A Kid's Guide to Native American History - by Yvonne Wakim Dennis & Arlene Hirschfelder (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Hands-on activities, games, and crafts introduce children to the diversity of Native American cultures and teach them about the people, experiences, and events that have helped shape America, past and present. Nine geographical areas cover a variety of communities like the Mohawk in the Northeast, Ojibway in the Midwest, Shoshone in the Great Basin, Apache in the Southwest, Yupik in Alaska, and Native Hawaiians, among others. Lives of historical and contemporary notable individuals like Chief Joseph and Maria Tallchief are featured, and the book is packed with a variety of topics like first encounters with Europeans, Indian removal, Mohawk sky walkers, and Navajo code talkers. Readers travel Native America through activities that highlight the arts, games, food, clothing, and unique celebrations, language, and life ways of various nations. Kids can make Haudensaunee corn husk dolls, play Washoe stone jacks, design Inupiat sun goggles, or create a Hawaiian Ma'o-hauhele bag. A time line, glossary, and recommendations for Web sites, books, movies, and museums round out this multicultural guide.

Review Quotes

"A wealth of information and activities for classroom teachers or parents creating a home learning program." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Yvonne Wakim Dennis is the outreach director for Nitchen, Inc., a support agency for indigenous families, and the Nitchen Children's Museum of Native America. She is the coauthor of Native Americans Today with Arlene Hirschfelder. Arlene Hirschfelder is the author of numerous books on Native Americans, including Native Americans: A History in Pictures and Rising Voices: The Writings of Young Native Americans. She has been a consultant for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.