Wilma Mankiller

Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan

In this volume in the "Native American Stories" series, we are introduced to the Cherokee leader, Wilma Mankiller, who made history in 1985 when she became the first woman Principal Chief of the Oklahoma Cherokee. The brief biography begins with some background information on Cherokee history and culture. It then goes on to describe Wilma's childhood, family, education and some of her personal life, before presenting her more recent accomplishments which include working to find jobs, improve education, and preserve traditions while still preparing the Oklahoma Cherokee to meet the challenges of the future. The simple text and picture book format with many color pictures should help the book appeal to a wide age range. A time line of Mankiller's life is included.