBN #: 0688178529
Copyright date: 2003
Summary: This book is about a girl who explores her ancestry and her grandparents’ cultures. She learns that her grandparents have come from multiple countries and loved each other despite any adversity. She finds that all of her grandparents’ individual backgrounds make her who she is today.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book could be used for many purposes—teaching about diversity, history, families, ancestry, self-esteem, poetry, etc. The text of the book is educational but developmentally appropriate for elementary students. The illustrations are beautiful oil paintings that emphasize the storyline. Overall, a great book for teaching about the Native American/American Indian culture that can incorporate many other cultures and disciplines as well.
Title: SkySisters
Author: Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrator: Brian Deines
ISBN #: 31389013560313
Copyright date: 2000
Summary: This book is about two Ojibway sisters who go on a journey to see the SkySpirits, the Northern Lights, do their midnight dance. They need to be silent when they are walking across the frozen north country, which is hard for the girls at first. In the end, they learn to treasure the silence and the stillness of the world around them and they are finally rewarded with seeing the SkySpirits dance in the night sky.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book to teach about the Native American/American Indian culture or on a unit about Alaska or the Northern Lights. It would be a great resource to use when teaching about the Northern Lights because it offers another perspective of what they are and their purpose. Overall, it is developmentally appropriate and has a good story line. I would include it in my classroom library.
Author: Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrator: Brian Deines
ISBN #: 31389013560313
Copyright date: 2000
Summary: This book is about two Ojibway sisters who go on a journey to see the SkySpirits, the Northern Lights, do their midnight dance. They need to be silent when they are walking across the frozen north country, which is hard for the girls at first. In the end, they learn to treasure the silence and the stillness of the world around them and they are finally rewarded with seeing the SkySpirits dance in the night sky.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book to teach about the Native American/American Indian culture or on a unit about Alaska or the Northern Lights. It would be a great resource to use when teaching about the Northern Lights because it offers another perspective of what they are and their purpose. Overall, it is developmentally appropriate and has a good story line. I would include it in my classroom library.
Title: When the Shadbush Blooms
Author: Carla Messinger
Illustrator: David Kanietakeron Fadden
ISBN #: 31110001634278
Copyright date: 2007
Summary: This book is about a young Lenni Lenape girl who dreams of her great-great grandmother’s life. She thinks about her in every season as she plants seeds, picks berries, plays in the leaves and in the snow. It is told from two viewpoints: the traditional “sister” and the contemporary “sister” and explains how many things change over time but some very important things stay the same.
Would you use this book?: Yes
The author does a great job with explaining the traditions of this community and the illustrator created beautiful images to go along with the words. I especially love the layout of the book, with the past on the left pages and the contemporary times on the right pages. This makes it a great resource to teach and compare history to modern times. At the back of the book is a history of the Lenni Lenape people and an explanation of what the cycle of the seasons means to them. There is also a list of Lenape words for the seasons and how to pronounce them. I would use this book in my classroom to teach about the past vs. modern times of this Native American/American Indian tribe. It is also a great resource for teaching about the seasons.
Author: Carla Messinger
Illustrator: David Kanietakeron Fadden
ISBN #: 31110001634278
Copyright date: 2007
Summary: This book is about a young Lenni Lenape girl who dreams of her great-great grandmother’s life. She thinks about her in every season as she plants seeds, picks berries, plays in the leaves and in the snow. It is told from two viewpoints: the traditional “sister” and the contemporary “sister” and explains how many things change over time but some very important things stay the same.
Would you use this book?: Yes
The author does a great job with explaining the traditions of this community and the illustrator created beautiful images to go along with the words. I especially love the layout of the book, with the past on the left pages and the contemporary times on the right pages. This makes it a great resource to teach and compare history to modern times. At the back of the book is a history of the Lenni Lenape people and an explanation of what the cycle of the seasons means to them. There is also a list of Lenape words for the seasons and how to pronounce them. I would use this book in my classroom to teach about the past vs. modern times of this Native American/American Indian tribe. It is also a great resource for teaching about the seasons.
Title: Morning on the Lake
Author: Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrator: Karen Reczuch
ISBN #: 31389012042156
Copyright date: 1997
Summary: This book includes three short stories: one about morning on the lake, one about afternoon and one about night. In them, a boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Throughout the day, they discover the beauty of the lake and of the forest around them. They make note of all the nature that they see and experience, like the peaceful lake, a majestic eagle and scary wolves.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book to teach about the contemporary Native American/American Indian culture. I think that it is a story that students could relate to, especially if they have spent time in nature or during a unit on nature/the outdoors. It is a little long, so I may read one short story at a time. The part about wolves may scare younger students, so I would keep the story for 3rd-5th graders. Overall, it does a nice job introducing new terms and a new perspective about nature.
Author: Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrator: Karen Reczuch
ISBN #: 31389012042156
Copyright date: 1997
Summary: This book includes three short stories: one about morning on the lake, one about afternoon and one about night. In them, a boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Throughout the day, they discover the beauty of the lake and of the forest around them. They make note of all the nature that they see and experience, like the peaceful lake, a majestic eagle and scary wolves.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book to teach about the contemporary Native American/American Indian culture. I think that it is a story that students could relate to, especially if they have spent time in nature or during a unit on nature/the outdoors. It is a little long, so I may read one short story at a time. The part about wolves may scare younger students, so I would keep the story for 3rd-5th graders. Overall, it does a nice job introducing new terms and a new perspective about nature.
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