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Sleeping Bear Alphabets
D Is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet
Most primary schools mandate daily reading time. Is your classroom or media center equipped to handle the varied and growing needs of students from kindergarten through fifth grade?
Sleeping Bear Press titles deliver a variety of two-tiered text and grade-appropriate titles covering a wide array of cross-curricular and specialized subjects:
- Books covering animals, holidays and sports are great support for specialized learning units
- Sleeping Bear's acclaimed "legends" support nonfiction reading in areas of folklore and state history
- Our K-3 volumes set younger children on the path to literacy with fun and informative books perfect for story-time, reading practice and vocabulary development
- For more developed readers in grades 4 and 5, Sleeping Bear titles deliver age-appropriate and throught-provoking stories sure to become classroom favorites
- Finally, our language arts titles are designed to put a smile on the face of any child who enjoys wordplay; also ideal for ESL/ELL students
Sleeping Bear Press titles deliver a variety of two-tiered text and grade-appropriate titles covering a wide array of cross-curricular and specialized subjects:
- Books covering animals, holidays and sports are great support for specialized learning units
- Sleeping Bear's acclaimed "legends" support nonfiction reading in areas of folklore and state history
- Our K-3 volumes set younger children on the path to literacy with fun and informative books perfect for story-time, reading practice and vocabulary development
- For more developed readers in grades 4 and 5, Sleeping Bear titles deliver age-appropriate and throught-provoking stories sure to become classroom favorites
- Finally, our language arts titles are designed to put a smile on the face of any child who enjoys wordplay; also ideal for ESL/ELL students
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 4, 2013
As a Pueblo Indian woman, I immediately recognized that the people on the cover of this book are meant to be Pueblo Indians. The illustration, however, is an incorrect portrayal of how we do that particular dance. There are additional problems with this book...
Details here:
http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
Details here:
http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
November 14, 2018
Such a great read!
Love the layout of this book. Simple rhythms for younger children, but other passages that go more in depth on each topic.
This would be great for homeschoolers and classrooms alike!
Love the layout of this book. Simple rhythms for younger children, but other passages that go more in depth on each topic.
This would be great for homeschoolers and classrooms alike!
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December 10, 2016D is for Drum is an alphabet which discusses some element of Native American culture for each letter. It also includes lovely illustrations to go with each entry. This work is a multi-genre text, including poetry, informational prose, and alphabetical entries like in a reference text. It establishes the relationship that can exist with our own cultures. However, it should not be used as a reliable source when doing research as not everything is completely accurate, and it uses blanket statements to classify all Native Americans instead of focusing on a particular tribe. This children’s book would serve as a mentor text as students explore their own culture. Keep in mind that one’s culture can be more than just race and ethnicity. Culture is anything that has an impact on who you are. Students would use Kelly Gallagher’s “Encyclopedia of Ordinary Life” strategy to organize ideas and create a representation of the various cultures in their lives. They would also be welcome to mimic the structure of D is for Drum by making each entry a four line poem.
November 18, 2011
A respectfully-done, well-written, thoroughly vetted book about various tribes throughout North America.
June 18, 2017
This book uses the alphabet to describe different parts of the Native American cultures. Each page has a different alphabet letter in a poem describing something about the culture. On the side of each page, it talks about the word that used the alphabet letter in further detail.
I liked the way this book used an alphabet letter to introduce a word from the culture and then went more into detail on the side of the page. If this book was used in a classroom, it would work perfectly for older children. For younger children, as a teacher, it would probably work better to pick and choose the information out of the side writing that you wanted to share so that you didn't lose the children's interest
(Multi-cultural)
I liked the way this book used an alphabet letter to introduce a word from the culture and then went more into detail on the side of the page. If this book was used in a classroom, it would work perfectly for older children. For younger children, as a teacher, it would probably work better to pick and choose the information out of the side writing that you wanted to share so that you didn't lose the children's interest
(Multi-cultural)
March 23, 2020
love drums, love learning. great illustrations.
January 1, 2025
Way more informative than expected!This goes beyond just a simple alphabet book, there's lots of diverse information suitable for all ages.
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November 29, 2010This alphabet book contains four line poems for each letter as well as a few paragraphs of detailed informational text on the side of the page. Each letter discusses an aspect of Native American culture. Oyate (a Native organization) put this book on their “Books to Avoid” list for containing a “mishmash of Indian cultural snippets” and “boring yet confusing ‘informational’ text” (www.oyate.com). I found this book intriguing and on the contrary, thought it did a good job of discussing different Native tribes throughout the text. The informational paragraphs in the side panels discuss how these tribes used to be, and on a few instances how they are now. I also thought that this book was suitable for the text set because Toddy, the illustrator, is known worldwide as an “important contemporary Navajo painter” (www.bluedegree.gallery.com). Oyate commented, “Toddy’s artwork, for the most part, is better than the text. But most of the faces lack individuality and bodies are distorted.” I originally thought this book was an excellent choice, however after reading this review I am conflicted. The founders of the Native organization, Oyate, have obviously been offended in some way by this book. I included this in my text set for now, because I still find value in reading aloud and discussing the concepts mentioned in this book.
