Medicine and Health (American Indian Contributions to the World) - Hardcover

Emory Dean Keoke is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He received a B.A. in Indian studies and a B.S. in nursing and has worked as a multicultural relations and communications consultant. Kay Marie Porterfield is a writer with more than 20 years of experience. She received a B.A. in English and a B.S. in counseling. She is the author of 12 books, has worked as a reporter for Indian Country Today, and is the winner of a 1996 South Dakota Press Association Award and the recipient of a 2003 Artist Fellowship Award in creative nonfiction.

Grade 5-8–After the clear success of their Encyclopedia of American Indian Contributions to the World (Facts On File, 2001), Keoke and Porterfield use a slightly different approach to bring similar content to younger readers. As one might expect, there is less depth and detail in this presentation of the various discoveries and accomplishments of peoples on the North and South American continents, presumably due to the younger focus. These volumes use a combination of topical and geographical organization, which results in some repetition. Each book contains 9 or 10 chapters on such topics as "Weapons and Armor," "Food Preservation and Storage," and "Writing," covering a number of tribes and a range of years. Sidebars and average-quality, black-and-white photos and reproductions appear throughout the volumes. It is unfortunate that the lists of cultural contributions (indexed by tribe, geographical area, and subject) included in the earlier title were omitted. The comprehensive chronology, additional maps, general glossary, and documentation found throughout the Encyclopedia have also been omitted. However, these titles provide excellent information that will counteract the stereotypes of Native Americans still found in some books. For younger students this series is a good choice, but middle grade students would benefit from the Encyclopedia as well.–Sean George, Memphis-Shelby County Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, TN
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