If You Lived with the Sioux Indians

by Ann McGovern, Beatrice Darwin (Illustrator)

A different time...a different place...What if you were there?

Genres: History, Native American, Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books, American History, Historical

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Ann McGovern Scheiner (née Weinberger) was an American writer of more than 55 children's books, selling over 30 million copies. She may be best known for her adaptation of Stone Soup, as well as Too Much Noise, historical and travel non-fiction, and biographies of figures like Harriet Tubman and Deborah Sampson Gannett and Eugenie Clark.

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: I read this aloud as part of our history curriculum this past year.

Comments: Presented in a Question and Answer format this book focuses on the daily life of the Sioux Indians in the years 1800 to 1850 after the white had arrived but before they had fully settled in the west. These are the years in which the Indians rode the prairies on the horses introduced to the New World by the white man. As with previous books in this series that we have read the information is very interesting; dealing with every day life aspects of the Indians such as food, clothing, living arrangements, differences of expectations between men and women/boys and girls, how children played, religious beliefs, hunting and so on.

Originally written in the 1970's this book has been "updated" for the 2000's. No specifics are given other than the new illustrations were added in 1992. The whole book deals with Indian life excluding any contact with the white man until the final chapter which asks "What happened to the Sioux when the white people came?". The answer is all gloom and doom making statements with no explanations. I did read this part but changed the PC language and adding explanations myself after each statement. The book ends with an author's note about the Sioux Indians of today and is written with a set political agenda. This I do not appreciate, whether I agree with the author or not. Children's books are not the place for an author to tell what he/she thinks the government "must" do, unless that is the book's focus and topic to begin with. I did not read this section aloud. The illustrations are standard fare and nothing much to mention.

Overall, we were pleased with book, as we have been with other Indian books in this series. The Q&A format works very well for reading aloud and the text is written in an engaging voice. They are very informative and by reading a few of these books, it is a great way to see the vast differences in various Indian tribes.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there is a great deal of information about how the Sioux people lived before the Europeans arrived, the systematic destruction of their culture is not mentioned, except on the last three pages and in an afterword. The title should end with a colon followed by “Before the white man came.” The lives of the Sioux is depicted as one that was rather carefree, with the occasional small conflict between tribes that could hardly be described by the term “war.”
The lived in harmony with nature, with their society described by their relationship with the buffalo. They acquired most of their consumable goods from the herds, with the occasional other odd animal, such as deer or antelope and berries that they would encounter by chance. Gender roles were very specific, the education of the young started early and was continuous until adulthood. There were strict social codes of behavior, with punishment for transgressions determined by the tribal leaders.
While based on facts, this is a book that has many of the characteristics of a fairy tale. Years ago, there was a bumper sticker that read something like this, “Before the white man, the women kept house while the men hunted and fished. This is progress?” In reading this book, you sympathize with that statement.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that inflamed my mind when I was younger and probably helped me to develop as part of the adult I am. I had a time when I was younger when I wanted to be a Native American while this book helped me to grasp just what it would take.

Due to this is a children's book the writing is very basic and easy-to-understand. Each subject is approached as a question that a child may ask while the answer is given underneath. These answers are very detailed and clearly given while they cover an array of subjects such as how the bison was used, what the clothing styles were, how medicine was perceived and so much more.

At the same time the book does a great job in trying to crush prejudices by explaining the Sioux weren't red-skinned but due to it was written in the '90s the book isn't politically correct. The word Indian is used more often than not and buffalo instead of Native American and bison. At the same time, though, the book does cover the problems that the Sioux are facing as a result of the loss of their land.

For those who want to educate children on the Sioux I believe this is a great book to get started on while with it being politically incorrect it can lead to a discussion of terms used then and why we use what we do now.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

As a child, I probably would have found this compelling. Even though we played 'cowboys and Indians,' I never viewed the Indians as 'bad guys.' In fact, I admired them for knowing how to live without access to stores. (Even back then I didn't enjoy 'shopping.')