December 7, 2012
This is one of my favorite books I've read this year! Although it is meant for K-5, it is still a great way to learn a few things about Native Americans.
Summary: This book talks about different things that start with each letter of the alphabet (A-Z), like a particular group of Natives or an animal. It also has some letters representing music, transportation, food or objects. For example, in the book the letter “N” was for names, and it had native names and what they translate to in English. So Honi means wolf, Woya means dove, and Nita is Choctaw for bear. 3 different cultures but they all have a translation for their native names.
How to use this book with students: The book is geared for Kindergarten through 5th grade, but I believe it can be used in a higher grade as a lower level example. You could do this by having students write their own little 4-line poem about something for every letter of the alphabet. You could also use this as a podcast for your class. You would record yourself reading the book and then you could post it on a classroom blog.
Summary: This book talks about different things that start with each letter of the alphabet (A-Z), like a particular group of Natives or an animal. It also has some letters representing music, transportation, food or objects. For example, in the book the letter “N” was for names, and it had native names and what they translate to in English. So Honi means wolf, Woya means dove, and Nita is Choctaw for bear. 3 different cultures but they all have a translation for their native names.
How to use this book with students: The book is geared for Kindergarten through 5th grade, but I believe it can be used in a higher grade as a lower level example. You could do this by having students write their own little 4-line poem about something for every letter of the alphabet. You could also use this as a podcast for your class. You would record yourself reading the book and then you could post it on a classroom blog.
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April 28, 2016This book was okay. It was about the native Americans and their life styles. The book went through the whole alphabet and describe different things that the indians did or used.
I was very creative and the pictures were very pretty. My favorite picture was the painting of the heard of stallions. The horses looked like they were jumping off the page.
YOu could use this book to help teach you class about the alphabet.
I was very creative and the pictures were very pretty. My favorite picture was the painting of the heard of stallions. The horses looked like they were jumping off the page.
YOu could use this book to help teach you class about the alphabet.
August 27, 2012
This book was lurking in the non-fiction shelved of the children's section. I feel however that a copy should be put in the young adult area as well.
I call this a combination book. It has short poems for a 2nd or 3rd grader but has great history on native american tribes for the older child. This book would be a great asset for a kid doing a report on such a subject.
AR 7.1
I call this a combination book. It has short poems for a 2nd or 3rd grader but has great history on native american tribes for the older child. This book would be a great asset for a kid doing a report on such a subject.
AR 7.1
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December 9, 2016D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet is a good way for teachers to introduce a unit about Native Americans. It would also make a great resource for students if they are doing a project about Native Americans. The introduces customs and cultures of the many tribes that inhabited America, from A-Z.
March 10, 2008
I found this book at the thrift store. I love it, It has beautiful illustrations and goes through the alphabet in short poems then more informative longer but still concise explanations.
February 25, 2009
Awesome illustrations by a great illustrator! Great for kids.
June 14, 2012
Used this book around Thanksgiving to teach my kids about Native American culture. Illustrations help with the understanding. Better for older kids.
June 4, 2016
Outstanding illustrations
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April 25, 2017Yea, I don't know.
While they do use certain letters to cite specific American Indian tribes, in other places its noticeably vague. For example "V is for vision quest" it says that some tribes send young men on vision quest. What tribes though? It's a little thing, but as a child reading that or being read that, I'm going to just assume that's an American Indian thing to do. I'm going to think awwww sweet I wish I was an American Indian I wanna go on a vision quest & learn my spirit animal. If the author instead of saying "some tribes" said, the Lakota tribe, for example, then I'd at least think awwwwwww sweet I wish I Lakota, I wanna go on a vision quest.
Kids are going to think that the things American Indians did & do were cool. There's feathers, there's dancing. The trouble with teaching children about American Indians is that you need to be specific, otherwise they get excited about the cool things that these cultures do & they learn generalizations. Generalization in your teaching is going to teach them to look at them with generalizations (#stereotypes).
Perhaps there's no GREAT harm in it, except that when we work with children we always try to teach them to be polite and say please, thank you and excuse me. Is it that big of an extension to this politeness to try to guide them around generalizing the indigenous people of their own country?
While they do use certain letters to cite specific American Indian tribes, in other places its noticeably vague. For example "V is for vision quest" it says that some tribes send young men on vision quest. What tribes though? It's a little thing, but as a child reading that or being read that, I'm going to just assume that's an American Indian thing to do. I'm going to think awwww sweet I wish I was an American Indian I wanna go on a vision quest & learn my spirit animal. If the author instead of saying "some tribes" said, the Lakota tribe, for example, then I'd at least think awwwwwww sweet I wish I Lakota, I wanna go on a vision quest.
Kids are going to think that the things American Indians did & do were cool. There's feathers, there's dancing. The trouble with teaching children about American Indians is that you need to be specific, otherwise they get excited about the cool things that these cultures do & they learn generalizations. Generalization in your teaching is going to teach them to look at them with generalizations (#stereotypes).
Perhaps there's no GREAT harm in it, except that when we work with children we always try to teach them to be polite and say please, thank you and excuse me. Is it that big of an extension to this politeness to try to guide them around generalizing the indigenous people of their own country?
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews