CM Magazine: Native Nations of North America.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VIII Number 11 . . . . February 1, 2002

cover Native Homes. (Native Nations of North America).
Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2001.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.95 (pbk.), $24.95 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0463-7 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0371-1 (cl.).
Subject Heading:
Indians of North America-Dwellings-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11.

Review by Gail Hamilton.

*** /4

cover Life in a Longhouse Village. (Native Nations of North America).
Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2001.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.95 (pbk.), $24.95 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0462-9 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0370-3 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Iroquois Indians-Juvenile literature.
Longhouses-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11.

Review by Gail Hamilton.

*** /4

cover Life in a Plains Camp. (Native Nations of North America).
Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2001.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.95 (pbk.), $24.95 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0461-0 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0369-X (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Indians of North America-Great Plains-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11.

Review by Gail Hamilton.

*** /4

cover Nations of the Plains. (Native Nations of North America).
Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2001.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.95 (pbk.), $24.95 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0460-2 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0368-1 (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Indians of North America-Great Plains-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11.

Review by Gail Hamilton.

*** /4

exerpt:

A longhouse was the home of a clan, or extended family, whose members were related to a common female ancestor. Clans often carved their emblem, or symbol, over the front door to identify their home. The emblem was an animal such as a turtle or wolf. A clan was named after an animal that was important to the clan or lived in its homeland.

The lifestyles of North American indigenous peoples are featured in this four-volume series. In typical Kalman style, each book consists of 14 or 15 two-page chapters, plus an index and a glossary. Plenty of colour photographs, illustrations, maps and diagrams enhance the text.

Native Homes, the first title in the series, provides an overview of the different types of dwellings built by various groups across the continent. Climate and the availability of suitable building materials were the main determinants of the dwelling types. As well, there were often variations on a theme, one example being the tipi, which, depending on the location of its user group, could be covered with skins, grass or bark.

Both Life in a Longhouse Village and Life in a Plains Camp follow the same general pattern. These titles focus on family structure, marriage, the education of children, the division of labour and decision-making within the clan, and ceremonies and celebrations. The growing, preparation and cooking of food, building homes and making clothing and other useful items from natural materials are also featured. (In the title on the plains camp, the buffalo's importance is highlighted.)

Nations of the Plains focuses on the people's dependence on the buffalo and how the introduction of horses allowed the people to hunt the buffalo more easily and to relocate quickly should the need arise. A few paragraphs are devoted to each of several specific first nations groups. Finally, the book describes the changes, both positive and negative, brought about by the arrival of the fur traders and settlers and the building of the railroad.

Due to the nature of the subject matter, some information is bound to be repeated in each volume. Of the set, the "Life in..." titles contain more abundant, specific information that will be helpful to elementary students who are doing research.

Recommended.

Gail Hamilton is a teacher-librarian at Bird's Hill School in East St. Paul, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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