Debbie Reese, a Nambe Pueblo Indian woman, has a website that can be very helpful to librarians. Along with book lists that recommend titles from board books to books for high school age that represent American Indians in a non-stereotypical light, she also offers additional helpful information. A recent
post she wrote is titled “Creating a Library Atmosphere that Welcomes American Indians.” Take some time to read it and look around her blog page, I hope you find something useful to you and your library.
I completely enjoyed
The Second Life of Abigail Walker by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Teased by the girls at school, Abigail (6
th grade) chooses to walk alone in the nearby field rather than join them again. Here she finds trees, a stream, and a boy, Anders, on the other side. Soon they are friends and she is involved in helping Anders’ father find information on all the animals Lewis & Clark saw on their famous trip. Ander’s father, Matt, is struggling to overcome his PTSD from serving in Iraq. Anders grandmother also lives with them and is a steady influence on Matt and on Abigail. Written for 4-6
th graders, this is a enjoyable tale of a girl who finds a way to help someone else, and by doing so, overcomes some of her own troubles.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
