Learning Native American Culture Through Children’s Literature -Biographies

As the Learning Native American Culture series continues we are looking at Biographies.

I “met” author Jeri Ferris several years ago on the NFforKids list serve. As the author of one the books included in this column (Native American Doctor) I asked her to share some thoughts with us.

“In reading biographies, children enter the lives of people who experienced, even caused the events we can only read about. These are the stories of real people who created real history, and the child who reads a lively and gripping biography understands the past in a way he never can by reading a history book.” Jeri has written eleven biographies, all published by Carolrhoda Books.

Jeri also shared, “Children MUST read about other cultures. How can I know that another person, a person who doesn’t look like me, has the same cares, worries, needs, and fears that I do if I’ve never had the chance to speak with and listen to that person…Susan LaFlesche saw herself as the bridge for her people, a bridge connecting two worlds. We are a world of many cultures, and we are the richer for it…. but only if we know each other.”

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I encourage you to help your patrons KNOW people of another culture by introducing them to some of the books in this column.

Thank you Jeri Ferris for sharing with us.

JOSEPH BRUCHAC

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Bruchac, Joseph. Seeing the Circle. Illustrated by John Christopher Fine. Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1999. 1572743271 Hardcover 32 p. Grades 3-6

Seeing the Circle is autobiographical. In it Joseph Bruchac has included some of his family history and much about his daily schedule and what he does. Mr. Bruchac is part Abenaki Indian and has written many books about Native Americans and different aspects of the Native American culture. Seeing the Circle is part of the Meet the Author series of books. Students who have read Mr. Bruchac’s books or are interested in what an author does will most likely enjoy Seeing the Circle. The book is illustrated with photographs by John Christopher Fine.

CRAZY HORSE

Bruchac, Joseph. Crazy Horse’s Vision. Illustrated by S.D. Nelson. Lee & Low Books, 2000. 188000946 Hardcover 36 p. PreK – 3

Crazy Horse’s Vision is the story of Crazy Horse’s early life. Joseph Bruchac includes some background of the events leading up to Crazy Horse’s vision quest. A quarter of the book is a description of the vision quest. The book ends with his father’s explanation of the vision. Illustrator S.D. Nelson, a Lakota Sioux, used traditional Lakota style in his artwork. For the illustrations, he painted on wooden panels with acrylics. Readers will learn more about Native American vision quests, at least those of the Plains Indians, as well as learning about Crazy Horse’s early life in Crazy Horse’s Vision.

PAUL GOBLE

Goble, Paul. Hau Kola, Hello Friend. Illustrated by Gerry Perrin. Richard C. Owen Publishers, 1994. 1878450441 Hardcover 32 p. Grades 3-6

Hau Kola, Hello Friend is an autobiography by Paul Goble. While Mr. Goble is not a Native American, he has written many books about Native American topics and your patrons will probably recognize the name. The book is easy to read and is illustrated with photographs by Gerry Perrin. The book contains reference to the spirits of Native American ancestors visiting him in his dreams. The book is interesting and students who have enjoyed Paul Goble books will probably enjoy this autobiography.

QUANAH PARKER

Updyke, Rosemary Kissinger. Quanah Parker: Comanche Chief. Pelican Publishing Co, Inc. 1991, 1999. 1565545575 Paperback 136 p. Grades 6 & up

Nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was abducted by Comanche Indians. She soon forgot her Anglo life and lived and thought like a Comanche. Quanah, her first-born, eventually became a Comanche chief and leader of his people during the transition to reservation life. The first part of Quanah Parker: Comanche Chief is a narrative covering most of Quanah’s life. The final chapters are more like snapshots of specific events in his final years. Ms. Updyke included an extensive bibliography, some of which appears to be primary documents. The book would be useful for research as well as pleasure reading for those who want to learn more about Native Americans.

SUSAN LaFLESCHE PICOTTE

Ferris, Jeri. Native American Doctor: The Story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte. Lerner Publishing, 1991. 0876144431 Hardcover 8076145489 Paperback 88 p. Grades 4-8
When Susan LaFlesche was born a way of life was ending for the Plains Indians. Native American Doctor is her biography, but it is also the story of the struggle of Native American people learning to live in a white world. Susan LaFlesche Picotte was the first Native American woman doctor and the first Native American to serve as a missionary. Native American Doctor is a winner of the National Council for Social Studies Secondary Carter G. Woodson Award and a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. Author Jeri Ferris has turned her research into an enjoyable read.

Tong, Benson. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, M.D.: Omaha Indian Leader and Reformer. University of Oklahoma Press, 1999. 0806131543 Paperback 285 p. Adult

Dr. Picotte was the first Native American woman to become a doctor. In Susan LaFlesche Picotte, M.D., author Benson Tong looks at her life and the history of the Omaha people during her life. The book is academic in nature and is recommended only for the serious researcher of Dr. Picotte or the Omaha people. Much detail is included on Dr. Picotte’s dealings with the federal government on her people’s behalf. The book ends with over 80 pages of notes, bibliography and index.

