Established in 2006, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society. Scroll down for links to book reviews, Native media, and more.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Interview: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Do you read Writer's Against Racism, Amy Bowllan's Blog at School Library Journal? She interviews a range of people, from critics (like me) to writers, like Cynthia Leitich Smith. Click on over to read her interview with Cynthia, author of one of my favorite picture books of all time, Jingle Dancer.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Top Ten Books Recommended for Elementary School
If I was starting a library in an elementary school, these are the first ten books I'd buy. In reading these books, students would be reading stories Native writers create about Native people and places. The books I list here include fiction, historical fiction, traditional story, and poetry.
- Campbell, Nicola. Shi-shi-etko
- Campbell, Nicola. Shin-chi's Canoe
- Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story
- Harjo, Joy. The Good Luck Cat
- Messinger, Carla. When the Shadbush Blooms
- Ortiz, Simon J. The Good Rainbow Road/Rawa 'kashtyaa'tsi hiyaani: A Native American Tale
- Sockabasin, Allen J. Thanks to the Animals
- Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Jingle Dancer
- Tingle, Tim. Crossing Bok Chitto (If you can, also get When Turtle Grew Feathers and Saltypie)
- Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. SkySisters
Update: Jan 7, 2012
Add Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's The Christmas Coat to that list!
See also:
Top Ten Books Recommended for Middle School
Top Ten Books Recommended for High School
Download a pdf titled "Selecting Children's and Young Adult Literature about American Indians that includes an introduction and all three "Top Ten" lists.
Top Ten Books Recommended for Middle School
If I was starting a library in a middle school, these are the first ten books I'd buy. In reading these books, students would be reading stories Native writers create about Native people and places. The books I list here include fiction, historical fiction, and poetry.
- Bruchac, Joseph. Hidden Roots.
- Carvell, Marlene. Who Will Tell My Brother?
- Dorris, Michael. Sees Behind Trees.
- Erdrich, Louise. The Birchbark House
- Loyie, Larry. As Long as the Rivers Flow: A Last Summer before Residential School
- Ortiz, Simon. The People Shall Continue
- Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Indian Shoes
- Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Rain Is Not My Indian Name
- Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. High Elk's Treasure
- Sterling, Shirley. My Name is Seepeetza
Update: Jan 7, 2012
Though she is not Native, Debby Dawl Edwardson has lived her adult life with her husband in his Inupiaq village in Alaska. Her commitment to Native lives and story is not abstract or romantic. Add her book, My Name is Not Easy to this list of must-have books for middle grade students.
See also:
Top Ten Books Recommended for High School
Top Ten Books Recommended for Elementary School
Download a pdf with all three lists:
Selecting Children's and Young Adult Literature about American Indians
Top Ten Books Recommended for High School
If I was starting a library in a high school, these are the first ten books I'd buy. In reading these books, students would be reading stories Native writers create about Native people and places. The books I list here include fiction, historical fiction, poetry, short stories, and, prose.
- Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
- Broker, Ignatia. Night Flying Woman: An Ojibway Narrative
- Carlson, Lori Marie (ed.). Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today
- Deloria, Ella C. Waterlily
- Kenny, Maurice (ed.). Stories for a Winter's Night: Fiction by Native American Writers
- King, Thomas. One Good Story, That One
- Ortiz, Simon J. Men on the Moon: Collected Short Stories
- Tapahonso, Luci. Blue Horses Rush In: Poems and Stories
- Taylor, Drew Hayden. The Night Wanderer
- Van Camp, Richard. The Lesser Blessed
For annotations, see my Native Voices article in School Library Journal.
See also:
Top Ten Books for Middle School
Top Ten Books for Elementary School
Download a pdf with all three lists:
Selecting Children's and Young Adult Literature about American Indians
Monday, July 26, 2010
Top Ten Hits, June 26 to July 25, 2010
Blogger is about to release a stats option. Its still in "draft" mode and data collection started (from what I can tell) in May. For what its worth, here's the top ten hits at American Indians in Children's Literature for June 26 to July 25:
Most popular for the week of July 19 through July 26, 2010 (that aren't in the list above) are
- Carl Waldman's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES
- Quileute Response to TWILIGHT
- What Neil Gaiman said...
- Recent insider/outsider discussion
- Recommended Children's/YA/Reference/Resource Books
- REEL INJUN: Film about portrayals of American Indians
- Resources for projects on American Indians
- Tom and Jerry in TWO LITTLE INDIANS
- Willow (from Buffy) on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving
- Dyan Sheldon's MY WORST BEST FRIEND
Most popular for the week of July 19 through July 26, 2010 (that aren't in the list above) are
- An oft-posted question: "Who can tell your stories?"
- Kenneth Thomasma's books
- Portrayals of American Indians in SLJ's 2010 "Top 100 Children's Novels"
- Romantic Fiction, Historical Fiction, and American Indians
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