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UPDATE: Changes made to DINO-THANKSGIVING
Back in October of 2020, I wrote about Dino-Thanksgiving by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Barry Gott. It is about dinosaurs gathering to eat at thanksgiving. At one point they gather around the...
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: NOTABLE NATIVE PEOPLE by Adrienne Keene
Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and PresentWritten by Adrienne Keene (Cherokee)Illustrated by Ciara Sana (Chamora)Published by Ten Speed...
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Scott O'Dell and Changes to California's Department of Education "Recommended...
"No results found." it said. Surely, I thought, that can't be right! Let me explain. In 2021 and early in 2022 I was doing some work with teachers in California. A key emphasis in my work involves a...
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AICL's Year In Review for 2022
New! AICL's Year In Review for 2022Each year, AICL puts together a list of books we recommend, that we call "Best Books." Our emphasis is on books by Native writers and illustrators published that...
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Highly Recommended: Two for 2022 from Highwater Press!
Highwater Press often sets a high bar for Indigenous-centric publishing. This post recommends two of their 2022 releases: Returning to the Yakoun River and Dancing with Our Ancestors. Both are by Sara...
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Back Matter in 2022 book from Charlesbridge -- THE GARDENER OF ALCATRAZ
This morning on Facebook (in a discussion of books by region), I saw mention of The Gardener of Alcatraz. Written by Emma Bland Smith and illustrated by Jenn Ely, it came out in 2022 from...
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"Tlingit don't exist for the benefit of bad teenagers."
In a recent conversation, an educator told me about people in her networks who are still using Touching Spirit Bear. That educator has read my posts about the book and is frustrated by those who...
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Nostalgia for Margaret Wise Brown's DOCTOR SQUASH THE DOLL DOCTOR
Yesterday (Monday, Jan 17, 2023) this image appeared on the timeline of my Facebook account. Specifically, it was shared to a Facebook group about children's literature. I paused when I saw it:Those of...
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Use/Misuse of the Word "Treaty" or "treaty" in Children's Books
Last week, I had a conversation with an educator who told me about conversations they'd had with teachers about Sign of the Beaver. Here on AICL we've had several posts about the book. I can't recall...
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Highly Recommended: POWWOW DAY by Traci Sorell
Powwow DayWritten by Traci Sorell (Cherokee)Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)Published in 2022Publisher: CharlesbridgeReviewed by Jean MendozaReview Status: Highly RecommendedPowwows are an...
View ArticleNot Recommended: The Little Indian Runner
Yikes! You know how you get a request and think you'll take care of it 'tomorrow' and then suddenly, time has passed and it sits, undone? Well, that is me today. Three years ago... No, let me say it...
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Stereotypes in Beverly Cleary's HENRY HUGGINS
A Native parent wrote to tell me that they were reading Henry Huggins aloud at home. They got to chapter four ("The Green Christmas) and read this: In September he had been Second Indian in a play for...
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"Presenter Self-identification Statement" at 2023 Tucson Festival of Books
Earlier this week within Native networks, I saw people sharing a link to a "Presenter Self-identification Statement" on the website for the 2023 Tucson Festival of Books. It says:The Tucson Festival of...
View ArticleDebbie--have you seen SWIFT ARROW by Josephine Cunnington Edwards?
Some time back, a reader wrote to ask if I had read Swift Arrow by Josephine Cunnington Edwards. It was published in 1997 by a publisher I was unfamiliar with: "TEACH Services." On their website is a...
View Article"Could he still use the youth edition of 'An Indigenous Peoples' History of...
The title of today's blog post is from an article in The Washington Post. It came out yesterday (March 6, 2023). Its title is 'Slavery was wrong' and 5 other things some educators won't teach anymore.'...
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Another New Cover for Frank Asch's POPCORN
Back on July 23, 2015, I wrote about Frank Asch's picture book, Popcorn. It came out in 1979 and is about Sam (a bear) who is having a Halloween party. It came out again in 2015 with marketing info...
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Highly Recommended: HEART BERRY BLING by Jenny Kay Dupuis; illustrated by Eva...
HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDHeart Berry BlingWritten by Jenny Kay Dupuis (Member of Nipissing First Nation)Illustrated by Eva Campbell (Not Native)Published in 2023Publisher: Highwater PressReviewer: Debbie...
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Highly Recommended: REMEMBER by Joy Harjo, illustrated by Michaela Goade
Remember Written by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation)Illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation)Published in 2023Publisher: Random HouseReviewer: Debbie ReeseReview Status: Highly Recommended****Look at...
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Highly Recommended! CONTENDERS: TWO NATIVE BASEBALL PLAYERS, ONE WORLD SERIES...
Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World SeriesWritten by Traci Sorell (Citizen of the Cherokee Nation)Illustrated by Arigon Starr (Enrolled Member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma)Published...
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NOT RECOMMENDED: "California Native American Tribes" series by Mary Null Boulé
If your library has a copy of one of the 26 books in the "California Native American Tribes" book series, get it off the shelf. Let's take a look at it. My hope is that you will see it ought to be...
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