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(4)
YA
Beginning in 1810, this dense novel imagines the life of Sakakawea's son (born on the Lewis and Clark Expedition). "Adopted" by Clark, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau attends school in St. Louis, travels the world, and experiences life as a man of both Native and French ancestry. Though rich with historical detail, this serious, old-fashioned novel will appeal to only the most dedicated history buffs. Bib.
40 pp.
| Dial
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42853-4$14.99
(4)
K-3
Ordinary People Change the World series.
Illustrated by
Christopher Eliopoulos.
The latest series entry centers on Sacagawea's contributions to Lewis and Clark's expedition to the Pacific. There's some moralizing and instances of historical glossing-over, but the bestselling biography series' setup--a chatty first-person narrative and cartoon art with occasional comics-style frames--has plenty of kid-appeal. Photos are appended. Reading list, timeline. Bib.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Native American Leaders series.
These starter biographies offer brief descriptions (with one to three sentences per page) about important Native American figures; historical art and photos as well as contemporary scenic photos accompany the sparse texts. Only very cursory details about each subject is offered, but the series may serve as an adequate introduction for younger readers. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Zoom In on Native American Leaders titles: Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse, Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Sequoyah, and Sitting Bull.
(4)
K-3
Big Buddy Books: Native Americans series.
These books give brief overviews of Native American nations, discussing their past and present territory, daily life, art and handicrafts, and spiritual beliefs. A section on each group "Today" and a quote from a member of the nation (either past or current) are included at book's end. Choppy texts paired with contemporary and historical photos provide adequate introductory information. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Book: Native Americans titles: Chickasaw, Choctaw, Inuit, Miwok, Pueblo, Shoshone, Wampanoag, and Yokuts.
(4)
4-6
Women Who Broke the Rules series.
Illustrated by
Matt Collins.
Krull meets the challenge of balancing fact and speculation head-on, occasionally tripping on her modern phrasing ("Hidatsa women helped their economy sizzle") and glossing over certain facts (such as the adoption of Sacajawea's young son by Meriwether Lewis). Collins's paintings support the account, though at times his subjects' facial expressions appear cartoonish. An informative and well-researched offering, despite its pitfalls. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.
(4)
K-3
Cub Reporter Meets Famous Americans series.
Illustrated by
Doug Jones.
Cub Reporter "interviews" Sacagawea about her life and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Sacagawea responds to simplistic questions in her own hokey "voice" ("Captain Lewis said that if I hadn't done this, the trip could've been ruined!"). Cartoons of a microphone-holding bear cub alternate with captioned photos and illustrations that extend information. The premise may work for reluctant readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-4006-9$21.26 New ed. (1997)
(4)
4-6
Courageous Heroes of the American West series.
All originally published under different titles, the updated editions of these brief biographies, written in short, easy-to-read sentences, outline the lives of adventurous individuals who helped shape the American West during the nineteenth century. Black-and-white photographs and drawings add some interest to the text-heavy pages; the lurid cover illustrations are unappealing. There are four other fall 2012 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Courageous Heroes of the American West titles: Bill Pickett, Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Richard King, Sacagawea, and Sam Houston.
32 pp.
| Goosebottom
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-9845098-6-7$18.95
(4)
4-6
Thinking Girl's Treasury of Real Princesses series.
Illustrated by
Albert Nguyen.
This biography of Sacajawea begins with the story of her being taken from her family by an invading tribe and follows her through marriage, motherhood, and her famous journey with Lewis and Clark. The wandering narrative is supplemented with illustrations, photographs (some oddly chosen), maps, and sidebars about the evolution of her name, what she wore and ate, and her descendants. Bib.
40 pp.
| Atheneum
| June, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4169-9474-9$16.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jim Madsen.
Sacagawea's infant son, carried on her back, narrates this story. Napoli's prose is more evocative than explanatory: "We try dugouts / against the mighty spring current. / The current wins. / We buy horses / and ride…" The language, while poetic and imagistic, can be puzzlingly abstract. Digital illustrations with the appearance of expansive oil paintings depict the shifting landscape.
124 pp.
| Sterling
| October, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-6845-3$12.95
(3)
4-6
Sterling Biographies series.
Each title opens with an introduction that arouses compassion and interest for the featured subject. Succeeding chapters present chronological biographies, with vivid portrayals of daily life, culture, and the impact an expanding America had on the individual and his or her people. Paintings, drawings, and occasional photographs combine with detail-rich sidebars and maps to provide a cumulatively engaging, accessible history lesson. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Sacagawea, Chief Joseph,Pocahontas, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Tecumseh.
