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The Very First Americans
Long before Columbus landed in America, hundreds of groups of people had already made their homes here. You may have heard of some of them--like the Sioux, Hopi, and Seminole. But where did they live? What did they eat? How did they have fun? And where are they today? From coast to coast, learn all about these very first Americans!
From the Makah who set out in canoes to hunt whales to the Comanche who chased buffalo on horseback . . . here is a fascinating look at how the first Americans lived. Beautiful watercolor paintings accurately depict clothing, dwellings, art, tools, and other Native American artifacts.
From the Makah who set out in canoes to hunt whales to the Comanche who chased buffalo on horseback . . . here is a fascinating look at how the first Americans lived. Beautiful watercolor paintings accurately depict clothing, dwellings, art, tools, and other Native American artifacts.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
4 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 11, 2018
This book was at the perfect level for my son. It started with a map of North America so I could page back and show him the regions. Then it moved through each region giving some details as well as illustrations, but not too much. My child was especially interested in the Hopi and Navajo people after reading this book for a month. We were able to go to a Hopi Festival and see some Navajo hoop dancers at the Smithsonian of the American Indian after reading this book.
January 25, 2021
Simple and concise overview of the various native tribes divided by geographical groups. The illustrations are lovely and I also like that it doesn't make a political statement about the settlements of the Europeans. It is simply stated as the facts that occured. It's nice to leave some of these issues open to discussion with parents.
October 16, 2015
A great introductory text to Native Americans for children. It does a particularly good job of showing the wide variety of cultures and lifestyles that Native Americans had in the time before the arrival of Europeans. I think that it's important to show this to kids so that they don't develop a stereotypical view of Native Americans that they may get through other media.
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September 17, 2020If you are looking for children's books about the various groups, tribes, and/or nations of this continent, please check out the recommendations on American Indians in Children's Literature, where books are recommended and reviewed by by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo and others. Here is her review of this book. You can find the link to the review on the website at the end.
"Characterizing Native peoples as "First Americans" is not accurate. You've probably seen that phrase used to describe Native peoples, right?
The Very First Americans by Cara Ashrose, with illustrations by Bryna Waldman, is one example. Here's the cover. As you see, I've put a large red x over the cover to let you know, visually, that I do not recommend the book:
So: what is wrong with the phrase "First Americans"?
The Native peoples of this continent were not "Americans". They were--and are--organized societies who chose/choose their leaders and who engaged in trade with other Native Nations.
See? We were nations before the United States of America was a nation. Our nations decided who its citizens were, and, we still do that.
The other problem with this book? The use of past tense verbs, as shown in these two sentences from the book:
Tribes like the Chinook, the Makah, and the Salish made their homes near the water along the northwest coast of America.
and
The Makah were very good whale hunters.
Aimed at pre-school and elementary aged children, The Very First Americans was published in 1993 by Grosset & Dunlap. You can still get a new copy which probably means, unfortunately, that it is still in print.
Divided into several geographic locations, the book provides an overview of several nations, but the language is all past tense.
And then, on the final page, the author opens with present tense, saying that
Today, almost two million American Indians make their homes in this country. More than a third live on reservations. The rest live in cities and towns. Many Indians say they "walk in two worlds."
But her final sentence goes back to that error, calling Native peoples "first Americans":
They are part of today's America, but at the same time, they keep the ways of their people--the very first Americans.
I wish that I had a nonfiction book, in-hand, to recommend for young children... A book that would give them accurate information. The only one that comes to mind is Simon Ortiz's The People Shall Continue, but it is out of print. You can get a used copy online. Find one, get it, and use it instead of ones that use "First Americans" in them. You can also choose picture books like Cynthia Leitich Smith's Jingle Dancer, that provide children information that is accurate. In it, a young girl is learning to do a dance. Through the author's note, Smith tells us that the girl is a member (citizen) of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation."
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
"Characterizing Native peoples as "First Americans" is not accurate. You've probably seen that phrase used to describe Native peoples, right?
The Very First Americans by Cara Ashrose, with illustrations by Bryna Waldman, is one example. Here's the cover. As you see, I've put a large red x over the cover to let you know, visually, that I do not recommend the book:
So: what is wrong with the phrase "First Americans"?
The Native peoples of this continent were not "Americans". They were--and are--organized societies who chose/choose their leaders and who engaged in trade with other Native Nations.
See? We were nations before the United States of America was a nation. Our nations decided who its citizens were, and, we still do that.
