tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.comments2024-03-17T16:24:40.322-05:00American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)Debbie Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comBlogger5778125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-2015309474825728582024-03-13T12:48:06.344-05:002024-03-13T12:48:06.344-05:00Echoing Dr. Reese's thoughtful endorsement of ...Echoing Dr. Reese's thoughtful endorsement of this powerful, accurate, age-appropriate, and important book. It should be shared in every home, library, and classroom.Cynthia Leitich Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00181379293363894024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-29436793942173095102024-02-27T19:34:59.802-06:002024-02-27T19:34:59.802-06:00I came across this article, after an internet sear...I came across this article, after an internet search for advice or literature look on how to discuss and explain racism to a six year old. I had just read aloud Chapter 3 of Henry and the Clubhouse, at bedtime with my child and had to pause at this exact passage to have a discussion about how times have changed and how this kind of thing is extremely inappropriate and disrespectful. In the moment, I found it difficult to bring to a level that a six year old could understand, and was hoping to find literature on how to do a better job. We will continue to read Beverly Cleary books, as it has provided us with so many interesting and important opportunities for discussion of so many other things but I really hope this was the worst of it when it comes to the subject of racism. Leannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-23715357190899092742024-02-02T21:14:32.016-06:002024-02-02T21:14:32.016-06:00I have a library copy - and it is fabulous! Well d...I have a library copy - and it is fabulous! Well deserved award! Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14587892869675354455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-77980417777756011042024-01-31T09:49:51.563-06:002024-01-31T09:49:51.563-06:00I feel so old. ;-)I feel so old. ;-)Roger Suttonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-7495739392631718242024-01-22T09:51:50.923-06:002024-01-22T09:51:50.923-06:00I loved Hank the Cowdog as a kid. As a teacher, I ...I loved Hank the Cowdog as a kid. As a teacher, I reread the book before putting it in my classroom. Thank goodness. It’s TERRIBLE. It goes beyond the offensive names to racist speech patterns and coyotes who get “drunk”. I actually kept the book in my house for a long time because I didn’t feel good about giving it to Goodwill and couldn’t quite throw away a book. Leighnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-19526201329556625372024-01-15T03:35:05.329-06:002024-01-15T03:35:05.329-06:00It is 2024, and although this post is old, I neede...It is 2024, and although this post is old, I needed to speak on it. I have searched for people speaking on this, and I truly am disappointed with their depiction of indigenous people. As someone who is indigenous, I’m tired of us being viewed as magical beings and “exotic”. Yes, we have beautiful practices but this writing seems very much un researched and unrealistic. I’m well aware that this is fantasy but indigenous people were written following the whole “Indian princess” and “magic medicine woman” type. If you are part indigenous and claim it doesn’t bother you, if you were to show this writing to someone who lives on a reservation would they think the same? Would someone who has ethnic features and has been called exotic countless times give this writing a pass? I sure don’t. I understand the writing is old, but doesn’t mean we should be ignoring the insensitivity of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-75620668435058728062023-12-19T14:02:47.699-06:002023-12-19T14:02:47.699-06:00It sounds like it was a wonderful experience! Tha...It sounds like it was a wonderful experience! Thank you for recounting it, along with everything else you've posted this year. Your research and reviews have tangible effects on our collections, and I'm grateful for all the insights you've shared. Best wishes for a good 2025.Amy Rae Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14072924388745290949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-90604572899322744272023-11-18T12:46:34.984-06:002023-11-18T12:46:34.984-06:00I saw the book advertised online somehow and wante...I saw the book advertised online somehow and wanted to get it for my nieces and nephews, a few of whom have seen Mount Rushmore. I didn’t buy it at the time, and decided to get it for Christmas. When I looked on Amazon it was only available on Kindle, so I looked for another site so I could order it. I came across this blog by accident. <br /><br />I am SO glad I didn’t buy it before, and that it wasn’t available on Amazon, so I was forced to look elsewhere or I never would have known what was in the story. <br /><br />I’m a white woman who is still catching herself thinking in terms of the stereotypes for different groups of people. I grew up in small towns which were white except one town had one family from India. I