Native Americans

An Annotated Bibliography

Grades 3-4

 

By: Melissa Moscato

 

 

The following selection of books can be used to introduce a social studies unit on  the early colonization period, a social studies unit on Native Americans, or as for a cultural unit around the Thanksgiving Holiday.  I have incorporated picture books appropriate for the third and fourth grade levels, as well as a few for lower level readers.  Also, I have included varying levels of books that can be used as research resources for students.  In addition, I have included several chapter books that may be used as student reads or read aloud books…depending on the abilities of the students.  Lastly, included are a book on Native American Dances and one on the Tipi.  The Tipi book describes how a Tipi is made with illustrations, and the book on the dances includes directions and illustrations on the dances as well as how to make costumes.  There are endless possibilities for projects with these books.

 

The Native American Culture, and the history of their mistreatment are very important  lessons for children to learn, and this wide variety of books will hopefully appeal to all students in one way or another.  This is merely a resource; I encourage you to use it creatively.

 

Picture books

 

Biographies

 

Jenner, Caryn.  The Story of Pocahontas.  New York:  Dorling Kindersley, 2000.

            This is a simplistic telling of the history of Pocahontas.  It is written in a large print with very detailed and pictures.  It also includes informational snippets on the bottom of many of the pages.

 

Martain, Patricia Miles.  Pocahontas.  New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1964.

            Written in bold print, this book tells the traditional story of Pocahontas in language that third and forth graders can easily understand.  The pictures are very simple and are in red, black, and white.

 

Poetry

 

Bruchac, Joseph.  The Circle of Thanks.  U S:  Bridgewater Books,1996.

            With rich two-page spread illustrations, this book contains poems and songs from various Native American tribes.  The poems are reasonably short and easy to read as well as understand.

 

 

Wood, Nancy.  Many Winters.  New York:  Doubleday and Co. Inc., 1974.

            This is an amazing book.  Wood wrote these poems after interviewing an old Native American man at Taos Pueblos.  It has remarkable mood and tone.  The illustrations include simple sketches as well as rich paintings.

 

Fantasy

 

Begay, S. and L. Caster.  The Boy Who Dreamed of An Acorn.  New York:  Philomel

      Books, 1994.

            This cute story with colorful illustrations is about a boy who has a dream about an acorn.  When he wakes he has an acorn, so he plants it.  Not long after, magical things begin to happen.

 

Realistic Fiction

 

Frisky, Margaret.  Indian Two Feet Rides Alone.  U S:  Regensteiner Publishing, 1980.

            This book is about a young Native American boy who must find salt lick so that his tribe can preserve its meat.  (This book is for lower level readers)

 

Grutman, Jewel H. and Gay Matthaei.  The Ledgerbook of Thomas Blue Eagle. Virginia.

      Thomasson-Grant: 1994.

            This book is written in a diary-like format.  It includes child-like sketches supposedly by the main character. In it a young Native American boy is talking about his life growing up.  It is a fun book, and on in which students can easily relate.  It can also serve as an introduction to a project in which students will create their own diary pretending they are  Native Americans (or if they are of Native American decent, imagine what life was like for their ancestors).

 

Grutman, Jewel H. and Gay Matthaei.  The Sketchbook of Thomaas Blue Eagle.

      California:  Raincoast Books, 2001.

            This is a sequel to the “Ledgerbook.”  It is written in a very similar format, but begins with Blue Eagle as a young man at age eighteen.  It focuses on his big move from the Black Hills to a reservation.  It really gets the students to sympathize the Native Americans and their loss when the white man came to America.

 

Historical Fiction

 

Sewall, Marcia.  People of the Breaking Day.  New York:  Atheneum, 1990.

            With its rich oil paintings, this book tells the story of the Wampanoag Tribe’s lives when the Pilgrims landed.  Sewall’s recreation based on fact is very descriptive.  It is written in a choppy English to sound like the broken English of a Native American.

 

Concept Book

 

Frisky, Margaret.  Indian Two Feet Rides Alone.  Chicago:  Children’s Press, 1990.

