HIST 127 Native American Studies: Books for Children

Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting; Irving Toddy (Illustrator) In the late 1880s, a Cheyenne boy named Young Bull is taken from his parents and sent to a boarding school to learn the white man's ways."Young Bull's struggle to hold on to his heritage will touch children's sense of justice and lead to some interesting discussions and perhaps further research." -School Library Journal

Coyote by Gerald McDermott; Catherine Reid Wherever Coyote goes you can be sure he’ll find trouble. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows agree but soon tire of Coyote’s bragging and boasting. They decide to teach the great trickster a lesson. This time, Coyote has found real trouble!

Coyote Places the Stars by Harriet Peck Taylor (Illustrator) A joyfully retold and vibrantly illustrated story about the origin of the constellations, based on a Wasco Indian legend. One evening, crafty Coyote climbs the moon to discover the secrets of the heavens. Instead, he finds a way to make the most wonderful pictures for all the world to see. The next night, the other animals of the canyon look up to the sky, where they see a big surprise!

The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac (Retold by); Anna Vojtech (Illustrator) From an award-winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be. Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife's retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement this simple, lyrical text. "Complete harmony of text and pictures- altogether lovely."-- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac; James Bruchac; Jose Aruego (Illustrator); Ariane Dewey (Illustrator) Bear brags that he can do anything-even stop the sun from rising. Brown Squirrel doesn't believe him, so the two wait all night to see if the sun will rise. Sure enough, the sky reddens and the sun appears. Brown Squirrel is so happy to be right that he teases Bear. What happens when a little brown squirrel teases a big black bear? Brown Squirrel gets stripes and is called chipmunk from that day forward . . . Joseph and James Bruchac join forces to create this buoyant picture book, based on a Native American folktale. Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey.

How the Stars Fell into the Sky by Jerrie Oughton; Lisa Desimini (Illustrator) This retelling of a Navajo folktale explains how First Woman tried to write the laws of the land using stars in the sky, only to be thwarted by the trickster Coyote.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola When a killing drought threatens the existence of the tribe, a courageous little Comanche girl sacrifices her most beloved possession--and the Great Spirit's answer results not only in much needed rain but a very special gift in return. "An ideal complement to Native American and Texas studies..."Booklist

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend. Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset. How the young Indian artist finally fulfills his Dream-Vision is lovingly told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, in words and pictures that capture the spirit and beauty of this dramatic legend.

The Polar Bear Son by Lydia Dabcovich (Illustrator) A lonely old woman adopts, cares for, and raises a polar bear as if he were her own son, until jealous villagers threaten the bear's life, forcing him to leave his home and his "mother," in a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale.

Rainbow Crow by Nancy Van Laan; Beatriz Vidal (Illustrator) Illus. in full color. This story of how the Rainbow Crow lost his sweet voice and brilliant colors by bringing the gift of fire to the other woodland animals is "a Native American legend that will be a fine read-aloud because of the smooth text and songs with repetitive chants. The illustrations, done in a primitive style, create a true sense of the Pennsylvania Lenape Indians and their winters."--School Library Journal.nbsp;nbsp;

Star Boy by Paul Goble (Illustrator) Star Boy was the son of Morning Star and an earthly bride. He was banished from the Sky World for this mother's disobedience and bore a mysterious scar on his face, the symbol of the Sun's disapproval. As Star Boy grew, he came to love the chief's daughter, and it was she who helped him find the courage to journey to the Sky World and make peace with the Sun. The Sun not only lifted the scar but sent Star Boy back to the world with the sacred knowledge of the Sun Dance, a ceremony of thanks for the Creator's blessing.

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac; Jonathan London; Thomas Locker (Illustrator) "Unusual and intelligent...An exemplary introduction to Native American culture with its emphasis on the importance of nature." --Publishers Weekly In Native American legend, the thirteen scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to the thirteen cycles of the moon and the changing seasons. These lyrical poems and striking paintings celebrate the wonder of the seasons, from the Northern Cheyenne's Moon of the Popping Trees to the Big Moon of the Abenaki. "This book instills a spiritual respect for our land and an appreciation for the people who were its first caring guardians." --American Bookseller A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts An IRA Teacher's Choice Book A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies 

Whispers of the Wolf by Pauline Ts'o "Ahrooooooo" went the cry. It was the call of the wolf pack. A young boy named Two Birds heard it, and so did his wolf. Two Birds had found the abandoned wolf pup, and they had grown up together. Now, the wild was calling, and Two Birds had a choice to make. Struggling with a mix of emotions, he must decide whether his love for the wolf is greater than his need to be near it. Will Two Birds learn to let go not just of the wolf, but also of his own fears? Whispers of the Wolf is a beautiful picture book set around 500 years ago among the Pueblo Indians of the desert Southwest. A heartwarming piece of historical fiction, it weaves together themes of community, tradition, self-esteem, and respect for all life, creating a realistic portrait of a culture that continues to exert a vibrant, living influence today."

Between Earth and Sky by Joseph Bruchac; Thomas Locker (Illustrator) The silent stories of our ancient land and its native peoples are given voice in reverential prose poems and radiant paintings.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble (Illustrator) "There was a girl in the village who loved horses... She led the horses to drink at the river. She spoke softly and they followed. People noticed that she understood horses in a special way." And so begins the story of a young Native American girl devoted to the care of her tribe's horses. With simple text and brilliant illustrations. Paul Goble tells how she eventually becomes one of them to forever run free.

