Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America
Bibliography
Bruchac, J. 1997. MANY NATIONS: AN ALPHABET OF NATIVE AMERICA. Ill by Robert F. Goetzl. New York, NY: Bridgewater Books. ISBN 0816743894
Plot Summary
A collection of letters of the alphabet that represent different Native American groups utilizing nature’s gifts. From letters A through D different Native Americans groups celebrate different activities. Letters E and F celebrating animals in nature and letters G through Z also introducing Native Americans respecting and using nature.
Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)
MANY NATIONS: AN ALPHABET OF NATIVE AMERICA is a picture book for children that teach the letters of the alphabet, but also teaches about different Native American groups and their unique connection to nature. MANY NATIONS: AN ALPHABET OF NATIVE AMERICA doesn’t follow the common literary elements of a fiction book, but instead uses phonemic awareness elements to teach letter and sound connection. The reader can isolate the beginning phoneme to stress the sound of the letter. Therefore teaching phonemic awareness.
The author uses many Native American culture markers in this picture book. In the text, the author authentically recognizes many Native American groups. Native American groups like the Anishinabe, Blackfeet, Choctaw, Dakota, Goshute, Hopi, Iroquois, Jemez, Klallam, Lummi, Micmac, Navajo, Otoe, Penobscot, Quapaw, Rappahannock, Shinnecock, Tuscarora, Umpqua, Wampanoag, Yavapai and Zuni. Therefore the reader is able to learn the names of different Native American groups. Another culture marker in the text, are the activities that represent each Native American group. The author is able to authentically capture each Native American’s unique way to connect to all four aspects of nature, which are earth, wind, water and fire. For example, the Anshinabe use the trees to make birch bark bowls, the Iroquois plant trees and the Klallam use cedar trees to make canoes. The wind is utilized in the book as a way for the Hopi to listen. The water is used for the Lummi to gather clams, the Quapaw to build their villages and the Rappahannock to fish with their nets. In the book the fire is used by the Dakota to storytell and it is also used as a source of light.
Robert Goetzl is the illustrator of MANY NATIONS: AN ALPHABET OF NATIVE AMERICA. The technique that he utilized in the illustrations are colorful like paintings, which contain many authentic Native American culture markers. One of the Native American culture markers is the authentic clothing and accessories that is specifically connected to each Native American group. Because of the depictions of clothing, the reader is able to see the differences between each Native American group.
The depictions of the skin tone in the illustrations, is another Native American culture marker. Although Goetzl uses brown tones to depict the skin color, the facial features on the characters are different, which add to the richness of the Native American groups.
Another Native American culture marker that Goetzl utilizes are the illustrations of the environment and shelter. For each of the Native American groups used in the book, the environment and shelter is connected to that specific group. For example, the illustration of the Anishinabe is surrounded by forest and the shelter is a wigwam, which is consistent with the Anishinabe group in that time period. Also the illustration of the Jemez Pueblo environment and shelter is also consistent with that group and its shelter of that time period. The Jemez Pueblo of that time period made adobe homes in the North central part of New Mexico. For a more contemporary glimpse, Goetzl uses illustrations of the Navajo. The illustrations depict the Navajo with modern clothing, but still in their region of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. This was a great way for Goetzl to include a glimpse of a Native American group of modern times. Therefore the reader concludes that Native American groups are still part of the United States.
Overall this picture book authentically portrays different Native American groups of history as well as Native Americans of today. It is a great book to teach the alphabet to emergent readers. It is important to state that the author does include an author’s note at the end of the book, in which Bruchac explains the intentions of the book.
Review Excerpts
International Reading Association Teacher's Choice Award
Connections
A is for Arizona: A Grand Canyon State ABC Primer by Trish Madson
Teachers and Librarians are able to use this book to teach the alphabet, as well as introduce Native American groups.
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