Native Americans

Children's Literature - Kristin Harris

Thousands of years ago, hunters came to North America from Asia. They adapted to the land as they migrated south. These settlers lived in family and language groups known as tribes. They had many things in common, although they made many different kinds of objects. The peoples of the Southeast were farmers, making masks and clothing out of bark. The Native Americans of the Southwest were skilled at weaving and making jewelry. The women of the Great Plains tribes created elaborate quillwork. The peoples of the Northwest were highly evolved wood carvers, making totem poles and masks. The woodland people from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi were known for their baskets and beadwork. Four craft activities mimic the arts of these cultures. A false-face mask of the Iroquois is made from cardboard and paper pulp. A totem pole is made from a number of boxes. A feather headdress is made of feathers and felt. There is a disjointed flow to the text as it jumps from culture to culture and art form to art form. The illustrations are informative, but not inspiring.