The Sioux

August 30, 1993
The focus of these handsomely illustrated titles in the First Americans series is on the history, beliefs and daily life of the Sioux and the Navajos during the 18th century in, respectively, the northern Plains and the open expanses of what is now New Mexico and Arizona. Necessarily simplifying the tribes' stories for her young audience, the author includes age-appropriate information about children's activities and responsibilities, as well as descriptions of each nation's housing, livelihood, social and cultural activities, and key rituals and ceremonies. Curiously, although Sneve spent her childhood on the Rosebud Sioux reservation, her accounts of this tribe's confrontations with white settlers and U.S. troops, and of the lives of the Sioux today, are much less substantive than those in The Navajos . In fact, her one-page description of ``The Sioux Today'' reveals nothing about their status except how some Sioux live on reservations and many ``live in cities and towns and still treasure their Sioux heritage.'' Still, with the significant contribution of Himler's striking oil paintings, these books provide colorful sketches of two intriguing tribes. Ages 8-11.

November 1, 2024

Gr 2-6-Sneve (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) shares facets of the past and present of the Sioux. In this republication of a 1993 volume that has been updated considerably, the information in the body of the book and additional resources in the back matter reflect evolving sensitivity toward First Nations peoples. Divided into eight sections, the book begins with Creation Story, including sections about Village Life, The Circle of Life, In Battle, and the Sioux Today. The volume explains the different tribes of the Sioux and details their relationships with the land, traditions, rituals, and the roles of different members. The author describes encounters with non-Indigenous people by speaking directly about the impacts of these interactions on the Sioux. Himler's painterly illustrations are gently textured and bring forward the realistic details of the telling; these work in harmony with the text to create powerful spreads. The additional resources in the back make this good for research or the curious. VERDICT A valuable republication of a book that presents the Sioux to young readers.-Sarah Pousty

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 1993
Gr 3-6-These two books are the first titles in another series about Native Americans, presented in a picture-book format. Sneve offers brief comments on the two tribes in question. Generally cultural in emphasis, each title features an abridged origin story, an explanation of how the people got where they were at the time of contact, their first interactions with whites, family and village life, religion and ceremonies, battles, and lives today. Illustrations are soft, indistinct watercolors that provide little additional or supporting information. Also, the montage of people in the "today" section features historical as well as contemporary figures, confusing the past and present. The tribal "New True" books (Childrens) provide a lot more information.-Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA

January 1, 1993
Tersely stated text sketches bits of the history, beliefs, and daily life of each nation, while Himler's pleasant, expressionistic scenes suggest the setting and cultural ambiance. The thin volumes provide an attractive, quick introduction. Ind.

(Copyright 1993 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 15, 1993
%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title "The Navajos." %% Ages 5-8. These first books in the First Americans Book series begin with a creation story from the spotlighted tribe's oral tradition and then place the tribe in a historical and a geographical context. Descriptions of daily life, family relations, and warfare with neighboring tribes provide a foundation for the subsequent discussion of conflicts with settlers and the U.S. government. A brief explanation of contemporary life is followed by an excerpt from a song or by a ceremonial recitation, and quotations from tribal members introduce many of the sections. "The Sioux" includes a chart that shows the major groups within each of the tribe's three divisions: the Dakota, the Lakota, and the Nakota. Himler's paintings enliven the mater-of-fact text, showing everyday activities and the countryside in which each tribe lives, as well as the drama of a forced migration or a buffalo hunt. Because the texts are rather brief, teachers and librarians will need to have more comprehensive works on hand to answer questions and provide additional material for interested students, but these are still excellent introductions, with a tribal focus that clarifies the unique characteristics and beliefs of each group. ((Reviewed Dec. 15, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)