Given that this book was written about 50 years ago, it does a surprisingly good job of portraying the Sioux. Appropriately, bison (called buffalo in this book) are described as being essential for the survival of the tribe. The presentation of the Sioux' religious beliefs made me uncomfortable, perhaps because it seems a little condescending.

One question that was not addressed but is always of interest to kids is about the 'bathroom facilities.' The accumulation of animal and human waste was also a good reason to pack up and move camp.

p 73:: The Sioux believed that no one owned the land. How could land be owned? Land came from ... the Great Spirit. The sky and the waters came from the Great Spirit too. Could the sky be owned? Could the great sea be owned?

And one final question: Why is a blond-haired girl featured on the cover?

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I enjoyed about this book is that each section began with a question. This helped keep me engaged and curious throughout the book. If You Lived with the Sioux Indians did a great job giving background information about Sioux, and was specific in explaining that the Sioux lived differently before and after the period of which the book spoke. I also thought it did a great job clearing up common misconceptions. A great framework.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think when kids think about Native Americans, they typically think of the Sioux. - They think of the tipis and the bow and arrows.

What I love about the Sioux, and most of the Native American tribes discussed in the series, is how cooperative they all were. No one was ever "poor" because the whole tribe shared whatever they had. They each had jobs that supported the tribe.

The kids enjoyed reading this series. It's great for integrating history with reading.

[Kathryn Sample · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of great information about the lives of the Sioux. It gives facts about their lives that children can understand and relate to their own lives. The illustrations really help to describe what would happen and how things used to be. I was able to learn a lot of factual, truthful information that would be great for children to learn regarding the history of out nation.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very specific information about gender roles in Sioux society. Before the age of five, both boys and girls could hunt small animals with a bow and arrow. After age five, they began to learn the work of their parents according to gender.

[Vanessa Dougherty]

This book is about what it would be like if you were a Sioux Indian child during 1800-1850. This book is for upper elementary grades and it is a part of a series of books about other tribes. This would be a great book for teaching about the natives of America during that time period.

[Shannon Futrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great picture book about the Sioux Indians. It is a nonfiction picture book that that talks about the daily life styles about the Sioux Indians. This book could be used in the classroom to compare and contrast other Native American Tribes.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it seemed accurate and was interesting enough to hold a 5th graders attention. Will ask our school librarian to order more copies.

[Nicolette · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever

[Lauren White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for grades 2-5

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty thorough, kid-sized look at life as a member of the Sioux tribe.

[Sarah Kochert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Youngest liked it. She likes this series of books.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In If You Lived with the Sioux Indians students can learn about one of the tribes that was known as a plains Indian and how they lived in tipis that were easy to move as they moved to follow the bufflo, their main source of food. They used every part of the bufflo for food, tools and lots of household items.

The Sioux had a society with rules, customs and were known as a very generous people. Children learned from birth how to be part of this society. Horses were important to their way of life. If You Lived with the Sioux Indians is a good resouce for students to learn of a different culture and way of life.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids loved listening to this during morning time. There were a few pages I skipped or edited, like the one that asks whether the Sioux scalped people. The very presence of that question comes from a perspective of Native peoples as “savage” that my kids simply don’t have. (And from reading books like Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, it becomes obvious that in many cases scalping was actually introduced by the Europeans.) I wish that some of their question selection had been a bit different.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simplistic overview of the life of the Sioux Indians during the first half of the nineteenth century. It could have been greatly improved with a bibliography and the addition of additional recommended reading.

[Myra Benedict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Informational book about a life of the Sioux Indians and very easy to read .

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about life native American called Sioux. How their life was and what did they do to survive. Its fun and good informational book to read!

[Regina Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative book that is understandable for kids. So glad we read this together.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this over and over as a kid.

[Ilyen Marban · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an informational book about the Sioux Indians. it discusses what their lives were like and mainly how bravery was important and what was considered brave.