Links: Faculty's Choice: Linda Salem, SDSU Children's Literature Librarian

Resources that Promote Accuracy and Authenticity in Children's Literature about North American Indians

Children's literature about American Indians is often used to teach environmental lessons. In recent years, many resources have been created to promote the use of children's books that accurately portray American Indian cultures and history. Here are a few examples.

• Hirschfelder, A., Molin, P. F., & Wakim, Y. (1999). American Indian stereotypes in the world of children. A reader and bibliography. 2nd edition. Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.


• Kuipers, B. J. (1991). American Indian reference books for children and young adults. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.


• Lenz, M. (1996). Mythologizing Chief Seattle: Susan Jeffers' Brother Eagle, Sister Sky or How to make a myth in ten easy steps. The Children's Folklore Review. 126, 3-11.


• Oyate http://www.oyate.com - An organization devoted to promoting the publication and use of materials for children that depict accurate and authentic images, stories, and histories of Native people.


• Slapin, B. and Seale, D. (Eds.). (1992). Through Indian eyes. The native experience in books for children. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers. 1992.


• Slapin, B., Seale, D., and Gonzales, R. (1992). How to tell the difference. A Checklist for Evaluating Children's Books for Anti-Indian Bias. PA: New Society Publishers.


• Stewart, M. P. (2002). Judging authors by the color of their skin? Quality Native American children's literature. MELUS. 27 (2002): 179-196.


• For SDSU Library Books for Children about North American Indians, search the Catalog (the PAC) at http://libpac.sdsu.edu by LC Subject Heading: Indians of North America - Juvenile Literature

February 2004