learned about other groups of people by the books I read and tv/movies I watched, and my parents also grew up much like I did, and so did their parents, so there wasn’t much interaction with people different from ourselves that would break the stereotypes. <br /><br />What I learned as a child in books and tv/movies is how my views towards people who were different from me were developed. And having those stereotypes built so strongly in my mind was not helpful when I moved to a town with people who were different from me. They made me feel scared when I didn’t need to be scared. They made me think less of someone before I even talked with them. <br /><br />“Protecting” kids is not beneficial for them. The stereotypes need to be broken in parents’, grandparents’, aunts’, uncles’ and everyone’s minds so kids don’t grow up with stereotypes in mind. <br /><br />I’m in my 50’s and still find stereotypes sneaking into my brain. I shut them down immediately, but it’s so maddening that they’re even there to have to deal with! <br /><br />Please don’t allow stereotypes to be taught to your children. Let your children learn about history as it actually happened. Let them also read fun books that are fun and imaginative but don’t separate people from one another. Encourage the kids to learn how people are different but also teach how they’re similar to each other. It’s good for there to be some differences because cultures are not the same. They each have their own rich history and it should be seen as interesting to learn about them. <br /><br />If you are still reading at this point, and you have suggestions for children’s books which have accurate representations of different cultures, then I would very much like your suggestions. My nieces and nephews range in age from 0-16 years old. Thank you. Shelleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-50244007086655281822023-10-14T12:51:21.875-05:002023-10-14T12:51:21.875-05:00Thank you for posting this. I just pulled this boo...Thank you for posting this. I just pulled this book off my shelf and was horrified at the false portrayal of missions and the treatment of indigenous people. Lisa Jewettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-3853547441368143852023-10-13T23:15:55.585-05:002023-10-13T23:15:55.585-05:00Debbie,
Thank you for taking the time to conduct s...Debbie,<br />Thank you for taking the time to conduct such careful research into this ongoing problem, and for sharing your process in a way that others can follow. You have always shared your work in a written "think aloud" manner that provides mentoring/scaffolding for your readers. This was a hard one. Thanks. Warmly, Ruth Quiroa Ruth E. Quiroahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370336567968608884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-10041203870576576652023-10-10T11:33:23.763-05:002023-10-10T11:33:23.763-05:00I just saw an ad from Bellwether Books about a 202...I just saw an ad from Bellwether Books about a 2023 nonfiction series in which each book presents one Nation. Has anyone seen a review of these, or seen them in person? The Bellwether web page gives no indication regarding writers/editors.<br /><br />Irene Fahrenwald, Lower School Librarian<br />The University of Chicago Laboratory SchoolsIrene Fahrenwaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071144366775335613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-27728892907437106682023-10-07T15:35:59.170-05:002023-10-07T15:35:59.170-05:00'Papoose' is not a word my people the Shos...'Papoose' is not a word my people the Shoshone use broadly. From my 1st person experience the word papoose has not been considered 'offensive' when anyone says it, mainly because it is not from our language-groups name for a baby. There are many words for baby in the different dialects of Shoshone. What I recall being used in my neck of the woods is (mitu(ttsi)).<br />(Personal Interest and experience in the subject to learn and teach) <br />Obviously I don't speak for my people, but only through personal experiences.Brenna C Mabrouknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-48912124711453376992023-10-07T15:21:42.618-05:002023-10-07T15:21:42.618-05:00Squaw is a ln EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE word! As an Indi...Squaw is a ln EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE word! As an Indigenous American growing up on a reservation, it was not commonly used there. However, any time I was called a squaw in the towns surrounding the rez by Caucasian men, women & children, it was ALWAYS used in a racist derogatory fashion. Regardless of the words origin's and meaning's, its historical use has generally been with negative connotation. In top of that it makes no sense that the word from one tribe should be used regarding all tribes. My tribes language is a Numic language of the Uto-Aztecan family, spoken in the Western United States by the Shoshone people. The word for Woman is (Wa'ipi) pronounced (why'puh), with emphasis on the 2nd syllable spoken guttorally. <br />So it does not make sense that the word should be accepted by all tribes, especially because, and I will emphasize this again, its use was derogatory throughout history. <br />Now that I am an adult I have only been called squaw a handful of times and I have adamantly expressed how insulting it is for someone to do so. The Native women I know do not accept it either. Just don't do it please. When referring to Natives it is best to call us Native American women/men or Indigeneous People's. 