A Broken Flute - (Contemporary Native American Communities) by Doris Seale & Beverly Slapin (Paperback)

About the Book

A Broken Flute is a book of reviews that critically evaluate children's books about Native Americans written between the early 1900s and 2003, accompanied by stories, essays and poems from its contributors. The authors critique some 600 books by more than 500 authors, arranging titles A to Z and covering pre-school, K-12 levels, and evaluations of some adult and teacher materials. This book is a valuable resource for community and educational organizations, and a key reference for public and school libraries, and Native American collections.

Book Synopsis

A Broken Flute: The Native Experience in Books for Children is a companion to its predecessor published by Oyate, Through Indian Eyes: The Native Experience in Books for Children. A compilation of work by Native parents, children, educators, poets and writers, A Broken Flute contains, from a Native perspective, 'living stories, ' essays, poetry, and hundreds of reviews of 'children's books about Indians.' It's an indispensable volume for anyone interested in presenting honest materials by and about indigenous peoples to children.

Review Quotes

A Broken Flute will be a valuable resource for community and educational organizations, and a key reference for public and school libraries, and Native American collections. Readers will turn to this volume repeatedly, especially because of the multiple indexes, for help with book evaluation and to broaden their understanding of the community in which they work and live.-- "Sir Read Alot Book Review"

[Seale and Slapin's] latest volume evaluates hundreds of books for children and teenagers published from the early 1900s through 2004, and [it is] more brutally honest than anything else out there. Seale, Slapin, and their reviewers and commentators--noted storytellers, poets, fiction writers, scholars, teachers, and student and community activists--take on Newberry and Caldecott medalists and reading-list perennials for their simplistic, stereotype-filled, condescending, and outright false portrayals of American Indians... Equally valuable are the reflections of the reviewers and their children, in the form of essays and poems, about the negative images perpetrated by mainstream society and its educational system as well as their own efforts to make their voices heard. Here, we see concerned parents and grandparents and strong Indian children who have grown up with the good examples that ultimately stand out in this book.-- "Multicultural Review"

A superior reference and could serve as the cornerstone for Native American collections.--Laura Woodruff "VOYA"

If you are teaching children's literature to prospective teachers, HeadStart staff, librarians or others who make vital decisions about acquisition and use of appropriate books for kids, you have GOT to own this book. If you are teaching Native American kids, you also must OWN this book. It critically reviews and assesses the cultural authenticity and historical accuracy of hundreds of well-known (and elsewhere highly regarded) children's titles of the past ten years with a particular scrutiny for the taint of misinformation, cultural theft, and lack of balance. Highly Recommended.-- "Tribal College Journal"

Like the authors' earlier work, Through Indian Eyes, A Broken Flute offers essays, critical reviews and commentary on many books about American Indians for children and teenagers. But A Broken Flute also asks us to understand the pain and the anger that the appropriation and misrepresentation of Native history, culture and values by non-Native writers has caused.-- "Library Sparks"

Strong American Indian voices permeate A Broken Flute. In innovative stories at the beginning, adults and young people speak movingly of how certain books have brought pain--or healing--to their lives. Readers of all ages can relate to these powerful words, which vividly reinforce the book reviewers' excellent critiques. A Broken Flute is a compelling call for truth-telling and healing.--Marilou Awiakta (Cherokee), author of Selu: Seeking the Corn Mother's Wisdom

The editors intersperse fascinating commentary and essays with cultural and literary criticism. The result is a valuable resource for teachers, scholars and caregivers for children.-- "News From Indian Country"

This broad collection of criticism exhibits a wide array of opinions. By calling attention to this diversity of Native Voices, A Broken Flute points out the failure of mainstream publishers to represent Native work, and the crucial role that teachers and librarians must play in questioning non-Native work and seeking authentic criticism.-- "School Library Journal"

This is a highly valuable resource for librarians and educators looking for accurate and culturally authentic books about the Native American experience.--Center for Children's Books Newsletter

This is an excellent resource for educators and parents. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Academic and public libraries serving lower-level undergraduates through graduate students, professionals, and general readers.-- "Choice Reviews"