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Paucity of Native American books
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From: Suzanne McIntire <suzymcintire_at_comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:32:31 -0500
"Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries
and in bookstores"
I've been occasionally following the discussions of books about/by Native Americans. I also have noticed that books by/about Native Americans have disappeared from libraries and particularly from bookstores. The topic has apparently nearly disappeared from local school curriculums as well (I live in Virginia).
I had been working on a children's biography of a lesser-known Indian
chief, but finding that Caucasians are unwelcome as biographer/ writers, and feeling that I could never satisfy the kind of criticism
I see here, and I put the book aside and will probably never finish it.
I think that is one of the big reasons why biographies etc of Native Americans have disappeared. Very sad. My heart breaks for the situation.
Suzy McIntire Arlington VA
On Nov 9, 2009, at 1:03 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:
CCBC-NET Digest for Sunday, November 08, 2009.
1. RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) 2. Reviewing from a Reviewer's Perspective
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) From: Nancy Bo Flood Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:14:14 -0700 X-Message-Number: 1
Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do
emphasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there
was some amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun by Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are done well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alaskan Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perhaps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders from across the country, we could celebrate as well. Given
the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and
in bookstores, we could each request one from our local library and/
or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
Chinle, AZ 86503 (USA)
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
author of Navajo Year, Walk Through Many Seasons, A Children's Choice and Arizona Book of the Year
Sand to Stone, the Life Cycle of Sandstone
Soon, new! Warriors Caught in Crossfire, a young-adult novel that takes place in the western Pacific during World War II.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:33:23 -0600 From: debreese_at_illinois.edu Subject:
Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
Good morning,
A reminder that my site (American Indians in Children's Literature)
has a lot of resources that can help teachers and librarians gain insight into stereotypical representations of American Indians. The address is
Most recently, I wrote about PETER PAN IN SCARLET.
Last night, I wrote about my visit to Madison (home of CCBC), where Janice Rice and I gave a presentation. It was terrific to see KT and Ginny again, and, I was glad to meet Megan, whose work I've read for years, and, Amanda, a student doing some important work with Ryan Comfort in the School of Ed's American Indian Curriculum Services office.
In my presentation, I referenced problems with the retelling of traditional stories. If you're interested in reading more about that, see my article in Language Arts, "Proceed with Caution."
I also spoke about new research on the harmful effects of stereotypes on the self-esteem and self-efficacy of American Indians. The researcher's name is Stephanie Fryberg. If you write to me (debreese_at_illinois.edu) I will send you a copy of the article.
Thanks, CCBC, for all that you did for helping make the lecture a success.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource:
American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй O'-ween-ge')
Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Native American House, Room 2005
1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese_at_illinois.edu
TEL 217-265-9885
FAX 217-265-9880
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:32:31 -0500
"Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries
and in bookstores"
I've been occasionally following the discussions of books about/by Native Americans. I also have noticed that books by/about Native Americans have disappeared from libraries and particularly from bookstores. The topic has apparently nearly disappeared from local school curriculums as well (I live in Virginia).
I had been working on a children's biography of a lesser-known Indian
chief, but finding that Caucasians are unwelcome as biographer/ writers, and feeling that I could never satisfy the kind of criticism
I see here, and I put the book aside and will probably never finish it.
I think that is one of the big reasons why biographies etc of Native Americans have disappeared. Very sad. My heart breaks for the situation.
Suzy McIntire Arlington VA
On Nov 9, 2009, at 1:03 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:
CCBC-NET Digest for Sunday, November 08, 2009.
1. RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) 2. Reviewing from a Reviewer's Perspective
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) From: Nancy Bo Flood Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:14:14 -0700 X-Message-Number: 1
Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do
emphasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there
was some amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun by Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are done well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alaskan Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perhaps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders from across the country, we could celebrate as well. Given
the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and
in bookstores, we could each request one from our local library and/
or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
Chinle, AZ 86503 (USA)
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
author of Navajo Year, Walk Through Many Seasons, A Children's Choice and Arizona Book of the Year
Sand to Stone, the Life Cycle of Sandstone
Soon, new! Warriors Caught in Crossfire, a young-adult novel that takes place in the western Pacific during World War II.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:33:23 -0600 From: debreese_at_illinois.edu Subject:
Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
Good morning,
A reminder that my site (American Indians in Children's Literature)
has a lot of resources that can help teachers and librarians gain insight into stereotypical representations of American Indians. The address is
Most recently, I wrote about PETER PAN IN SCARLET.
Last night, I wrote about my visit to Madison (home of CCBC), where Janice Rice and I gave a presentation. It was terrific to see KT and Ginny again, and, I was glad to meet Megan, whose work I've read for years, and, Amanda, a student doing some important work with Ryan Comfort in the School of Ed's American Indian Curriculum Services office.
In my presentation, I referenced problems with the retelling of traditional stories. If you're interested in reading more about that, see my article in Language Arts, "Proceed with Caution."
I also spoke about new research on the harmful effects of stereotypes on the self-esteem and self-efficacy of American Indians. The researcher's name is Stephanie Fryberg. If you write to me (debreese_at_illinois.edu) I will send you a copy of the article.
Thanks, CCBC, for all that you did for helping make the lecture a success.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource:
American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй O'-ween-ge')
Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Native American House, Room 2005
1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese_at_illinois.edu
TEL 217-265-9885
FAX 217-265-9880
---Received on Mon 09 Nov 2009 07:32:31 AM CST
