April 1, 2015
K-Gr 2-Similar to Children's Press's "True Books" titles, this series offers the very basics. Each title is divided into about a dozen spreads, each of which focuses on a single subject (where a tribe lived, what it ate, gender roles, and so on). The verso contains the text while the recto features a captioned illustration. The text is rendered in a plain font and reads in short, declarative sentences. Occasional "Did You Know?" sidebars offer tidbits: "During stomp dances, women wore turtle shell rattles on their legs. Their movements helped set the beat." Unfortunately, for the most part, all of the important dates appear at the end of each title, so it is not immediately clear when these tribes first originated. Stunning, high-resolution photographs marry well with the text and make each title instantly attention-grabbing. VERDICT Simple and solid introductions.
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2015
These books give brief overviews of Native American nations, discussing their past and present territory, daily life, art and handicrafts, and spiritual beliefs. Famous (male) leaders of the past--e.g., Montezuma II, Chief Joseph, and Chief Temcumseh--are also highlighted. Choppy texts paired with contemporary and historic photos provide adequate introductory information. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series Timeline. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)