North American Indians - Hardcover

Grade 5 Up. Viola presents an overview of Native American societies divided into standard cultural areas of North America. Each chapter opens with a mediocre two-page color painting depicting typical traditional housing and village life. This is followed by a map of the region that shows the prominent tribes found there. A description of the traditional culture of one representative tribe and its type of housing make up the bulk of the chapter?the southeast (Cherokee), southwest (Zuni), west (Chumash), northeast (Iroquois), northwest (Haida), plains (Sioux), subarctic (Athapaskan), and arctic (Inuit). Each chapter has a historical sidebar describing a major event in Indian-white relations, and some conclude with an essay by a contemporary member of that tribe. An illuminating afterword by Gros Ventre historian George P. Horse Capture and a too-brief and poorly executed time line conclude the book. A glossary gives a brief description of each of the tribes mentioned. A thorough index rounds out the text. Full-color illustrations consist of paintings and mostly well-chosen photographs. However, generally factual information is marred by stereotypical phrases and inaccurate statements such as "The Iroquois were very warlike" and "As a result of the Revolution, the Iroquois Confederacy disintegrated."?Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

While this was intended for kids ages 9 and up, it should not be limited to this age range: many an adult will be fascinated with this introduction to Native American life and history, with its tips on how to understand a totem pole, how to build an igloo, and the contemporary lives of Native Americans. The wealth of photos makes for a fine coverage designed to appeal to all ages, and recommended for the entire family. -- Midwest Book Review