Native American Children's Literature

Text: Erdrich, L. (2003). Sacagawea. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. 

Synopsis: Kidnapped from her people as a girl, Sacagawea became an important member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Follow her historic journey from the East to the Pacific coast on the trip that discovered the American West.

Author Information: Tim Tingle is an Oklahoma Choctaw and an award-winning author and storyteller. His great-great grandfather, John Carnes, walked the Trail of Tears in 1835, and his paternal grandmother attended a series of rigorous Indian boarding schools in the early 1900's. Responding to a scarcity of Choctaw lore, Tingle began collecting tribal stories in the early 90's. 
In 1992, Tingle began mentoring with Choctaw storyteller Charley Jones. He retraced the Trail of Tears to Choctaw homelands in Mississippi and began recording stories of tribal elders. His family experiences and these interviews with fellow Choctaws in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma----and surprise encounters with Choctaws as far away as Bethel, Alaska----are the basis of his most important writings.

Genre: Biography

Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Reading Level: Fifth grade

Theme: Courage

Classroom Use: Biography Study, Trail of Tears unit; could be used in small groups or as a read aloud

Windows/Doors: This text could be both a mirror and a window to many, since it is more historically based, people of Native American ancestry would learn a bit about their heritage.

Text: Steptoe, J. (1972). The story of jumping mouse. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.

Synopsis: Jumping Mouse is led by an unfailing hope of seeing the far-off land. His compassionate and unselfish spirit brings him hardship, but he is rewarded with a name that allows him to live in the land of his dreams forever.

Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Author Information: John Steptoe was born in Brooklyn. From early childhood, he drew pictures and told stories with them. He started work on Stevie, his first picture book, when he was sixteen, and Stevie was published three years later to outstanding critical acclaim. Since then, he has written and illustrated many successful books for children.

John Lewis Steptoe, creator of award-winning picture books for children, was born in Brooklyn on September 14, 1950 and was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of that borough. He began drawing as a young child and received his formal art training at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan. He was a student in the HARYOU-ACT Art Program and instructed by the highly recognized African American oil painter, Norman Lewis. He also studied at the Vermont Academy, where he was instructed by the sculptor, John Torres, and William Majors, a painter acclaimed by the Museum of Modem Art for his etchings and print-making.

Genre: Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Seattle, C. (1991). Brother eagle, sister sky. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis: When the land that belongs to his people is sold to white men, Chief Seattle describes his people's love of the land and asks the white men to cherish it as his people have cherished it.

Author Information: A chief to the Duwamish people his native name is closer to Si’ahl. The city found in the state of Washington is named after him. He is famous for having made a speech that was generally in favor of being responsible to the environment and to have respect of the land rights of his people.

Genre: Nonfiction

Interest Level: K-2

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Slier, D. (2012). Cradle me. Cambridge, MA: Starbright Books.

Synopsis: The rich Native American tradition of carrying babies safely, comfortably and close to their mothers in cradle boards endures to this day. As shown in this photo-filled book, each cradle board is personalized and they differ from tribe to tribe, not only in style but also in the material used. This die-cut shaped, fill-in-the blanks book features cradle boards from Paiute, Shoshone, Pueblo and other tribes and enables readers to write in their own language.

Author Information: Debby Slier has worked as a bookseller and editor and is the author of more than 50 children's books. She lives in Massachusetts where she spends much of her time gardening.

Genre: Informational

Interest Level: 1-3 years old

Reading Level: Pre-K

Text: McDermott, G. (1993). Raven: A trickster tale from the pacific northwest. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis: 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!

Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Author Information: Gerald R. McDermott is the Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion at Roanoke College and Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion.

Genre: Folktale

Interest Level: K-2

Reading Level: Second grade

Text: Martin, B. & Archambault, J. (1997). Knots on a counting rope. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Synopsis: A blind Native American boy named Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses begs Grandfather to tell the stories of the night he was born and of a great race. In this poignant story, the counting rope is a metaphor for the passage of time and for a boy's emerging confidence facing his greatest challenge: blindness. Author Information: Bill Martin Jr. couldn't read print until he was in college, but his beloved elementary school teacher, Miss Davis, read to him every day. Martin went on to work as a teacher, a school principal, a textbook editor, and a writer. Genre: Folktale Interest Level: K-2 Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Longfellow, H. W. (1983). Hiawatha. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Synopsis: Longfellow gathered the material for The Song of Hiawatha from many sources, and his aim was to codify the various tales he read into a coherent mythology. He sought to introduce a white audience to Indian mythology. It begins, as most mythologies do, with people and their god. Gitche Manito, “the mighty/ He the Master of Life,” brings the various tribes together to smoke the peace pipe. Gitche Manito will also send a prophet to the people “Who shall guide you and shall teach you,/ Who shall toil and suffer with you.” This prophet, who sounds very much like Jesus, will bring prosperity if the people listen. The prophet is Hiawatha.

