Turtle Island [B1188]

2017 PB in nice clean condition. Unlike most books that chronicle the history of Native peoples beginning with the arrival of Europeans in 1492, this book goes back to the Ice Age to give young readers a glimpse of what life was like pre-contact. The title, Turtle Island, refers to a Native myth that explains how North and Central America were formed on the back of a turtle. Based on archeological finds and scientific research, we now have a clearer picture of how the Indigenous people lived. Using that knowledge, the authors take the reader back as far as 14,000 years ago to imagine moments in time. A wide variety of topics are featured, from the animals that came and disappeared over time, to what people ate, how they expressed themselves through art, and how they adapted to their surroundings. The importance of story-telling among the Native peoples is always present to shed light on how they explained their world. The end of the book takes us to modern times when the story of the Native peoples is both tragic and hopeful.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Loved this. Great for adults and kids."; "I was pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it. It's very well written with an honest but balanced approach. The focus isn't in-depth of a specific area of North America or a few tribes but is organized by time periods and it covers important things that happened, innovations, or developments during those times from different tribes. It felt fresh having been done this way."; "This was an important read for learning from (and helping kids learn from) Indigenous perspectives on North American history. It jumps around geographically, ranging from Mexico up to northern Canada and Greenland. But the chapters are organized chronologically, which is helpful for integrating it into a history survey. A lot of US history and policy is summarized in one chapter, so obviously a lot is left out, but it's good as an overview. In addition to the narrative, there are short additions of legends and stories from different Indigenous nations, as well as more imaginative sections that aim to center the reader in the setting being described. The first chapter includes a creation story and discusses different ways of knowing (archaeology, oral tradition, etc.). While it sometimes felt scattered due to the inclusion of so many different groups and stories, it all made a coherent enough picture to provide an overview of the people who stewarded the land in North America for so long. The perspective on Tisquantum (Squanto) was especially interesting. I wish I'd had this resource as a kid."