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(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.
32 pp.
| Bearport
| January, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-62724-522-7$26.60
(3)
4-6
Abandoned!: Towns Without People series.
Despite a rather sensationalized title, this series is genuinely fascinating. Each book traces the history of a now-deserted town, explaining its population boom, possible reasons for decline, and what each abandoned place is like today. With interesting historical and contemporary photos and well-placed sidebars, these are solid places to begin research on some of America's stranger places. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Abandoned! titles: Bodie, Cliff Dwellings, Roanoke Island, and Salton Sea Resort.
64 pp.
| National
| October, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-0130-8$17.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-0131-5$27.90
(3)
4-6
National Geographic Investigates series.
This series discusses how archaeologists' work helps us learn about ancient cultures. Each volume highlights major sites and finds; the text touches on the impact of modern history on priceless artifacts and discusses controversies. Sidebars and well-captioned photos expand on the information, as does an interview with a working archaeologist. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these National Geographic Investigates titles: Ancient Pueblo, Ancient Rome, Ancient Celts, and Ancient Maya.
32 pp.
| New Mexico
| November, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-8263-3730-9$17.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Victoria Pringle.
In this Pueblo myth, the Animal People journey to the surface world but find it in darkness. Their leader gives them hot coals to use for light, but trickster Coyote wants to foil the plan. The simple, sparely told tale is accompanied by attractive cut-paper painted illustrations and ink spot-art.
(3)
K-3
Kokopelli is the musician who brings the Ant People, ancestors of the First People, up through many worlds and teaches them the skills that they will need to live on the Earth in harmony. In her author's notes, Haley writes about the various manifestations of Kokopelli, but she does not cite specific sources. Haley's radiant acrylic paintings are full of action and movement.
32 pp.
| Gareth
| January, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-8368-3390-2$$22.60
(4)
4-6
Events That Shaped America series.
This overview attempts to cover the history of a people who disappeared seven hundred years ago, discussing how the culture evolved from a nomadic to agrarian society and the impact of farming on daily life. The book's brevity lends itself to misleading information, and the details tend to get lost in the big picture. Boxed quotes and sidebars help break up the text, illustrated with photographs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| New Mexico
| December, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8263-3024-X$$14.95
(3)
4-6
Using the author's childhood encounters with Anasazi rock art on the cliffs of New Mexico as a starting point, the text expands to succinctly explain the key aspects of Anasazi culture. Drawings of rock art figures and a map of the areas where the Anasazi lived enhance this appealing introduction.
32 pp.
| Blue Earth
| January, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-1538-4$$22.60
(4)
K-3
America's First Peoples series.
Each book in this series for early elementary school students gives a basic overview of the culture, traditions, and current status of a Native American tribe. Along with archival photos and poor-quality reproductions, the books include instructions for a related craft, a recipe, and directions for a traditional game. Directory, reading list, websites. There are three other spring 2003 books in this series. Glos., ind. [Review covers these America's First Peoples titles: The Ojibwa, The Pueblo, and The Iroquois.]
48 pp.
| Boyds
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 1-56397-972-1$$19.95
(3)
4-6
Readers join Lourie and archaeologist Gwinn Vivian on a tour of the Chaco Canyon region in New Mexico to explore some of the mysteries of the ancient Anasazi people. The fluid and highly personal narrative moves freely from one topic to another. Both text and photos convey Lourie's enthusiasm for the topic and may send readers on to other, more thorough books. Reading list. Ind.
48 pp.
| Bridgestone
| July, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-1357-8$$22.60
(3)
4-6
American Indian Nations series.
Using simple prose, the books in this series examine the histories, traditions, and modern experiences of six American Indian nations. Reproductions of artwork and contemporary and historical photos of each profiled nation's people accompany the texts. Each of the books includes a timeline and a recipe. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these American Indian Nations titles: The Iroquois, The Pueblo, The Seminole, The Cherokee, The Ojibwa, and The Sioux.]
48 pp.
| Oxford
| March, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-19-514280-2$$19.95
(3)
4-6
Digging for the Past series.
Detailing the excavation of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico from 1888 to the present, the authors explore how our knowledge of ancient civilizations changes as archaeological techniques advance. The search for clues about the early Anasazi people is well explained. Along with photos and diagrams, the text makes clear that archaeology is an on-going process. Bib., glos., ind.
128 pp.
| Benchmark
| October, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 0-7614-0861-4$$32.79
(3)
4-6
Lifeways series.
Each title provides a historical overview of a Native American tribe and examines its modern-day struggles. These editions are both history lessons and art books: they feature reproductions of contemporary and historical photographs as well as artwork that interprets aspects of the nations' unique cultures. The books include a recipe, a time line, and an annotated list of notable people. Bib., glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Dutton
| February, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-525-46013-6$$16.99
(4)
4-6
A photo essay describes the traditional aspects of eight-year-old Thunder Bear's life at Nambe Pueblo in New Mexico and explores the importance of buffalo to the Pueblo peoples. The text, which touches on politics, culture, and family life, occasionally waxes poetic, romanticizing its subject and his family. However, Hazen-Hammond's color photos are clear and informative.
(3)
K-3
Sisters Sonja, ten, and Desiree, eight, live in New Mexico at San Ildefonso Pueblo, but they're just like other kids: they play basketball and conduct Barbie weddings when they're not baking bread in outdoor ovens and participating in Indian ceremonial dances. In this companion to Pueblo Boy, the color photos reveal the sisters' delight in straddling two cultures, as their breathless testimony within the descriptive main text attests.
149 pp.
| Avon
| August, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-380-97623-4$$15.00
(4)
4-6
After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Kendall makes his first visit to the pueblo where she grew up and finally learns from his great-grandfather, an Acoma Indian, about the inherited "magic" that compels him to run. Although the prose is sometimes stilted, the story provides a respectful look at a Native culture and at a boy trying to discover where he belongs.
64 pp.
| Lerner
| May, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-3577-7$$23.93
(4)
4-6
How It Was series.
Contrary to the series title, the history is fairly sketchy in these volumes, but readers will gain an understanding of the physical surroundings and way of life at these landmarks. After a brief chapter that does cover some history, each book features the fictionalized thoughts of six individuals, including a newly converted Chumash Indian girl, a cliff dweller, and one of Thomas Jefferson's slaves. Well-chosen color photos and floor plans complement the texts. Bib., glos., ind.