POCAHONTAS

Bruchac, Joseph. Pocahontas. Harcourt, Inc., 2003. 0152167374 Hardcover 173 p. Grades 6 & up

Pocahontas played a role in the Jamestown colony. Is the Disney version correct? Probably not. Joseph Bruchac, an Abenaki Indian, spent much time researching for Pocahontas. He tells the story from two viewpoints; one of Pocahontas and the other of John Smith. The narrators alternate chapters throughout the book. Mr. Bruchac consulted documents written at the time of the Jamestown colony, including Smith’s own writings for the chapters in which John Smith narrates. For the Pocahontas chapters, he drew on his knowledge of the Algonquin people (which include the Powhatan people) and the writings of those who have studied the Powhatan people. Is the book 100% accurate? Probably not, especially the Pocahontas chapters as the Powhatan people had no written language in the 1600’s. Is the book true to history? I think it probably is. Mr. Bruchac was able to understand the worldview of the Powhatan people and probably portrayed the beliefs of the Powhatan people in an accurate way.

SACAJAWEA

Bruchac, Joseph. Sacajawea: The Story of Bird Woman and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Harcourt, Inc., 2000. 0152022341 Hardcover 200 p. Grades 6 & up

Pomp wants to hear about the great Lewis and Clark Expedition – he was too young to remember it. His mother Sacajawea and his “uncle” William Clark tell him the story. Author Joseph Bruchac studied the journals of the expedition in preparation for writing Sacajawea: The Story of Bird Woman and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He successfully achieved two distinct voices for his alternating point of view format. Students will find this a good book to read and a helpful reference source.

SITTING BULL

Trumbauer, Lisa. Sitting Bull. Capstone Press, 2004. 0736823719 Hardcover 24 p. Grades PreK – 2

Sitting Bull is part of Pebble Books’ First Biographies series. The book has only 217 words; most first graders should be able to read the book with a little help. A time-line across the bottom of each page helps the reader visualize the progression of the events in Sitting Bull’s life. A glossary explains unfamiliar terms but most readers will need an adult’s help using it. The photos and drawings, which illustrate the book, complement the text. For young students interested in learning more about Native American leaders or for those doing research projects, Sitting Bull would be an appropriate book.

SQUANTO

Ziner, Feenie. Squanto. Shoestring Press, Inc., 1993. 0208022740 Paperback Grades 6 & up

Squanto is the biography of the man who helped the Pilgrims through their first difficult year. Mrs. Ziner relied on primary documents from the 1600’s in writing the book. She used the Native American perspective to tell of the early European conquests in the New World. The story begins when fifteen-year-old Tisquantum is first kidnapped and taken to England. His return to the New World is soon followed by another kidnapping and sale to slavery in Spain. His escape from slavery, stow-away trip to England, return to the New World, and eventual return to his home continues the story. The story ends soon after Squanto joins the Plymouth Colony. While the author admits in her notes that parts of the book are fictionalized, the story seems to stay true to history.

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Metaxas, Eric. Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving. Illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis. Tommy Nelson, 1999. 0849958644 Hardcover 40 p. Ages 5-10

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving is a beautiful nonfiction picture storybook. Shannon Stirnweis used painting to illustrate the text. Children will enjoy looking at the pictures while listening to the text. Eric Metaxas has written a biography that younger children will listen to and older children can read alone. The influence God had in Squanto’s life is included, something you don’t always find in books about Squanto. One drawback this book has is that a bibliography or suggested resources, which improve a nonfiction book’s usefulness, are not included. There is also no reference to how much of the book is fictionalized and some of it seems to be. If you want a good storybook about Squanto, Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving is a good choice. However, if you want a reference book, I suggest you look elsewhere.

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Bruchac, Joseph. Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving. Illustrated by Greg Shed. Silver Whistle/Harcourt, Inc., 2000. 0152018174 Hardcover 32 p. PreK – 5

Squanto’s Journey is the story of the first thanksgiving from a Native American perspective. Using the first person, Joseph Bruchac tells the story of how Squanto came to learn English; of his capture, his time in Spain and England, and his return to his land. This picture storybook is for the younger child who is a good listener or for the older child. There are several paragraphs of text on each two-page spread. The book does include a glossary. Artist Greg Shed spent time at the Plimoth Plantation researching for the paintings which illustrate the book. Joseph Bruchac did extensive research, with the help of his sister, for this book. Mr. Bruchac is an Abenaki Indian.