'American Indian' has become contentious throughout Native Country because it links back to Columbus who we ALL ardently despise, and we are NOT from India. <br />The True History of the Word Squaw https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/94999/squaw%20article%20on%20web%20page.pdf<br /><br />Brenna C Mabrouk (Personal Interest in learning & Educating other's about the topic) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-27288236945636645692023-10-07T11:02:15.758-05:002023-10-07T11:02:15.758-05:00Thank you. Truly. I'm a Vermont school librari...Thank you. Truly. I'm a Vermont school librarian. Thank you so much for helping us learn.Peter Langellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-18746238829525501982023-10-04T14:13:21.507-05:002023-10-04T14:13:21.507-05:00Coming in from a adopted Asian.
I glad I stumbled...Coming in from a adopted Asian.<br /><br />I glad I stumbled upon this because Redfern (and most of the time Native was mentioned) was throwing off signals to me that I couldn't quite put my finger on.<br /><br />I would like to point out is that this book was written in 1st perspective and thus is very very limited to what a young black girl would supposedly know a the time. And there are times in the book I have to keep reminding myself that it is a limited perceptive (I'm halfway through the book now and I think I've had to remind myself this 4-5 times, this does not included every time the name Redfern is mentioned, because what is up with that name?).<br /><br />About 42-46, this seems unintended on the author in Dread Nations and probably was the easiest battle to explain away. I don't think she understood how important this was to the Native People, and I not just the Lakota and Cheyenne (even if it was limited to it being important to just them, it still wouldn't have been right if she had done enough research). And for that I am sorry.<br /><br />I will say that if I was mostly relying on government references... there would be no problem with the way Natives are shown (excepting the Custer bit).<br /><br />I wish she had been as lucky as I. My first book I managed to get my hands that addressed this (after I had devoured all the WWII books in the school library) was not government written, and while not written by a Native person, very much took the perspective that the boarding schools in the USA was cultural genocide (and it was). That book, while it used government references had about 5 pages worth citations by the end along with additional reading (as you can imagine, additional reading I ended up doing and also included things like the Jewish Holocaust, Japanese Internment Camps, Asian/Black workers in the West).<br /><br />It's unfortunate she didn't do enough (or closer) reading, or at least talked to someone who was Native about it before it got published.<br /><br />I do like Jane, and I will probably end up reading the rest of it because it's a good story of fantasy(?) alternative history from a Black and queer perspective. I hope it gets better in the next book, but I do understand your problems with this. If this ever gets adapted or revised, I hope that it will strive to do better (if not right).<br /><br />Thanks for the insight.<br /><br />Now that I've found this website, I can find book recommendations. I bet you got a few that I'll check out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-47825033572633968522023-10-03T19:11:14.382-05:002023-10-03T19:11:14.382-05:00I just finished reading Alone by Megan E. Freeman ...I just finished reading Alone by Megan E. Freeman which is a nominee for the California Young Readers Award this year. It begins with a quote from Island of the Blue Dolphins and the book is referred to numerous times as this is a survival book about a girl who is also left on her own. I wasn't sure if you knew about this one yet. It was published in 2021. It's disappointing that people are still holding that book up in a positive way.Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14662811441487822589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-49519686336473397082023-10-02T14:56:24.488-05:002023-10-02T14:56:24.488-05:00Thanks for sharing this. I just watched the video ...Thanks for sharing this. I just watched the video and am speechless..Lee and Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10380368238464887163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-26697130926184074002023-10-02T12:55:24.445-05:002023-10-02T12:55:24.445-05:00I contacted PBS about this video years ago, gave t...I contacted PBS about this video years ago, gave them a breakdown of what is wrong with it, and kindly asked them to remove it. Clearly they did not listen. I hope your voice is heard! Kelly Tudornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-82871008358451895032023-10-01T22:38:03.200-05:002023-10-01T22:38:03.200-05:00Hello - and thanks for the response and link, even...Hello - and thanks for the response and link, even if about Holling's other book, the extension to other titles is clear and noted. Please forgive my delayed response and thanks, but the school year was off to a very busy start. Kind regards, Doug SacksAdam's Applehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06476411463241286252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-22662751999265984842023-10-01T17:40:15.955-05:002023-10-01T17:40:15.955-05:00Bravo! Thank you for this! Often as NY off reserve...Bravo! Thank you for this! Often as NY off reserve (Odanak) tribal members, our passive and sometimes superstitious beliefs have not allowed us to speak out loud about the questionable facts or behaviors we have witnessed. When some of us have tried, we were told that it was our families who must have misunderstood. Their fame and notoriety is too well padded, by educational institutions, and professional organizations. Even the state of VT self-identified, have grabbed onto a part of that fame, by signing them into their membership. <br />Alex Haley’s claim to fame was his best selling book, ‘Roots’. The book told a brilliant biopic study about his lineage leading him back to Africa, and to his great grandfather, Kunta Kinte. Haley claimed that the story was “faction”, stories from his family combined with historical records. Except, Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. was unable to verify this lineage, and later DNA showed it not to be the case at all. Claims were made that the book was plagiarized from another called the ‘African’. Haley eventually settled, but guess who the court records show as the person who gave him that book? <br />Maybe years ago, no one would question the race or culture of an individual's claims? Even verifying the validity of those family tales took time and fortitude. Yet, the Jesuit missionaries took meticulous notes, and the paper trail has always been available. Today, though, we understand that the use of DNA is not used to quantify tribal enrollment; it certainly should be used if you claim to be related to my family, by using our name, or our signature totem. In my opinion, my conversation goes like this,<br />“I heard tell, that a cousin of mine said you looked like another cousin, and that your name was anglicized version of Obomsawin, even our family totem an Indian head and a bow could be read as such. My 3rd greatgram was Mathil Obomsawin, that means you and I are related, right?” Can they prove it? DNA can. <br />Wli Wni! <br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Courlander#Roots_and_plagiarism<br />Diane Cubit /DeGonzague-Benedict-Denis-Obomsawin-Picardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-748593848884119502023-10-01T15:29:40.693-05:002023-10-01T15:29:40.693-05:00Monica Jackson, librarian/library manager, enrolle...Monica Jackson, librarian/library manager, enrolled member of Quechan (Kwaatsan) Nation. Monica Jacksonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-81211778055826127342023-10-01T15:27:41.003-05:002023-10-01T15:27:41.003-05:00Wow, just really hard to understand how someone co...Wow, just really hard to understand how someone could have the gall to make a career and such profit off a false identity. Bruchac should donate all proceeds of his book empire to Indigenous orgs such as the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. <br />Monica Jacksonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-9652980396403424712023-09-30T20:49:54.395-05:002023-09-30T20:49:54.395-05:00This is so astronomical to me because for at least...This is so astronomical to me because for at least twenty years, I have been a fan and advocate of Bruchac’s books as a Native American Reading Specialist but I have questioned his heritage to myself. To do so seems like David taking on Goliath because of his well established fame. Because of your blog, I have begun truly questioning and investigating various authors of children’s books on American Indian, overcoming my naive trust of someone simply because they were writing on this topic. I am in awe of your courage to address thisI!Tara L Tindallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-6296720110505670592023-09-17T09:14:56.859-05:002023-09-17T09:14:56.859-05:00Here you go, Doug: https://americanindiansinchildr...Here you go, Doug: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2023/09/debbie-have-you-seen-tree-in-trail-or.html Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-51858550808276636752023-09-14T14:50:40.994-05:002023-09-14T14:50:40.994-05:00Hello, I am a big fan of your website and refer to...Hello, I am a big fan of your website and refer to it often as I work in my K-5 school library. I was wondering if you had ever read or reviewed (could not find it here in a search) the book "Tree in the Trail" by Holling Clancy Holling (Houghton Mifflin 1942/1970). Thanks in advance. Doug SacksAdam's Applehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06476411463241286252noreply@blogger.com