Her Seven Brothers by Paul Goble (Illustrator) When an Indian girl begins to make clothes beautifully decorated with porcupine quills for seven brothers she has not yet met, her parents believe that unseen powers have spoken to her. The girl knows she must travel to the north country to find the seven brothers. She comforts her mother by saying, "Soon you will see me again with my brothers; everyone will know and love us!"

Kokopelli, Drum in Belly by Gail E. Haley (Illustrator) Kokopelli the Cicada leads the Ant People from the Dark World up to various other worlds and finally to the Green World, helping teach them along the way what they will need to know to survive and thrive there as the First People.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola When a killing drought threatens the existence of the tribe, a courageous little Comanche girl sacrifices her most beloved possession--and the Great Spirit's answer results not only in much needed rain but a very special gift in return. "An ideal complement to Native American and Texas studies..."Booklist

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

The Love Flute by Paul Goble (Illustrator) In love with a beautiful girl, but too shy to tell her, a young man leaves his camp in frustration. One night he receives mystical visitors who offer him a special gift -- a love flute. A gift from the birds and animals, its tells the girl of his love where words have failed.

Raven by Gerald McDermott (Illustrator); Dean Whitlock Raven, the trickster, wants to give people the gift of light. But can he find out where Sky Chief keeps it? And if he does, will he be able to escape without being discovered? His dream seems impossible, but if anyone can find a way to bring light to the world, wise and clever Raven can!

Remaking the Earth by Paul Goble (Illustrator) Long ago, when the mountains were piled high as we see them and the plains were smoothed, when the creatures of water and land and air were all shaped and given their rightful places, Earth Maker spoke to the people. He said: 'I have promised always to stay close to you. Whenever you need my help, talk to me! Sing!'

The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin; David Shannon (Illustrator) A scarred face does not prevent the Rough-Face girl from seeing the beauty of the earth around her, nor does it disguise her beautiful, kind heart in this award-winning retelling of a powerful Algonquin Cinderella.

Storm Maker's Tipi by Paul Goble (Illustrator) In the beginning, when the Great Spirit had made the first man and woman, he told Napi who was his helper:"Stay close to Man and Woman and look after all their needs."Man and Woman had no shelter at that time, but when Storm Maker blew the first winds of winter, they shivered, huddling close to their cooking fire. Napi knew they would need a shelter. While he was thinking about it, a yellow leaf from a cottonwood tree blew onto his head. "Yes!" he thought. "This leaf has the shape of a good shelter!"Look at a cottonwood leaf; you will see it is shaped like Napi's tipi. His thunder and downpours and terrible blizzards once endangered all the children and grandchildren of first Man and first Woman. Yet legend tells of the time when Storm Maker was considerate.Two Blackfoot hunters, Sacred Otter and his son, Morning Plume, were caught suddenly and nearly blinded on the plains by wind-driven snow. Cowering, they huddled beneath a buffalo skin and there, with his boy at his side, Sacred Otter was given a dream. Whether sleeping or awake, for he could not be sure, he saw an immense, mystic tipi -- Storm Maker's own -- and then heard a voice which changed the lives of his people from that day on.In this book, Paul Goble tells of how tipis were first granted to the Blackfoot people and then, in a dramatic rendering of an old myth, tells of why the painted designs on tipis have come to possess their meaning and power.

The Story of Blue Elk by Gerald Hausman; Kristina Rodanas (Illustrator) In this traditional Native American tale, a mute boy is spiritually linked to a magnificent elk from the day of the boy's birth. The two are companions until the elk is killed, leaving the boy a precious bequest: its antlers, around which a cedar tree grows. From that wood the boy, now a young man, makes a beautiful flute, on which he plays to woo his true love. Luminous illustrations accompany the moving story of a boy whose animal spirit brother helps him find his voice and fulfill his destiny.

The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe (Illustrator) Based on a Native American legend, this is the tale of a compassionate, courageous mouse who journeys to a far-off land and becomes a magnificent soaring eagle. "Beautifully written and illustrated."--School Library Journal.

Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott With vibrant colors and bold geometric forms, Gerald McDermott brilliantly captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art in this Caldecott Award-winning retelling of an ancient legend. A young boy searches for his father, but before he can claim his heritage he must first prove his worthiness by passing through the four ceremonial chambers: the kiva of lions, the kiva of snakes, the kiva of bees, and the kiva of lightning. Striking in its simplicity and grace, Arrow to the Sun vividly evokes the Native American reverence for the source of all life--the Solar Fire.  Winner of the Caldecott

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare Early one morning in the year 1754 the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, was shattered by shrill war whoops and the terror of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day which had promised new happiness, found herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It was a horrowing march north. Miriam could only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. What waits at the end of the trail--besides an Indian quantlet and a life of slavery?

Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh; Leonard Weisgard (Illustrator)

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 1961 Newbery Medal Winner Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic.

Moccasin Trail by Eloise Jarvis McGraw A Newbery Honor Award-winning book Jim Keath has lived for six years as a Crow Indian when he learns that his two younger brothers and a sister are journeying west to take up land. Although Jim finds it difficult to fit in with the family he hasn't seen since childhood, and though they are wary and distrustful of him, Jim feels his duty is at their side. But slowly, as they survive the dangerous trek west, the perils of frontier life, and the kidnapping of their younger brother, Jim and his family realize that the only way to survive is to accept each other and truly reunite the family.   "A first-rate adventure story."--The New York Times   "The grueling hardships on the journey to Oregon and in making a home provide exciting reading. Characters are portrayed so fully and sympathetically they might be alive."--Library Journal