144 pp.
| OTTN
| January, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59556-026-1$25.95
(4)
YA
Shapers of America series.
Crosby emphasizes Sacagawea's important role in Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery: a Shoshone captured by the Hidatsa she married a French-Canadian voyageur and acted as guide, interpreter, and indicator of peaceful intent, for no war party would include a woman and her baby. Though the text is dense, maps, photos, drawings, and sidebars add accessibility. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Higgins Bond.
The lone Native American woman and African American man on the Lewis and Clark expedition describe their roles in the historic journey. The point-of-view alternates with each turn of the page, but there are not enough visual or written clues to make these abrupt changes successful. The paintings give details of time and setting. Map, reading list, source notes, websites.
(4)
K-3
Native American Biographies series.
In a somewhat cluttered design, ample drawings, maps, and color photographs accompany a description of the lives of six important Native Americans and their individual significance in American history. Throughout the text are timelines and boxed quotes from various individuals. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Biographies titles: Chief John Ross, Chief Joseph, Sacagawea, Chief Tecumseh, Osceola, and Sequoyah.
32 pp.
| Gareth
| September, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-8368-4221-9$24.67
(4)
4-6
Native American Peoples series.
Each title in this series gives readers an introduction to a Native American tribe, with chapters covering its origins, history, settlement, culture, and contemporary life. The text is easy to read and useful for reports but full of generalizations. Photographs and historic paintings help make the books approachable. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Native American Peoples titles: Inuit, Creek, Oneida, Blackfoot, Hopi, and Shoshone.
40 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| August, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-87614-646-9$$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Julie Buffalohead
&
Julie Buffalohead.
Although there aren't any sources and the book ends with odd abruptness, Erdrich retells Sacagawea's story competently enough, keeping her focus on the woman rather than using her as a lens on Lewis and Clark. Large three-quarter-spread paintings are stiffly executed but confer appropriate dignity on their subject. Timeline. Bib.
32 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2004-5$$17.95
(4)
K-3
Meeting Famous People series.
This book gives a slightly more detailed look at the Native American woman who traveled with Lewis and Clark than most biographies for this age group. The illustrations are historical paintings, some more successful than others. Sacagawea is an elusive figure and the book acknowledges the two stories about her death, giving more credence to the one that says she died in 1812 at age twenty-five. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Blue Earth
| August, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-2173-2$$22.60
(4)
K-3
America's First Peoples series.
Each of these books focuses on a traditional activity characteristic of a Native American group. Included are bits of history, folklore, and culture, plus hands-on activities, such as recipes. The easy-to-read format is enhanced with colorful illustrations, but the books are too brief to provide more than a cursory look at each group. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these America's First People titles: The Navajo, The Shoshone, The Choctaw, and The Inuit.]
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Val Paul Taylor.
The fast-paced biographies in this series do a good job of revealing the personalities and significant achievements of their subjects. Plentiful black-and-white illustrations and simple prose make the books particularly appealing to reluctant readers, and the brief sidebars never overwhelm the main texts. Each volume has two timelines--one for the subject's life, the other listing concurrent world events. [Review covers these titles: Who Was Albert Einstein?, Who Was Ben Franklin?, Who Was Sacagawea?, Who Was Annie Oakley?.]
(4)
K-3
Ready-to-Read: Childhood of Famous Americans series.
Illustrated by
Diana Magnuson.
Each of the books in this series intended for emerging readers fictionalizes a childhood episode from the life of a notable historical figure. Earhart, which is divided into chapters and intended for proficient readers, is longer and more detailed (and includes more exclamation points) than the other titles. Illustrated with cartoony color art, the books provide adequate introductions. Timeline. [Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Mark Twain at Work!, Thomas Edison to the Rescue!, Sacagawea and the Bravest Deed, and Amelia Earhart.]
32 pp.
| Lerner/Millbrook
| March, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7613-2317-1$$22.90
(4)
K-3
What Was It Like, Grandma? series.
Illustrated by
Peter Linenthal.
Photographs by
Peter Linenthal.
In this photo-essay, Shawnee, a Shoshone girl living on a reservation in Wyoming, enjoys spending time with her grandparents. Grandma Maxine shares old family photographs, stories, tribal dances, and traditions with Shawnee. Although the different typefaces on the pages is distracting and some of the photographs are out of focus, the book offers a personalized past and present look at this culture.