[CALIBK12] Book Ideas Needed - BE CAREFUL USING FICTION AS "FACT!"

Sat Mar 15 18:32:29 PDT 2008

Hello everyone,

I would recommend caution in relying on "Native American facts" you find in
books written by English (as in UK) authors like Lynne Reid Banks. 

In fact, I would be cautious in relying on ANY fiction book for "facts."
Although I have great regard for many of the authors who write historical
fiction (or, in the case of Indian in the Cupboard, fantasy), it doesn't
mean that they have ACCURATELY portrayed all aspects of what they write on.
SOME of the material may be accurate, but not necessarily all. In the case
of "Indian in the Cupboard" the Indian is portrayed as a rather
stereotypical grunting "Injun" and the series has provoked negative comments
from Native American groups.

This may come as a surprise to many of us, but not all authors anticipate
that teachers will use their books in the classroom "to teach from." Those
of you who (like myself) have been also monitoring the Children's Lit
Listserv will recall recently that several well-known authors specifically
stated that they DO NOT write their fiction books to be used to "learn"
(factual information)from - they write them for the literary enjoyment of
their readers and their own pleasure of creating a story. Therefore, they
may not have researched or checked all their historical background or
cultural occurrences for accuracy. They may not have checked any! It may be
completely based on their own imagination or personal preconception! (or
perhaps even a political preconception). Please don't presume that they have
checked all the "facts" unless you know it to be so. Just because something
is a classic or a Newbery winner does NOT mean it is historically or
culturally accurate. Just because another teacher has come up with a lesson
plan or theme packet - "whatever" - even if it is something copyrighted and
purchased, it does not mean it has been checked for accuracy/authenticity.
Do a little research on the book or materials and find out if possible. If a
teacher reads aloud a book and relies on the text to "teach" about (for
example) Native American customs, that teacher might be very wrong. Whether
it makes a great difference in the long run in the student's memory
(sometimes I wonder if they remember anything, or if they even understand
it!) I don't know, but just on principle, teachers should not rely on
fiction materials to teach "facts" straight from the pages. 

Note: I am NOT stating that I endorse Oyate or agree with everything that
Debbie Reese states on her website (I don't!), but I would still probably
run any title by their comments and then evaluate if their
comments/complaints merit consideration, especially when acquiring titles
for the library collection. For older students that information might make a
good discussion - just because an author portrays a person of ethnic
background in stereotypical fashion, would we then think of or treat a REAL
person of that ethnicity accordingly? Or presume that they are like or act
like the character in a book? 

Joanne Ladewig  (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Library Media Tech
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
Garden Grove, California
shatz at verizon.net

Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD

-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff Vogt
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 3:47 PM
To: Liana Smith; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Book Ideas Needed

Actually "Indian in the Cupboard" has lots of Native American facts and
information contained in there.  Another title to look up would "Sign of the
Beaver".
----------------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:57:53 -0700
> From: SmithLiana at dublin.k12.ca.us
> To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
> Subject: [CALIBK12] Book Ideas Needed
> 
> One of my teachers wrote:
> 
> I am wanting to choose a new chapter book to read and would like to go the
Native American route but do not want to read Squanto or Stone Fox because I
don't want my 2nd graders to hear it again if they get Chanel next year.
Do you have any suggestions of other Native American chapter books for 2/3
that are good?  I know Indian in the Cupboard but I haven't read that in
years and am pretty sure there isn't much Native American information.  More
toys battling if I remember.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> 
> Liana de Wit-Smith
> Fallon School (K-8) Library Media Technician
> 3601 Kohnen Way
> Dublin, CA 94568
> (925) 875-9376 ext.6308
> http://www.dublin.k12.ca.us/Fms/index.htm
> "What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels
about education"
> 
> ~ Harold Howe, former Secretary of Education
> 
> 
> 
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