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Updates to Previous Posts about Vermont Groups that Claim to be Abenaki
On Feb 20, 2024 I shared a letter from Chief Rick O'Bomsawin, Abenaki of Odanak and Chief Michel R. Bernard, Abenaki of W8linak. In it, they asked educators in Vermont to stop making space for s...
Native Readers are gonna be PSYCHED to know Arigon Starr has a new SUPER INDIAN book for us all!
One of my most-dear memories is when I was working with a group of elementary-aged Native children in New Mexico and told them about Arigon Starr's Super Indian. At lunch time, one girl looked fo...
Facts in WE ARE STILL HERE: NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTHS EVERYONE... are characterized as being a "negative slant on white people"
Today (March 13, 2024) I read an article in The Gothamist that starts with this image: What you're looking at is a stack of twelve copies of Sorell and Lessac's We Are Still Here: Native A...
Leaders of Abenaki Nations request Educators stop making space for specific individuals in Vermont's "Abenaki" tribes
Update from Debbie on Feb 21: I edited the title of this blog and the second paragraph to more accurately reflect the request in the Odanak leader's letter. My initial emphasis was on books but t...
Highly Recommended: A GIRL CALLED ECHO OMNIBUS
A Girl Called Echo Omnibus Written by Katherena Vermette (Red River Metis) Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson (not Native); Colors by Donovan Yaciuk (not Native) Published in 2023 Publish...
News! Louise Erdrich's THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE will be available as an audiobook
As far as I know, there are no 'anniversary editions' of Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House. Today, a teacher wrote to me about the book. She's using it with her students. So--it is on my mind....
News: American Indian Library Association announced its 2024 Youth Literature Awards
Good morning, AICL readers! Yesterday (Jan 22, 2024) the American Library Association announced its annual book awards. Below a list of the winners of the American Indian Library Association's Yo...
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2024/01/news-american-indian-library.html
News! JUST LIKE GRANDMA written by Kim Rogers ...
Wonderful news! Yesterday on social media, Kim Rogers (enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes) told us that Just Like Grandma won the 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Award! Here's her scre...
New in 2024: Books by Native writers and illustrators
Last year (on Twitter) I did a thread of books by Native writers and illustrators slated for release in 2023. I'm going to do that list here. IMPORTANT: I have not read these books yet! If I do y...
About Native Women
Earlier this week I was at a holiday gathering in Washington DC. Across the room, I saw the Native woman who wrote one of my all-time favorite children's books: Sharice Davids. Her book, Sharice'...
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2023/12/about-native-women.html
AICL's Year In Review for 2023
AICL'S YEAR IN REVIEW: 2023 American Indians in Children's Literature is pleased to share our annual year-end list of books we want you to know about. We'd like multiple copies of them to be in...
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2023/11/aicls-year-in-review-for-2023.html
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving, by Chris Newell and Winona Nelson
If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving Written by Chris Newell (citizen of Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township) Illustrated by Winona Nelson (member of Leech Lake Band of Minnesot...
Debbie--have you seen ALONE by Megan E. Freeman?
A reader submitted a comment to my open letter to Kate DiCamillo about Island of the Blue Dolphins, asking if I've seen Alone by Megan E. Freeman. Freeman's book refers to Island of the B...
"Is Joseph Bruchac truly Abenaki?"
On September 30, 2023 the Times Union (a newspaper in New York), published a commentary titled "Is Joseph Bruchac truly Abenaki?" It is the latest in many items about him and the groups ...
NOT RECOMMENDED: "Native Americans Part 1" (a Video on PBS)
A reader wrote to ask me about a video on PBS, titled Native Americans, Part 1; 2nd Social Studies . I've loaded it and will watch and pause as I do to make notes here. The person in the vid...
A Remarkable Headline
Typically, AICL looks at books for young people. Today, I (Jean) am inspired to do something a little different: a close reading of a headline about a book for young people. Its origin is Alaska'...
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2023/09/a-remarkable-headline.html
Debbie--have you seen TREE IN THE TRAIL or PADDLE-TO-THE-SEA by Holling Clancy Holling?
Every once in awhile I get an email or comment asking if I've seen a book by Holling Clancy Holling. It might be Tree in the Trail (published in 1942) but more often, people ask about Paddle-to-...
A Storywalk Featuring Nancy Cooper's BIINDIGEN! AMIK SAYS WELCOME
In the past few months, I've done several blog posts about Native people or their books or art being part of what the public sees when they're out and about. I'm delighted to do another of those ...
A Request Regarding Records of Native Students at Boarding Schools
Those of you who follow Native news know that Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, launched an investigation into boarding schools for Native children. It included finding out how many schools...
It's Marcie Rendon!
Some time back I did a series of posts about Native illustrators whose work was being used in unusual ways -- like the city bus that features the work of Marlena Myles. Today on social media,...
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2023/08/its-marcie-rendon.html
Highly Recommended: ROCK YOUR MOCS, written by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
Rock Your Mocs Written by Laurel Goodluck Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight Published by Heartdrum Published in 2023 Reviewer: Debbie Reese Review Status: Highly Recommended Several yea...