(NAME-MCE) D is for Drum; Gitchi Gumee

[Debbie Reese]

Good morning,

Alphabet books are the centerpiece of many kindergarten and first grade classroom libraries. I'm glad that I rarely find a new book with an "I is for Indian" page. That was once very common, in alphabet books and the ABC charts used in early childhood classrooms. 

D IS FOR DRUM has a subtitle of A NATIVE AMERICAN ALPHABET. It's illustrator is Dine (Navajo). But, there are problems with the book. For details, read my blog post on June 18th. 

Also, take time to read the long essay I posted on June 27th. It is by Ojibwe author, Lois Beardslee. Her topic is the books published by Mackinac Island Press. Specifically, she critiques TEARS OF MOTHER BEAR and GITCHI GUMEE.

Updates to:

American Indians in Children's Literature
americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

June 17th
Bunky Echo-Hawk
---Terrific art by a Pawnee artist. See, for example, "If Yoda was an Indian"

June 18th
D IS FOR DRUM: A NATIVE AMERICAN ALPHABET

June 22
Borders promoting a "Chief Illiniwek" book

June 27
Lois Beardslee on Mackinac Island Press

June 29
Native poets - Earthworks series

Have a good week! I'm traveling, posting infrequently. 
Debbie

_______________________________

Debbie A. Reese, (Nambé Pueblo)
Assistant Professor
American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1206 West Nevada
Urbana, IL 61801

Email: debreese at uiuc.edu 

Internet Resource & Blog: American Indians in Children's Literature, located at http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

UIUC's Native American House http://www.nah.uiuc.edu
TEL 217-265-9870
FAX 217-265-9880