The other problem with this book? The use of past tense verbs, as shown in these two sentences from the book:
Tribes like the Chinook, the Makah, and the Salish made their homes near the water along the northwest coast of America.
and
The Makah were very good whale hunters.
Aimed at pre-school and elementary aged children, The Very First Americans was published in 1993 by Grosset & Dunlap. You can still get a new copy which probably means, unfortunately, that it is still in print.
Divided into several geographic locations, the book provides an overview of several nations, but the language is all past tense.
And then, on the final page, the author opens with present tense, saying that
Today, almost two million American Indians make their homes in this country. More than a third live on reservations. The rest live in cities and towns. Many Indians say they "walk in two worlds."
But her final sentence goes back to that error, calling Native peoples "first Americans":
They are part of today's America, but at the same time, they keep the ways of their people--the very first Americans.
I wish that I had a nonfiction book, in-hand, to recommend for young children... A book that would give them accurate information. The only one that comes to mind is Simon Ortiz's The People Shall Continue, but it is out of print. You can get a used copy online. Find one, get it, and use it instead of ones that use "First Americans" in them. You can also choose picture books like Cynthia Leitich Smith's Jingle Dancer, that provide children information that is accurate. In it, a young girl is learning to do a dance. Through the author's note, Smith tells us that the girl is a member (citizen) of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation."
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
October 29, 2020
Is it possible that I remember this book from my childhood? It is not the first book of first Americans in my reading to my students but it is a decent one. The facts are just detailed enough. The illustrations are attractive. There is just enough information to teach but also to spike interest for further information. We need more books liked this on our shelves. We own this little square paperback and purchased it off the recommendation of Sonlight Curriculum K 2020: Exploring American History.
November 22, 2020
The Very First Americans
This is a historical fiction book that teaches readers about the first Americans. It informs readers how they lived on the land. The tribes talked about were Sioux, Hopi, Seminole, and Makah. Readers learn how they caught food, sailed the water, and built their homes on the land. They talk about the strengths of each tribe. I would recommend this book to be read by older children 5-7th grade depending on their reading abilities. The text is long but doable with the words. I really like how this big helps children better understand each tribe.
This is a historical fiction book that teaches readers about the first Americans. It informs readers how they lived on the land. The tribes talked about were Sioux, Hopi, Seminole, and Makah. Readers learn how they caught food, sailed the water, and built their homes on the land. They talk about the strengths of each tribe. I would recommend this book to be read by older children 5-7th grade depending on their reading abilities. The text is long but doable with the words. I really like how this big helps children better understand each tribe.
November 27, 2019
This tells the story of the many different people that lived in America before Columbus discovered it. Thinking the people were from the Indies, Columbus called these settlers "Indians" and the name stuck. The book is very informational and is split by different "tribe" region, including: Northwest Coast, Southwest, Plains, and Woodlands. I would show my students this book and would not talk about how columbus discovered america because he didnt.
October 11, 2018
This tells the story of the many different people that lived in America before Columbus discovered it. Thinking the people were from the Indies, Columbus called these settlers "Indians" and the name stuck. The book is very informational and is split by different "tribe" region, including: Northwest Coast, Southwest, Plains, and Woodlands.
August 30, 2022
Daughter - we read this as party of your kindergarten history curriculum. It was a very informative book detailing how people came to North America and how the different Native American tribes lived. We learned a lot about geography too. You especially loved how one of the tribes found a use for every part of a Buffalo, even using their tails as fly swatters! You found that hilarious!
May 15, 2025
I read this with my kids for school. A couple issues - for example the name (calling Indians the first “Americans” - they weren’t American because America wasn’t formed yet) and it’s important to talk through those things with kids, but overall a good, brief introduction to the tribes, geography, and cultures of the people that lived here before us, and now, with us.
May 4, 2017
This is a great book about the first Americans. This book is great for teaching the history of Native Americans and teaching students that the Native Americans were here long before Christopher Columbus.
September 1, 2020
LOVE this book! Wonderful illustrations and explorations into various tribes across America pre colonialism. Does a beautiful job. We are using it a lot as a reference this year for our Native Art Study.
May 3, 2020
A nice breakdown of different American tribes and their cultures by their geographical areas. Good for lower elementary.
September 28, 2020
I learned alot of information from this small book! After reading this, I really want to visit some of those people of those tribes from the book, and learn their ancestors cultures!
