Monday, May 15, 2017

Update on Kenneth Thomasma's books

Hello,

A friend pointed me to this blog regarding Kenneth Thomasma and his books about American Indian children.

https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2007/05/kenneth-thomasmas-books-casting-call-is.html

There is a long review of his books which point out a number of inconsistencies, problems with the stories, inaccuracies, and issues with a white man writing about Native Americans. The author of the review points out that only an American Indian can understand the mindset of an American Indian.

I would guess that this is true. Somehow I thought that Kenneth Thomasma WAS a Native American writing about his culture. In the responses to the review, some have said that Mr. Thomasma visited their schools and inspired them to write. He spoke enthusiastically about writing and creativity. Students were aware that the stories were fictional and were looking for a fun adventure story to read. Another commented that he had read the books as a child 20 years ago and is not too surprised that they have some questionable cultural content today.

I also understand that Swift Arrow – a well beloved book by Josephine Cunnington Edwards – has also been criticized for her portrayal of Native Americans.

Please read the review to help you know whether or not you want to include these books in your libraries.

Have a great week.

Audrey

Monday, May 8, 2017

Book Art ideas

Hello,

If you are weeding out your library, you might wonder what to do with the books you have weeded. I have given ideas in previous posts and you can check my blog for those ideas, but I have one more to add to the list today – Book Art.

I enjoy browsing around on Pinterest and have found some wonderful picture of exceptional art that people have created from old books. Many of them are quite intricate and not child friendly, but there are some ideas that children can do. What about using pages from a book for origami? You probably have folded old Reader’s Digest magazines into Christmas trees, but you can do that with a book, too. This site has a lot of great ideas. https://www.pinterest.com/explore/book-art/?lp=true

If you type in Book Art in an internet search, you will see images of ideas. I don’t know if I will do anything about it, but you might be exceptionally creative or have students who would just love to work with old books to create something wonderful.

Have a great week.

Audrey





Monday, May 1, 2017

Books by Kenneth Thomasma

Hello!

I don’t know why I haven’t discovered Kenneth Thomasma’s books before now, but for some reason I have missed them. Over the last few years, I have heard of this author from a parent or two, but I have just not been inclined to read even one of them. I have had a few children ask if we had any other books like Naya Nuki and were disappointed that we did not. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, a colleague came in and was just gushing over these books and ended saying that this particular title was the best children’s book she had ever read. Well, that brought me to attention. The BEST children’s book she’d ever read? She also said that she was ordering some for herself from the author, so I asked her to include the library in her order and get a set for us.

The books arrived last week and I began processing them. As I opened the cover of the first book, I realized that the books were autographed by Kenneth Thomasma. That was a lovely bonus. While working with the books, Naya Nuki was visible and a number of children commented through the afternoon as they walked by my desk how much they really liked that book. They were all from different grade levels and EVERY ONE OF THEM REALLY LIKED THE BOOK!

OK. I know when I am outnumbered. I will be reading the book.

If you aren’t already familiar with the story of Naya Nuki, it is about two young Shoshoni girls who were captured by a rival Indian tribe and forced to march 1000 miles from their home in Montana to North Dakota. Naya Nuki and her best friend, Sacajawea (Yes, THAT Sacajawea!) Sacajawea and Naya Nuki were separated and didn’t see very much of each other. Naya Nuki eventually escaped and traveled back to her home. Alone. For 1000 miles. What an amazing story!

Kenneth Thomasma has written other books as well. They are all about Native Americans and are historically accurate from what I’ve been told.

Thomasma’s titles are
1. Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran
2. Om-kas-toe: Blackfeet Twin Captures an Elkdog
3. Soun Tetoken: Nez Perce Boy Tames a Stallion
4. Kunu: Winnebago Boy Escapes
5. Pathki Nana: Kootenai Girl Solves a Mystery
6. Moho Wat: Sheepeater Boy Attempts a Rescue
7. Amee-nah: Zuni boy runs the Race of His Life
8. Doe Sia: Bannock Girl and the handcart Pioneers
9. Takini: Lakota Boy Alerts Sitting Bull
10. The Truth About Sacajawea – an accurate paraphrase of the Lewis and Clark journal accounts of the remarkable Shoshoni teenager who spent twenty-one months with the Corps of Discovery. The United States Mint used this book when it developed the new Sacajawea Golden Dollar coin.

If you already have some or all of these books, it might be time to dust them off and read them. If you don’t, it might be a good time to add them to your library.

Well, off to read my book.

Audrey