American Indians

Books, Non-Fiction

A Broken Flute: The Native Experience in Books for Children

Edited by Doris Seale and Beverly Slapin, 2005.

An important collection for teachers, filled with essays criticizing children’s books and their portrayal of Native American culture.  The essays in this book also help to broaden understanding of Native cultures.  (For teachers)

Through Indian Eyes: The Native Experience in Books for Children

Edited by Doris Seale and Beverly Slapin, 1998.

From the website:  “Through Indian Eyes is a compilation of work by Native parents, educators, poets, and writers. It contains essays, poetry, critical reviews of more than 100 children's books by and about Indian peoples, a guide to evaluating children's books for anti-Indian bias, a recommended bibliography, and a resource section of Native publishers and organizations.” (For teachers) 

Websites

Oyate

From the website:  “Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Native children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. It is a matter of survival. For all children, it is time to learn the truth of history. Only in this way will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue.”

There is an especially useful is section entitled ‘Books to Avoid’ that includes a very straightforward guide on how to spot specific things which make everything from picture books to more advanced reads problematic.  (For teachers)