September 30, 2020
Lots of details in the reading and the pictures that help children develop an understanding of our country’s first inhabitants.
March 2, 2021
Perfect for our early American studies. Simple. Gentle. And doesn't glorify English settlers.
March 4, 2021
*read for an assignment*
September 1, 2021
Fascinating and exciting. My nephew loves telling people all about the Hopi’s home security system.
April 14, 2022
Good work on the various Native American tribes in North America (obviously for children).
January 24, 2023
Very basic, but a nice, gentle introduction for little ones. Some in the younger crowd may be bored by it.
October 9, 2023
Very detailed book about native American tribes and cultures
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November 25, 2023Talks about how the Native Americans were the very first AMericans and not the colonists.
May 16, 2024
Easy to read and understand. Multiple things to discuss in each illustration. Describes groups throughout the country. Looking forward to donating this to a children's literacy project.
November 27, 2019
This book is very informational and would be great to read around Thanksgiving. I would say it would be for older elementary students like 3rd grade and up because it does have a lot of information and big words in it. The pictures in it are awesome and look realistic. It talks about the first Americans and how they came America. It talks about many different tribes and would be good to teach for social studies.
June 28, 2015
We read this and North American Indians by the Gorslines. They are pretty much the same book. There are a few differences, but much of the information is nearly identical. And both are clear and easy to understand. We learn about a few Indian tribes - what they eat, types of housing, daily activities, etc. The illustrations are a bit more cartoony in this book, but the colors are more vivid and less fuzzy.
This is a great book for grades K through 3.
This is a great book for grades K through 3.
April 8, 2016
Another small book about Native American tribes.
September 30, 2021
An informative story. It was an interesting read for my 2 yr old. She asked questions, that where later answered. Very wordy for such a small book, cool concept and art.
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October 17, 2018Summary:
This book talks about the first Americans. It explains how the animals were technically the very first Americans. It then gives information about the different tribes that were all around America. It splits the tribes into regions and explains how they are different and similar to the others.
Evaluation:
This book was packed with tons of information about the tribes. All of the information was true and was reinforced with beautiful pictures. The author did an amazing job presenting the information in a kid friendly way, but had too much information shoved into one book.
Teaching Ideas:
This book would be used to teach students about the people native to America. I would split the regions into different days so that I could go into more specific details of the tribes in each region. There could also be a project that goes over the regions. The class could be split up into the regions and they have to create some sort of visual that shows information about them. They can choose whatever media they want to present the information.
This book talks about the first Americans. It explains how the animals were technically the very first Americans. It then gives information about the different tribes that were all around America. It splits the tribes into regions and explains how they are different and similar to the others.
Evaluation:
This book was packed with tons of information about the tribes. All of the information was true and was reinforced with beautiful pictures. The author did an amazing job presenting the information in a kid friendly way, but had too much information shoved into one book.
Teaching Ideas:
This book would be used to teach students about the people native to America. I would split the regions into different days so that I could go into more specific details of the tribes in each region. There could also be a project that goes over the regions. The class could be split up into the regions and they have to create some sort of visual that shows information about them. They can choose whatever media they want to present the information.
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November 19, 2018A. This book has not received any awards
B. This book is appropriate for grades 1-2
C. This book explains the lives of the groups of people who lived here in America before Columbus had discovered this land. This book explains how these people lived, what they ate, what they did for fun in their daily lives and where they are today.
D. This book is a fun read for the students because they can learn exactly what life was like before Columbus. The differences and similarities between the different groups of people in this book are very clear and easy to understand and teach to the students, but their interest will not be lost when they are learning about people who lived in the same areas they did long before them.
E. I think a fun classroom activity to do with this book is to take a different group of people talked about in the book and study them for a few days, have students bring in the foods those people ate and find pictures of the way those people lived so they students can get a feel for how other people once lived.
B. This book is appropriate for grades 1-2
C. This book explains the lives of the groups of people who lived here in America before Columbus had discovered this land. This book explains how these people lived, what they ate, what they did for fun in their daily lives and where they are today.
D. This book is a fun read for the students because they can learn exactly what life was like before Columbus. The differences and similarities between the different groups of people in this book are very clear and easy to understand and teach to the students, but their interest will not be lost when they are learning about people who lived in the same areas they did long before them.
E. I think a fun classroom activity to do with this book is to take a different group of people talked about in the book and study them for a few days, have students bring in the foods those people ate and find pictures of the way those people lived so they students can get a feel for how other people once lived.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews