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North American Indians (by Douglas Gorsline, Marie Gorsline)

common sense media says

Book lends itself to child-parent discussions.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, despite unexceptional writing, kids will pore over the colorful illustrations of everyday Native American life. The book lends itself to child-parent discussions, though it lacks a pronunciation guide.

Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
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More on North American Indians

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how Native Americans have been treated by the U.S. government throughout history, and note that the book was written before the term "Native American" became more commonly used/accepted than those like "Indian" and "American Indian." Talk about the different terms -- where did they come from? Why is it best to identify specific tribes when possible?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The media have led many American children to think of Native Americans as a single group. But in this honest portrayal of life in North America at the time of the first European colonization of the continent, the illustrations and text combine to help children understand that each tribe, with its own language, customs, and habits, was a separate culture.

 

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The Gorslines' narrative and illustrations make this a favorite of many children. Kids learn from the pictures and text that Native Americans usually were peace-loving and friendly, and that the lifestyles of different tribes were often vastly different. Primary school children may find the vocabulary too difficult to read, and even older kids may be challenged. Also, the book lacks a pronunciation guide for Native American names, making it difficult to know how to pronounce some words correctly.

But children will enjoy browsing or listening to this as a read-aloud. They probably will enjoy studying and trying Native American sign language, which was used to enable communication among tribes from different regions.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Douglas Gorsline, Marie Gorsline
Illustrator: Douglas Gorsline, Marie Gorsline
Publication date: January 1, 1978
Number of pages: 36
Paperback price: $3.25
This review was written by Wesley Sharpe
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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