Post by Okwes on Feb 28, 2007 16:21:30 GMT -5
Native history, culture featured in book
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer
GALLUP — "D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet" would be a
welcome addition to any local elementary school library and classroom.
The children's book, written by Debbie and Michael Shoulders and
illustrated by noted Navajo artist Irving Toddy, is part of Sleeping
Bear Press' award-winning alphabet book series. Released earlier this
year, the book is particularly appropriate for local young readers, ages
four to 10.
"D is for Drum" features each letter of the alphabet with an
accompanying illustration by Toddy and two separate levels of text a
shorter and simpler rhyming text for beginning readers and a longer,
more explanatory text for upper elementary school-aged children. The
book offers readers a glimpse into the traditional history and culture
of many contemporary tribes in the United States and Canada - sometimes
through shared cultural items like bison, corn, drums, flutes, horses,
medicine pouches, rattles, and sometimes through tribe-specific topics
like the game of lacrosse from the Choctaws, the Chinook potlatch, Inuit
umiak boats, Yup'ik masks, and the Xai Xais tribe of British Columbia.
Native American culture of the Southwest is featured in "A" for Anasazi,
"J" for Jewelry, "K" for Kiva and Kachina, "W" for Weaving, and "Z" for
Zuni pottery.
"G" for Gold is the only entry that is out of sinc with the theme of the
book. All the other 25 letters are linked to native culture and the text
has a positive or neutral tone. The letter "G" is focused on non-native
people and has a decidedly negative tone, particularly in the shorter
text for the younger readers. The expanded text for older readers offers
a more balanced perspective on the positive and negative impact of
non-native people as if that complex subject can really be addressed in
paragraph of 106 words.
In spite of that flaw, the book is extensively researched and contains
much information for children who are interested in traditional Native
American culture.
Toddy's large, picture-book illustrations complement the text. Even
beginning readers who can't decipher the vocabulary in the short,
rhyming text will have much to look at and enjoy in Toddy's lavish,
detail-filled illustrations.
"D is for Drum," $16.95, is available through local book stores,
southwestern gift shops, and Internet book dealers. Southwestern
galleries that sell Toddy's paintings may also have autographed copies
of the book available for purchase.
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer
GALLUP — "D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet" would be a
welcome addition to any local elementary school library and classroom.
The children's book, written by Debbie and Michael Shoulders and
illustrated by noted Navajo artist Irving Toddy, is part of Sleeping
Bear Press' award-winning alphabet book series. Released earlier this
year, the book is particularly appropriate for local young readers, ages
four to 10.
"D is for Drum" features each letter of the alphabet with an
accompanying illustration by Toddy and two separate levels of text a
shorter and simpler rhyming text for beginning readers and a longer,
more explanatory text for upper elementary school-aged children. The
book offers readers a glimpse into the traditional history and culture
of many contemporary tribes in the United States and Canada - sometimes
through shared cultural items like bison, corn, drums, flutes, horses,
medicine pouches, rattles, and sometimes through tribe-specific topics
like the game of lacrosse from the Choctaws, the Chinook potlatch, Inuit
umiak boats, Yup'ik masks, and the Xai Xais tribe of British Columbia.
Native American culture of the Southwest is featured in "A" for Anasazi,
"J" for Jewelry, "K" for Kiva and Kachina, "W" for Weaving, and "Z" for
Zuni pottery.
"G" for Gold is the only entry that is out of sinc with the theme of the
book. All the other 25 letters are linked to native culture and the text
has a positive or neutral tone. The letter "G" is focused on non-native
people and has a decidedly negative tone, particularly in the shorter
text for the younger readers. The expanded text for older readers offers
a more balanced perspective on the positive and negative impact of
non-native people as if that complex subject can really be addressed in
paragraph of 106 words.
In spite of that flaw, the book is extensively researched and contains
much information for children who are interested in traditional Native
American culture.
Toddy's large, picture-book illustrations complement the text. Even
beginning readers who can't decipher the vocabulary in the short,
rhyming text will have much to look at and enjoy in Toddy's lavish,
detail-filled illustrations.
"D is for Drum," $16.95, is available through local book stores,
southwestern gift shops, and Internet book dealers. Southwestern
galleries that sell Toddy's paintings may also have autographed copies
of the book available for purchase.