            This book is for lower level readers and learners possibly inclusive students.  It is about an Indian boy who is trying to make a fur blanket for his bed.  It has a counting theme in it.

 

Folktales

 

Bruchac, Joseph.  Native American Animal Stories.  Colorado:  Falcrum Publishing,

      1992.

            This book contains about fifty short folktales about with animals about nature, legends, celebrations, vision, and survival.  All of the tales are short and give insights about the Indian way of life.

 

Sita, Lisa.  Indians of the Great Plains.  Philadelphia:  Courage books, 1997.

            This is a large book filled with color photos and illustrations.  It includes Indian legends, tales, and facts.

 

Chapter Books

 

Realistic Fiction

 

Clark, Anne Nolan.  Secret of the Andes.  New York.  Viking: 1952.

            This story is about a young Native American boy named Cusi.  He is a llama herder, but decides to go off in search of his hearts desire.  It is a realistic journey of ones own character, and it is very nature orientated.

 

Fantasy

 

Banks, Lynne Reid.  The Indian and the Cupboard.  New York.  Delacorte Press: 1981.

 

Banks, Lynne Reid.  The Return of the Indian.  New York.  Doubleday Press: 1986.

 

Banks, Lynne Reid.  The Secret of the Indian.  New York.  Doubleday Press: 1989.

 

These three books are a series by Banks.  They begin with a poor young boy named Omri being given a small cupboard for his birthday.  He puts his plastic figure of an Indian in it and locks it overnight.  When he awakens the Indian has come to life.  He later puts a cowboy into the cupboard and he too comes to life.  The sequels are further adventures of the cupboard and its magical people.

 

Resource Books

                                      

 

Informational                         

 

Bains, Rae.  Indians of the Plains.  New Jersey:  Troll Associates, 1985.

            This presents information on what tribes lived on the Great Plains, how they survived, women’s roles, clothing, and traditions.  It is written in a large simple text that lower level readers can comprehend.

 

Hendrickson, Ann-Marie.  The Blackfeet Indians.  US:  Chelsea House Publishers,1997.

            This book is one from a series in the Junior Library Collection of American Indians.  It is a very informative book that covers many topics on the Blackfeet.  It includes many black and white photographs.  The collection also has similar books any many different tribes.

 

Press, Petra.  The Blackfeet.  Minnesota:  Compass Point Books, 2001.

            This book is one from a series of four about different Indian tribes.  It is from the First Reports series.  It includes a glossary, an index, and important events date chart, and information on the Blackfeet from early until present.

 

Sundling, Charles W.  Native Americans of the Frontier.  Minnesota: ABDO Publishing

     Co., 2000.

            This book, which includes a full glossary, is written in short chapters and simple text.  It contains many pictures, and it focuses on tribes of the Great American Desert.  It talks about their way of life, buffalo hunts, plains horses, and the Trail of Blood (their destruction by the white man).

 

Ziter, Cary B.  The Moon of the Falling Leaves.  New York:  Franklin Watts, 1988.

            This non fiction book tells all about the buffalo hunt in a story-like way.  It starts with when the buffalo hunts take place, who is involved, the hunt itself, and ceremonies after the hunt.

 

Project Ideas

 

Squires, John, L.  American Indian Dances.  New York: The Ronald Press Co., 1963.

            This book gives vivid descriptions, directions, and diagrams on native dances and the clothing worn during specific dances.  It would be great for a project on making Indian clothing, or learning Indian dances (or both).

00694139   (to view footage of an Indian dance)

Yue, David and Charlotte.  The Tipi.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.

            This book contains general information on Tipi, as well as instructions and diagrams on how to make a Tipi.  This book would be useful on a project making model Tipi.

 

A Must Have

 

Hucko, Bruce. A Rainbow at Night.  San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1996.

            This book is a wonderful must have for a unit on Indians.  Each two-page spread includes a summary paragraph by Hucko, an original piece by an Indian child, an illustration by the child, and a biography with a photo of the child.  It is a beautiful way to get your students to relate to young Native American children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

.