SOLVED. Children’s series about Native American children/ tribes. Read late 1970s. [s]

[Erin]

This was a children’s book series I would get from the library in the late 70s. The main character of each book was a child from a Native American tribe and the reader would learn about the traditions of a particular tribe through the child’s story. I think each book was about a different tribe.

[Rainbowheart]

Were these picture books or novels?

About how many books were in the series?

Did it seem like they were published in the '70s, or older than that?

[Erin]

Novels. They were probably targeted at late elementary to middle school age. They could’ve been published in the 70s, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find if they were from the 60s or even the 50s.

[Erin]

I also can’t remember if they were supposed to be about the childhood of real life well-known native Americans, or if the characters were totally fictional.

[Rainbowheart]

The Childhood of Famous Americans series had some Native Americans included, but the series was not based on them exclusively.



Do these look familiar at all?

[Erin]

I read those too, but they are not the ones I’m thinking of. I have a vague idea that the covers might have looked similar. I tried googling if the publisher of the Childhood of Famous Americans books published anything like what I’m thinking of, but didn’t come up with anything.

[Rainbowheart]

Do you remember some of the specific tribes that were included?

Any incidents from a particular book? Sometimes even the smallest detail can help!

[Erin]

I definitely remember a book about the Sioux (I think would be Lakota now but they weren't into very aware of being culturally sensitive back then!) And I think one about a Crow child.

There was a description of one girl having a brother who was a young warrior going through a ritual that I now know is called the Sun Dance, I don't remember if they used that term in the book but part of it when the men are skewered through part of the chest and attached to a pole and they have to dance for a long time.

[Rainbowheart]

Eeek, that sounds memorable!

I keep thinking of The Indian Book which also had gruesome stories, but it's just a single volume. It was also pubbed in 1980. You definitely read your series 1979 or before?

[Erin]

Yes, definitely pre 1980. Also I’m 99% sure it was a series of books, not just one.

[Rainbowheart]

Maybe this series by Sonia Bleeker?

Sioux Indians and Crow Indians were both included.

[Erin]

Wow, you rock! I think those are probably it!

[Rainbowheart]

Oh, awesome, super glad those were the right ones!

Sioux Indians does have a very gruesome story about the Sun Dance.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Erin, you need to unprivate your profile in order to use this group. Mods can't see all your threads with a private profile.