Author Information: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the most popular and influential American poet of the 19th century. Longfellow had the widest range and greatest technical skill of all the poets of "the flowering of New England." Born in Portland, Maine on Feb. 27, 1807, he would grow up to influence the poetic taste of generations of readers throughout the English-speaking world. He was successful in both lyric and narrative poetry, and during his later years became a master of the sonnet. Ballads like "The Wreck of the Hesperus" and "Paul Revere's Ride" were familiar to every schoolchild, and Evangeline became the first enduringly successful long poem written in the United States. He died on March 24, 1882 at the age of 75.

Genre: Poetry

Interest Level: Pre-k-Kindergarten

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Gorsline, D.W. & Gorsline, M. (1978). Native american indians. New York, NY: Random House Publishing.

Synopsis: Learn all about different tribes of North American Indians from the Pueblos to the Plains Indians. This book describes the different kinds of homes they lived in, the food they ate, and the crafts they made.

Author Information: No information found.

Genre: Nonfiction

Interest Level: K-2

Reading Level: Fourth Grade

Text: Goble, P. (1993). The girl who loved wild horses. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: "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.

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota. Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Goble, P. (1984). The gift of the sacred dog. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: A brave boy goes into the hills and prays for help for his people. A rider on a magnificent animal comes to him and says: "This animal is called the Sacred Dog. He can do many things your dogs can do and also more...He is as the wind: gentle but sometimes frightening." The clouds close and suddenly one by one countless Sacred Dogs course down from the sky. And so the courage of one determined boy is rewarded by the Great Spirit: The horse, or Sacred Dog, is given to his tribe.

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota. Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Goble, P. (1991). Starboy. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: 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.

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota. Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Fourth grade

Text: Goble, P. (1997). Dream wolf. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: Lost and afraid, two young children seek shelter in a wolf's cave. There they meet a kindly wolf who leads them home. Based on a Plains Indian legend, this exceptional picture book demonstrates the love and respect the Plains Indians have for the wolf and the natural world. It is a tribute to the Plains Indian culture.

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Third grade

Text: Goble, P. (1987). Buffalo woman. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: A young hunter draws his bow against a buffalo cow drinking from a stream. Before he can loose his arrow, there is no buffalo — instead, there stands a beautiful young woman, whom he knows he must marry. The hunter's people shun the Buffalo Woman, and so she returns, with their son, Calf Boy, to her people. The hunter's heart compels him to follow. But he has been warned: The Buffalo Nation is angry at the Straight-up-People. And if he cannot find his wife and son among the many buffalo, they will be lost to him forever.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice
The Horn Book Fanfare List

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Third grade

Text: Goble, P. (1998). Adopted by the eagles. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Synopsis: Tall Bear is stranded in an eagle's nest in this beautiful picture book. The text reads as though an old Native American storyteller is relating the story of lost trust and friendship.

Author Information: Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Genre: Folktale/Legend

Interest Level: 3-5

Reading Level: Third grade

Text: dePaola, T. (1988). Legend of the indian paintbrush. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis: Little Gopher follows his destiny as revealed in a Dream-Vision of becoming an artist for his people and eventually is able to bring the colors of the sunset down to earth.

Author Information: Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.  It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.  He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration. 
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year. 

Genre: Legend/Myth

Interest Level: K-2

Reading Level: 2.8/Second grade

Text: dePaola, T. (1983). Legend of the bluebonnet. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Synopsis: A retelling of the Comanche Indian legend of how a little girl’s sacrifice brought the flower called bluebonnet to Texas.

Author Information: Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California. 
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books. 
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration. 
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year. 

Genre: Legend

Interest Level: Grades 1-3

Reading Level: Third grade