Native American Encyclopedia Abalone Shells to Bone Artifacts

August 1, 2009
Gr 3-6-In this colorful, easy-to-use overview, one to seven topics as broad as "Musical instruments" and "California Indians" and as specific as "Jingle dress" and "Raven" are described per spread. Major subjects such as "Algonquian" are allotted about a page and a half each. Biographies of important figures both historical (Chief Seattle, Cherokee leader Nancy Ward) and modern (author Sherman Alexie, nuclear physicist Fred Begay) are included; some are difficult to find elsewhere for this age group. Boxes defining one or two important words appear on alternating pages. Volume 10 contains a visual time line of world events from 40,000 B.C.E. to 2007 and instructions for 11 easy projects, which are so general that they seem almost an afterthought. The plentiful and attractive illustrations feature maps, charts, and color and black-and-white photographs and paintings, including some by historically important artists such as Karl Bodner and Edward S. Curtis. Overall, this attractive set stands alone as one of the only resources of its kind for its age group."Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library"

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