A Kid's Guide to Native American History: More Than 50 Activities by authors Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder is part teacher resource and part student activity book for elementary students interested in understanding Native American history and culture through meaningful activities. Beginning with a broad overview of the nine cultural regions the book presents historical and present-day information about the Mohawk in the Northeast, Ojibway in the Midwest, Shoshone in the Great Basin, Apache in the Southwest, the Miwok of California, the Gros Ventre of the Plains, Yupik in Alaska, and Native Hawaiians. Each cultural region has information about the Nations in the region, their history, location, important people from the region, and several activities. The activities are clearly explained and the authors are careful not to include stereotypical or playing Indian type of games, recipes or art. For example in the Northwest region the activities include: making a corn husk doll; make a family thank you list; fashion a Penobscot basket; play Waltes, a Mi'kmaq dice game; make a stewed cranberry dish; cook succotash; create a Delaware storyteller bag; and design a Delaware gorget. The book includes a timeline, glossary of terms, an index, maps, and a reading list. Recommended.