JIM THORPE

Updyke, Rosemary K. Jim Thorpe: The Legend Remembered. Pelican Publishing, 1997. 1565545397 Paperback 96 p. Grades 6-8

“The greatest athlete in the world.” That is what King Gustav of Sweden said of Jim Thorpe when he awarded Jim his second gold medal of the 1912 Olympic Games. In Jim Thorpe: The Legend Remembered, author Rosemary Updyke provides middle schoolers with a biography of this Native American legend. She does not hide his faults (an apparent drinking problem and three marriages) but spends more time talking about his love for sports. A bit of family history and information about the town names Jim Thorpe are included.

SERIES OF BIOGRAPHIES

American Indian Biographies

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Dennis, Yvonne Wakim. Sequoyah: 1770?-1843. Capstone Press, 2004. 0736824472 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Todd, Anne M. Sitting Bull: 1831-1890. Capstone Press, 2003. 0736812156 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Sonneborn, Liz. Pocahontas: 1595-1617. Capstone Press, 2003. 0736812148 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Koestler-Grack, Rachel A. Tecumseh: 1768-1813. Capstone Press, 2003. 0736812121 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Todd, Anne M. Crazy Horse: 1842-1877. Capstone Press, 2003. 0736812105 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Hirschfelder, Arlene B. Squanto: 1858?-1622. Capstone Press, 2004. 0736824464 Hardcover Grades 3-9

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Monroe, Judy. Chief Red Cloud: 1822-1909. Capstone Press, 2004. 0736824456 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Englar Mary. Chief Joseph: 1840-1904. Capstone Press, 2004. 0736824448 Hardcover Grades 3-9

Wallner, Rosemary. Sacagawea: 1788-1812. Capstone Press, 2003. 073681213X Hardcover Grades 3-9

American Indian Biographies is a series of biographies on the lives of famous Native Americans. The books are beautifully illustrated with photographs and paintings. The captions clearly identify the illustration. Maps and a timeline help readers put information into context. Quotes from primary documents are used throughout the text. A glossary, index, and list of other resources (including Internet sites) make this series useful for student research. Games, recipes, and other activities are included in each book, which will help readers understand the culture the Native American represents.

Each book opens with a famous or important scene in the life of person. The book then goes back to explore the person’s life leading up to the event. Each book ends with the person’s death.

The information in the biographies seems to be well researched. One problem I noted is that, at least in the case of Sacagawea, if there is differing “expert” views on certain aspects of the person’s life, it is not necessarily reported. (There are two different views as to how long Sacagawea lived but only the earlier death is reported.) However, I would not hesitate to put this series in my school library.

Famous Native Americans biographies

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Shaughnessy, Diane & Jack Carpenter. Sequoyah: Inventor of the Cherokee Written Language. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 0823951103 Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7

Shaughnessy, Diane & Jack Carpenter. Sacajawea: Shoshone Trailblazer. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 0823951073 Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7

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Shaughnessy, Diane. Sitting Bull: Courageous Sioux Chief. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 082395109X Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7

Shaughnessy, Diane. Pocahontas: Powhatan Princess. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 0823951065 Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7

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Shaughnessy, Diane & Jack Carpenter. Chief Joseph: Nez Perce Peacekeeper. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 0823951111 Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7.

Shaughnessy, Diane & Jack Carpenter. Chief Ouray: Ute Peacemaker. The Rosen Publishing Group, 1997. 0823951081 Hardcover 24 p. Grades 3-7

The Famous Native Americans series is a set of biographies for children in grades 3-5. The books contain pronunciation guides within the text for difficult words. The words are defined in the book’s glossary. The books also contain an index, which add to their usefulness as reference books. Photos, both new and old; paintings; and drawings complement the text.

The series seems pretty well researched although I found a couple difference between information in two of the books and other information I had. The Sequoyah book states that the Cherokee now only live in Oklahoma, I believe there is still an Eastern band of Cherokee along the Atlantic coast. The Pocahontas book contains information somewhat contrary to that in Joseph Bruchac’s biography of Pocahontas. Since no references are given for books in this series, there is no way to double-check the information given.

Most books in the series are about famous Native Americans: Pocahontas, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Sacajawea, and Sequoyah. Chief Ouray is less familiar. He was made Chief by the United States government and helped the Ute people keep peace with the government and the white settlers.

Students who are interested in famous Native Americans or who need to research for a biography report may find what they need in this series.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

-Compare the information in the biographies to the information in your history textbooks. Discuss the differences and why they may have occurred.

–Assign a research project requiring the students to read at least one biography of the chosen person, using encyclopedias and magazine articles to supplement the biography. This would be a good time to discuss how to research without plagiarizing. The use of primary documents and not fictionalizing history could also be discussed.

– Discuss with your class what Jeri Ferris said about learning about history from people who lived it. Invite some people who have “experienced” history in to your classroom for your students to interview. The students could write a report on the interview.

–Closely related to this would be to have your students interview a grandparent or other older person and write a biography of that person.

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