Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki)
Poems and stories of Native American sacred places.
Harcourt

This Dene-English story book was produced by the students and teachers of Ducharme Elementary School in La Loche, Saskatchewan, with assistance from local advisors and elders. Together, they wrote the story, translated it, and worked on the pictures. Their goal was to highlight some aspects of Dene culture that were vital in the past and are still important today. They wanted to show the continuity of a genuine and successful way of life, and emphasize culturally-significant events and attitudes. To produce the book, over 400 hundred students provided ideas for the story line and art samples for the illustrations. Two hundred letters went out to the community families, asking for ideas and information with regard to story content. A dozen elders were consulted to provide accurate and culturally-correct information. A teacher committee of six worked on the project for two years.

Byron Through the Seasons is a story told by Grandfather Jonas and imagined by his grandson, Byron. The balloon diagram in each picture represents the symbolic journey taken by Byron as he listens to stories of what Dene life is like during the four seasons of the year.
Fifth House Books

Eva Jean Bowman (Munsee/Menominee)
"When our tribe lost their homelands in New York, they were forced to move along many trails, finally settling the Wisconsin area. My grandfather and my great uncle were among the Stockbridge-Munsee people who settled here.  I want  our children, as well as non-Native children, to read about one of our relatives - Daniel Ninham, a war chief who died for what he believed in." Illustrations by students of Bowler Elementary School. Ages 4-8
Muh-he-con-neew Press

Rina Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo)
A beautifully illustrated short work on the life of a family of potters from Santa Clara Pueblo. The book follows Gia Rose as she and her relatives drive to the mountains to dig for clay; prepare it for working; and fashion pieces that are then polished, sanded, and fired. In addition to the many large, full-color photographs, there are maps of the area and of the 19 pueblos in New Mexico, and designs decorating the large-print text. Swentzell does a good job of demonstrating the family's closeness to nature and to other members in the village. Although the author provides readers with only a glimpse of tradition, there is a list of books for further reading. While the subject will be of special interest to those studying pueblos or New Mexico, and to those interested in pottery, this book also offers a very personal view of what it is like to live today as part of a Native American community.  Grade 3-5.
Lerner Publishing Group

Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki)
A gripping novel about a brother and sister, set in a Mohawk village of the late 1400's.
Dial

Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki)
A gripping novel about a brother and sister, set in a Mohawk village of the late 1400's.
Dial

Eugene Sekaquqptewa (Hopi)
Coyote tries to play a cruel trick on the birds, but they find a way to trick him instead. This traditional Hopi story is here retold by a respected Hopi elder and storyteller, the late Eugene Sekaquaptewa. The text is presented in both Hopi and English, and the charming full-colour illustrations were provided by Hopi children. Expressing Hopi tradition in a natural and accessible manner, the story will have a strong appeal for children of every culture -- and for their parents.
Clear Light Books

As he did in Gift Horse, Sioux artist Nelson blends contemporary and traditional elements for the striking illustrations that accompany this story of the legendary Lakota warrior. Bruchac (A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull) traces Crazy Horse's boyhood, zeroing in on a pivotal event in his life and highlighting an important Native American rite of passage. As a youth, Crazy Horse (then known as Curly) witnesses U.S. Army soldiers brutally and unjustly attack his people. Troubled, he embarks on a vision quest and sees a figure on horseback riding untouched through a storm of lightning, hail and bullets. His father interprets the vision, telling him that "the man on that horse is the one you will become" and that he is destined to defend his people. Bruchac's description of the vision quest is compelling, and his decision to limit his canvas to a few select events demonstrates his understanding of his audience; an afterword describes subsequent events in the warrior's life. Endmatter also illuminates Nelson's approach. The artist explains his approximations of the Plains Indians' traditional ledger-book style (characterized by indistinct facial expressions and flat, two-dimensional figures) and his symbolic use of color (Crazy Horse is painted blue, representative of a connection with the spirit world). His sweeping vistas and somewhat ghostly textured brushwork bolster the book's visionary theme. Ages 6-up.

Lee Smith (Maidu) and Clifford E. Trafzer (Wyandot)
This children's book relates the story of Travis and Laura and how their grandfather, a Maidu Indian, teaches them about their history and culture through stories. The book stresses the importance of storytelling as the traditional way of passing on the history of Indian peoples. As part of a school project, Travis tells his classmates the Maidu creation story, told to him many times by his grandfather. The story features Coyote, Earthmaker, and Robin and tells how they created animals, plants, and human beings. Travis' classmates are very interested and ask him many questions about Maidu Indian culture and history. When his granddaughter Laura visits from Los Angeles, grandfather also shares Maidu stories with her. Finally, grandfather visits Travis' school and tells the students the story of brave Thunder Boy.
Sierra Oaks

Robert H. Bushyhead (Cherokee)
A children's book about a young Cherokee girl who becomes stranded in a tree because of her curiosity.
Lobster Cove