New York Public Library Amazing Native American History: A Book of Answers (New York Public Library Answer Books for Kids Series) [School & Library Binding]

Liz Sonneborn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: New York Public Library Answer Books for Kids Series

Discover how a game of lacrosse led to a victory for the Ojibwa tribe against the British, find out why the Menominees are called the wild rice people, and meet some of the great heroes of Native America, from Sequoyah and Sitting Bull to Pocahontas. Enjoy the holidays, foods, dances, and stories of these diverse peoples and find the answers to all your questions about Native American history....

Why did the Mound Builders build mounds? See page 14.

What was the Trail of Tears? See page 59.

Why didn't Montezuma attack Cortes' men? See page 27.

Who were the Navajo Code Talkers? See page 94.

What was the Alcatraz takeover? See page 107.

What was the Iroquois confederacy? See page 33.

Did all Inuit live in igloos? See page 131.

What were the Mayans' greatest scientific achievements? See page 21.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-Rather than a comprehensive study, this book addresses frequently asked questions about Native cultures. Chapters divide the various groups into geographical regions and the queries, different for each area, consider housing, language, famous people, and more. Readers will learn about Mesoamerican cultures, the Ghost Dance Ceremony, the Navajo Code Talkers, Native American life today, and other topics. Insets highlight items of special interest. Relevant facts are featured in bold in the wide margins. The final chapter, "Native Americans Today," provides some interesting contrasts and ideas. The format will appeal to many readers and will serve teachers well for quick facts and discussion points. Average-quality, black-and-white photographs and reproductions illustrate the text. This appealing exploration of cultures should spur interest in the subject.
Mary B. McCarthy, ACLIN/Colorado State Library, Denver
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

In a question-and-answer format, Sonnenborn introduces middle readers to the history of Native Americans. Organized by region but with a careful emphasis on tribal identity, the text focuses on individuals, customs, and events that shaped the world of American Indians, beginning with settlements over 12,000 years old and concluding with a chapter on contemporary Native Americans. Although the treatment of the topics is cursory, children will be absorbed by the discussion of such subjects as human sacrifice among the Maya, the Trail of Tears, and the military maneuverings of Chief Joseph and Sitting Bull. Black-and-white photos and drawings offer some visual interest, though their quality is uneven and there are a few peculiar selections. A glossary, a bibliography, and a suggested reading list are appended. Karen Hutt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 169 pages
• Publisher: San Val (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613263812
• ISBN-13: 978-0613263818
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,099,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of more than eighty nonfiction works for middle grade readers and young adults. I write on a wide variety of subjects, but my specialties include biography, women's history, ethnic studies, American Indian history and culture, African-American studies, and American popular culture. You can find out more about me and my books at www.lizsonneborn.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars To find the answers...First find the questions, June 20, 2000

By 

Sandra Sunderland - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New York Public Library Amazing Native American History: A Book of Answers for Kids (Paperback)

Sonneborn's book is a compilation of very brief answers to questions assumed to interest kids. The book's organization, however leaves much to be desired. The attempt to divide the material into sections on ancient Americans, contemporary Indians, and various indigenous cultural and geographical regions was apparently ignored by the author and information seems to pop up in unexpected spots. One finds material both on the nineteenth century leader Tecumseh and on the contemporary leader Ada Deer under the Northeast Woodlands section. The ancient skeletal remains of Kennewick man is found under the Contemporary Native Americans section and both Wounded Knee 1 which occurred in 1890 and Wounded Knee 2 which resulted from the AIM takover in 1973 are in the historical section, with AIM barely mentioned in the section on contemporary Indians. One must constantly check the index to be sure that the scattered material one is seeking has been read.

There is not even a vague sense of continuity and the material is so superficial that it serves little purpose. The book might be helpful for a student to peruse in order to select a topic for further research. It will not help much once the focus of the research has been determined.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A rather paternalistic viewpoint, December 26, 2006

By 

pwdogs (Winslow, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New York Public Library Amazing Native American History: A Book of Answers for Kids (Paperback)

I have mixed emotions about this book. It does include interesting information, but- at least in the section about the Hopi and other Pueblo people- it acts as though they are a dead culture. Everything is in the past tense. Furthermore, the author described ceremonies which should NOT be discussed in a book intended for children. Especially inappropriate was their discussion of the katsinvaki, which is an initiation ceremony for children. What? Do they think Hopi kids cannot read??? I suggest that the author read the book "Appropriated Pasts" by McNiven & Russell. It is in interesting consideration of how anthropology has been used by dominant cultures. It's too bad. This book has some good points, but I would certainly not carry it in our shop, which is in northeastern Arizona (Hopi country)!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun! -- For Kids and Adults, June 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The New York Public Library Amazing Native American History: A Book of Answers for Kids (Paperback)

I bought this book for my ten year old, who's going through an "Indian" phase. He loved it--it's full of fun facts, and it got him even more interested in Indians and their culture. (He's getting to be a real buff on the Cherokee.) More surprising, though, the book got me hooked. I had a great time reading it with Jeremy. The Q&A format lets you flip around, and each entry is short enough to read quickly, but long enough to contain plenty of information. The illustrations are also good. All and all, it's a terrific book to read with your kids.