Angelou, Maya. Kofi and His Magic. Clarkson Potter, New York (1996). A close-up look at Ghanian culture through the eyes of a child. Contains beautiful photo illustrations of the region, its inhabitants, and overall culture. A great resource during discussions about the lifestyles of specific African people.
___________. My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me. Clarkson, Potter, New York (1990). Highlights the Ndbele people of South Africa and their culture past and present. Contains impressive photos. A great resource during discussions about the lifestyles of specific African people.
Dayrell, Elphinstone. Why The Sun and The Moon Live in The Sky: A Nigerian Folktale. Scholastic (1968). A beautifully retold Nigerian pourquoi tale accompanied by illustrations reflective of the artistic style of many African cultures.
*Handy resources should actual masks, sculptures, and artifacts be unavailable for show and tell.
Dominic, Gloria. Brave Bear and the Ghosts. Troll Books, New York (1996). An adapted and retold Sioux legend that speaks of a brave warrior who conquers fear by outwitting four apparitions. Provides brief background data on the Sioux and their culture. Terrific for use in October.
Cohlene, Terri. Turquoise Boy: A Navajo Legend. Watermill Press, New York (1990). A retold Navajo legend in which Turquoise Boy is in search of something to help make the life of his desert-dwelling people easier. Highlights the history and customs of the Navajo.
____________. Little Firefly: An Algonquin Legend. Watermill Press, New York (1990). A retold legend of a young girl, badly mistreated by her sisters, who becomes the bride of a great hunter called The Invisible One. Highlights history and customs of the Algonquin people.
____________. The Quillworker: A Cheyenne Legend. Watermill Press. New York (1990). This retold legend explains the origin of Polaris and the Big Dipper. Accompanied by a brief history of the Cheyenne and their culture.
____________. Ka-ha-si and the Loon: An Eskimo Legend. Watermill Press, New York (1990). Retells the legend of a folkloric hero, Ka-ha-si, who acquires great strength and bravery and rescues his people in times of danger. Highlights the lifestyle and customs of the original inhabitants of the Arctic and Subartic regions.
____________. Dancing Drum: A Cherokee Legend. Watermill Press, New York (1990). A retold version of how a little boy, Dancing Drum, urges and successfully convinces Grandmother Sun to smile on his people, who suffered from a severe drought. Highlights the history, lifestyle, and customs of the Cherokee people.
Feelings, Muriel. Moja Means One. Dial Books for Young Readers, New York (1971). Introduces numbers from 1 to 10 in Swahili, an African language spoken in parts of Africa. Takes a glimpse at African culture. Beautiful illustrations by Tom Feelings.
____________. Jambo Means Hello. Dial Press, New York (1974). Introduces Swahili words widely used in parts of Africa that depict African culture and lifestyles. Another work beautifully illustrated by Tom Feelings.
Gerson, Mary Joan. Why The Sky Is Far Away. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, Toronto, London (1992). A Nigerian pourquoi folktale that beautifully explains why the heavens are so far away from the earth.
Hru, Dakari. Joshua’s Masai Mask. Lee and Low Books, New York (1991). A magical contemporary tale that reveals people sometimes wear masks to hide their inner self or undesired experiences. Encourages children to be themselves.
Martin, Rafe. The Rough Face Girl. Scholastic, Inc. New York (1992). Another popular retold version of the Algonquin legend of a young girl, badly mistreated by her two older sisters, who becomes the bride of a great hunter called The Invisible Being. Accompanied by spellbinding illustrations and an extra visual surprise!
Musgrove, Margaret. Ashanti to Zulu. Dial Books for Young Readers, New York (1976). Beautifully illustrated by Leo and Dianne Dillon. Provides a brief background on African traditions that have been handed down through endless generations.
Newton-Chocolate, Deborah. Talk, Talk: An Asante Legend (A Retold Version). Troll Associates, New York (1994). A catchy folktale that demonstrates the Asante’s belief that everything has a living spirit and that these spirits influence events in our lives.
____________. Spider and the Sky God: An Akan Legend (A Retold Version). Troll Associates (1993). A wonderful trickster tale of Kwaku Anansi and how he outsmarts the sky god to become Africa’s greatest weaver of stories.
Shemie, Bonnie. Houses of Hide and Earth: Native Dwellings, Plains Indians. Tundra Books, Canada (1991). Presents several types of homes used by Native Americans residing in the Plains Region of North America.
____________. Houses of Snow, Skin and Bones: The Far North. Tundra Books, Canada (1992). Highlights several types of homes used by Native Americans residing in the Arctic and Subartic regions.
____________. Houses of Bark: The Eastern Woodlands. Tundra Books, Canada (1993). Highlights several types of homes used by Native Americans who resided in North America’s eastern woodlands.
____________. Houses of Wood: The Northwest Coast. Tundra Books, Canada (1994). Presents several types of homes used by the original inhabitants of the northwestern coast of North America.
____________. Mounds of Earth and Shell: The Southeast. Tundra Books, Canada (1995). Highlights several types of homes used by Native Americans residing in the southeast region of North America.
Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: A South African Tale. Scholastic Inc., New York (1992). A beautifully illustrated folktale displaying South African (Zimbabwe) culture. Gives children a feel for how lessons in morality are conveyed through the African griot (storyteller).
Writing Process Resources
McCormick-Calkins, Lucy. The Art of Teaching Writing. Teachers College/Columbia University, Heinemann Press, Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1986)
Kirkland-Mullins, Waltrina. Celebrate A People. American Children’s Literature Curriculum Units by Fellows of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, Volume II, New Haven (1997)
Photo Resources
____
YNHTI photo resources, parenthetically noted as YNHTI Resources A through O in this curriculum unit, are available for use and return at the Yale-New Haven Teachers’ Institute. The following resources are contained therein:
YNHTI Resources A, B, and C
|
Cheyenne, Blackfeet, and Comanche people.
|
YNHTI Resource D
|
|
Tipis.
|
YNHTI Resource E
|
|
A Navajo mandala.
|
YNHTI Resources F, G, H, I, and J
|
Assorted masks by Native Americans of the northwestern region.
|
YNHTI Resource K
|
|
Cherokee booger mask.
|
YNHTI Resources L and M
|
|
Yup’ik masks.
|
YNHTI Resource N and O
|
|
Ghanian masks.
|
The Indigena Fine Art Publishers, Ltd. has a selection of photos and postcards depicting Native American life throughout North America. Obtaining permission to photocopy these cards is difficult and time consuming, as Indegena holds copyrights to the photos along with other historical societies in the Northwestern region of the United States. Indigena, however, upon request will make photos and postcards of Native American people, their artifacts, and culture available to teachers for classroom use on a complimentary basis. Simply write and specify the indigenous group on which you desire to obtain information. Contact the company by writing to Indigena Fine Art Publishers, Ltd., Post Office Box 13222, Tucson, AZ 85732-13222, calling toll free at (800) 858-7445, or faxing your request to Indigena at (520) 721-2105.
Recommended Summer Excursions
The American Museum of Natural History
New York City
(212) 769-5100
The Peabody Museum at Whitney AvenueNew Haven, Connecticut
(203) 432-5050
The Smithsonian Institute:
Museum of African Art
Washington, DC
(202) 357-2700
National Museum of the American Indian
The Heye Center at 1 Bowling Green
New York City
(212) 357-1387
Yale Art Gallery
(African Art is currently on display.)
(203) 432-0600