A Second Look
Native Americans in Children's Books
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Goble, Paul; Beyond the Ridge; illustrated by the author; Bradbury Press; 1969;
Grades 1 and Up
An old woman lies dying in her tipi, surrounded by her family. A voice leads her away from her home to a faraway, beautiful land. Even as she travels on her spiritual odyssey, she turns and sees "herself lying under her blanket..." After her death, the family prepared her for the "...journey along the Pathway of the Souls."
The vibrant, exquisite paintings give a power and vision of life "beyond the ridge." Portrayed is a world much like Earth, but with more abundance and beauty. Even though she could still hear her grandchildren crying, the old woman went to the people on the other side of the highland. "She felt strong again. The way down from the top was so easy and beautiful. She even wanted to run. There was no other path to take."
Prayers of the Plains Indian are included as Paul Goble sensitively melds story and art. It is a powerful, transcendent book. "Death? There is no death; only a change of worlds."
Note: There has been some question as to why Mr. Goble chooses to leave his people faceless. He has an answer to this in a note from the author at the beginning of the book. "Faces are drawn without any expression or features. (This follows the convention of traditional Indian hide and ledger-book painting, and even children's dolls.) I once asked a Lakota lady, who makes dolls dressed in every minute detail, why she left the faces without features. Her reply was that children give the dolls their own personality, and do not have it dictated to them by the maker."
Goble, Paul and Dorothy Goble; Brave Eagle’s Account of the Fetterman Fight; illustrated by Paul Goble; Pantheon Books; 1972; Grades 5 - 6
Paul Goble's pictures are brilliant and vivid and give a stunning account of the war. It is a meticulous report of the battle and events leading up to the actual fighting.
An author's note at the beginning tells some background information: "What is known of the fight was told in later years by the Indians who had fought in it, and so it seems appropriate that it should be retold by them. This account attempts to capture the spirit of the published Indian accounts, but because Indians told only what they saw and did, it has also been necessary to draw on the material of white historians, in order to give the reader a better understanding of the fight and the events that preceded it. Many of the words spoken by Red Cloud in this account are edited extracts from his recorded speeches."
Doane Robinson says: "Red Cloud's War is the only instance in the history of the
Formats Book Details Four-hundred-twenty-five books are reviewed in this superb collection. A Second Look, Native Americans in Children’s Books gives a thorough examination of the books as a guide for parents, teachers, librarians, and administrators interested in books for children. Anyone involved in selecting books will find this guide useful in working through the maze of available materials. Andie Peterson, one of the few women to be awarded an Eagle Feather, has provided a meaningful criteria to help in judging books. She outlines ways for objectively studying books to draw conclusions as to the suitability for the reader. She writes candidly about books filled with stereotypes, hurtful images, and damaging text and illustrations. She writes eloquent, glowing reviews of the books that “are real treasures”. She writes: “On a daily basis, children must face the hidden curriculum that lets them know where they fit in, whether they can achieve their goals, whether they even dare to dream. An overwhelming part of that hidden curriculum begins with books that are more narrative and illustrations; they are books that carry a message of politics and values.” Andie advises that in selecting Native American books, the non-Native child must be considered, also. She counsels that hurtful books “set in motion attitudes of prejudice that persist for years.” She states that she has reviewed books with older copyrights because they are still on the shelves in libraries and available via the Internet. She says reading the older books helps “to understand how adults have formed ideas about Native people.” She says: “After all, if it’s in a book in the library, people believe it to be true. It’s time to disturb the peace and end the ritual of damage.” A Second Look, Native Americans in Children’s Books By Andie Peterson Andie Peterson holds the distinction of being one of the few women who has been honored with an Eagle Feather. The award came from the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. At the Same honoring ceremony, she was given an Anishinabe name: Gigishib Anang Ikwe which means Morning Star Woman. Andie was a Minnesota Teacher of the Year, a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year Award, and received the Leo Reano Award from the National Education Association. She was the recipient of special awards from two She served on numerous boards including a Minnesota Department of Education committee and a Minnesota Board of Teaching committee on gifted education licensure. Andie has published over two-hundred columns and articles and has been a featured speaker at workshops, colleges, churches, and school districts. She has served on many local, state, and national boards and committees. Andie served four terms as Major of the City of Northern Explosion, Laura Kjelstad Mystery, is Andie’s first novel and is available through local bookstores and Internet sources. A Second Look, Native Americans in Children’s Books By Andie Peterson
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