The Seminole (First Reports)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Adding to the list of well-meaning but flawed tribal profiles that are the status quo in children's literature, these volumes provide mostly accurate information but with many of the same old problems. Cherokee is generally the stronger of the two, doing a better job of connecting past history to current reality and presenting a more candid discussion of mistreatment by the U.S. government, though both titles minimize or ignore the problems with France, Spain, and England prior to 1776. They also use photos of people in powwow regalia without specifying that such outfits, at best, only partially reflect the traditional clothing of the featured cultures. Press writes three times in Cherokee that Sequoyah "worked out" the 85-symbol Cherokee syllabary instead of simply stating that he invented it, while in Seminole she presents a map of the Seminole Wars 13 pages away from the pertinent text. Although some glossary definitions are unhelpful, the other end matter is useful in both volumes, including "At a Glance" facts, "Important Dates," and lists of resources: "At the Library" (books only), "On the Web," "Through the Mail," and "On the Road" (museums to visit). Large, full-color photos appear on every page. These books have more information for a similar age group than the "True Books" series (Children's). The "Native American People" series (Rourke) and Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's "First Americans" series (Holiday) are useful beginning around third grade, with the "First Americans" being the only ones written by a native author.-Sean George, St. Charles Parish Library, Luling, LA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.