How to Choose Native American Themed Books for Kids

Finding Native American-themed children's books is getting easier by the year; many libraries contain colorful, interesting tales and myths linked to various North American tribes. Kids really enjoy the stories, often of animals and transformations, and it drives them to ask questions about our country's complex history as well.

Things You'll Need

• Library, bookstore or Internet access

Instructions

1. Dip into one of the huge number of books by Paul Goble. Both author and illustrator, Goble hooks the reader with cool looking line (but colored) drawings that employ comic book type dialogue above characters, in addition to the regular text. He retells fascinating stories from various North American tribes in which tricksters teach Indians lessons or Indians become animals. What may separate these books from other similar titles is their humor; Goble is not afraid to incorporate the comic, which seems truer to the original sense of the tales. Books include: "Dream Wolf," "Crow Chief," "Buffalo Woman" and "The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses." A number of books recount the tales of Iktomi, a vain Plains Indian, and the trouble he gets in, for example, with a coyote. Books are recommended for kindergarten through 4th grade.

2. Find Gerald McDermott, another story adapter and illustrator who has several titles on Native American stories including "Coyote," "Arrow to the Sun" and "Raven" (a Pacific Northwest trickster tale). With riveting mixed media illustrations and a rhythmic storytelling style, his books are also suggested for ages 4 to 9. This author also offers many adaptations of African myths and even an Irish one.

3. Pull Audrey Wood's "The Rainbow Bridge" from the shelves. This retelling of a Chumash Indian tale in which tribespeople are turned into dolphins is stunningly illustrated. Children ages 4 to 9 will be drawn to both story and art. Featuring an earth goddess, this tale explores feminine power as well as themes of unity. The dramatic artwork featuring this California tribe is done by Robert Florczak.

4. Choose famous author Tomie DePaola's "The Legend of the Bluebonnet: an Old Tale of Texas," a Comanche retelling that shows how a little Indian girl's sacrifice of her doll results in bringing a new flower (the state flower) to Texas. Similarly, his "Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" demonstrates how we have come to have that red flower. This author and illustrator also tells these myths very appealingly and features children or young people in his stories. In the latter, a child--Little Gopher--who dreams of being an artist fulfills this dream in spite of everything and eventually brings magnificent reds and oranges, sunset colors, to his art and people. Also recommended for lower and middle elementary age children.