North America Books

While reading Tony Horwitz's recent book, "A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World", about his travels through the Americas to rediscover the early explorers and colonists that preceded Jamestown and Plymouth, I became fascinated with those who came to America a full 100 years before Jamestown, particularly Hernando De Soto's 4 year plunge into the wilderness of America with his 600 man army in 1539. In spite of failures by previous Spanish explorers, including one army that lost all but 4 men, De Soto marches throughout the entire southeast from Florida, as far north as Tennessee and North Carolina to as far west as northeast Texas in a vain search for gold and other precious metals. De Soto's journey is fascinating in that he marches through the wilderness and unknown with an unusual measure of confidence while encountering an amazing society of Indian tribes totally unlike what American's perceive of the Indian culture based on their knowledge of American Indians post Jamestown. These tribes had concentrated villages with advanced agricultural development, a networked culture with a central chief, an upper class and they utilized great mounds for the base of the homes of their chiefs and to a lesser degree, their other important tribal members. Based on eye witness accounts left in chronicles and secondary sources, Hudson, tells the story of De Soto's travels and encounters with the Indians that is even more fascinating by Hudson's ability, aided by archeology, to trace a pretty accurate mapping of De Soto's travels. The cruelty inflicted by De Soto and his followers seems counter productive particularly as they are frequently at war with the various tribes they encounter as they in turn depend on the Indians supplies for survival. Thus 220 years before Sherman's march, De Soto also lived off the land creating even greater devastation in his wake. What is very interesting is the detail about the Indians encountered, the names of the towns, biographies on the various chiefs, the detail of their lifestyle and the intriguing explanations of the built up mounds that are still present throughout southeast America. The initial part of the book provides a good history of the early Spanish explorations before de Soto, the closing chapters explains what may have happened to these advanced Indian cultures that were in apparent decline before de Soto and virtually melted away before the tribes known today became prevalent like the Cherokees, the Creeks, Chickasaws etc. The final section covers the great debate and documentation of De Soto's route that was seemingly well documented through the Smithsonian but has more recently been proven to be less accurate by current scholars such as Hudson. If you are only interested in de Soto's travels, this is the meat of the book and whether you have interest in the final sections, this is still one of the best books on De Soto and those lost American tribes who seem related to the Aztecs without the stone necessary to similar stone structures, they in turned built mounds.

Written by Charles Hudson (Franklin Professor of Anthropology, University of Georgia), Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun is an in-depth scrutiny of Hernando de Soto's history-making mission of exploration between 1539 and 1542. Taking pains to recreate as precise a geographic answer as possible to the question "Where did De Soto go?", Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun retraces De Soto's steps along a map, with supplementary black-and-white photographs and illustrations, recounting De Soto's adventures, perils, and encounters with Native Americans as accurately as possible. Accessible to lay readers and historians alike, Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun is a welcome addition to public and college library world history shelves.

I found this book to be an excellent read. I could almost hear the clanking of armor and smell the smoke of the Indian village cooking fires. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in early Southeastern Indian culture as-well-as sixtenth century Spanish conquest.

I enjoyed this book immensely. As a guy who can take something as dry as "Darwin's Origin of Species" to the beach for the weekend, this is a real page turner. The author does a wonderful job of assembling journal entries along with well documented historical data, into an enjoyable read for the interested lay person. It reminds me somewhat of "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose in both its well documented historical accuracy, and attention to readability by the consuming public. I bought this book mainly out of a life long interest in Southeastern Indian culture, and an interest in the terrain of the region before European settlement. The book delivered in spades on both accounts. I am surprised Hollywood has left this story alone. There is enough violence, death, greed, deceit and sex for 5 movies in Desoto's story.

K Cook

I probably first read or heard about de Soto in high school, but until recently he was just a name, one of dozens of Spanish Conquistadors. Then in 2002 while traveling through the Tampa, FL area I came across a National Park commemoration where he first landed on a 4,000 mile 3-year trek through North America. Being there in person my imagination was fired and I've been fascinated by de Soto's journey ever since. I can still smell the salt air, hear the surf and see the Spanish horsemen moving through the shadows of the red mangrove forest. In terms of discovery and epic adventure de Soto equals the story of Lewis and Clark.

This is the single best book available about de Soto, representing 20 years of research and incorporating the latest in archaeological evidence. The route is historically a subject of great controversy, each state has commemorative trails and sites that occasionally change with new scholarship.

The books is a masterpiece incorporating details from many layers to create a highly textured and easily imagined vision of the Spainards and Indians. Hudson is an anthropologist and takes a multi-disiplinary approach which creates a much richer work than a straight historical narrative. Hudson used a "braided narrative", inter-twining the chronological history of events with the latest anthropological evidence - the effect works well.

I am a dad of a 2 years old boy.
This workbook has a simple and fun material which is exactly for kids around 2. I felt it's a bit pricy for what it has, but I am generally satisfied with this book since it's hard to find this kind of books for this age.

My 4 year old son loved this book. He did every page within a few weeks! Its more than just cutting... you cut things out or parts of things on page to make clever little things. I 100% recommend this. We also ordered Lets Fold, which we like and also give five stars. But, Let's Cut, is the best by far.

My daughter loves this books!!!Even though Lets cut paper is a little challeging for her(she is 33m), we love it. She asks for it every day. With the lets color she can do it alone, but with the lets cut, I need to help her a little bit. Its fuuuun!!!!Iessa mom of Amanda.

My daughter loves this workbook. It is fun and lets them cut paper what child doesn't like that. When I saw how it progressed I was worried my daughter wouldn't be able to do it. We are almost finished with it and she has had no problem rising to the challenge these books are great.

I purchased two of these books for my two 3 yr. old boys. They have really enjoyed them. We do about one project a day most days from this and several pages of My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) for their "homework" The first few days were kinda crazy and one of them actually cut the palm of my hand. They just wanted to cut whatever (and draw wherever on the other book) I thought these were a horrible idea until the third day. Both of them seemed to finally understand what was going on and settled down. Now they look forward to it. We made rockets today and they "flew" them all over the house! I also now have a rule that after we do our work properly, we can cut other paper however we want. That has been very successful. In regards to the actual workbook - the paper quality is very high which makes holding the paper easier. It doesn't flop around. It is also shiny and slick so you can tape and remove tape with out damaging the picture. The colors are bright and very appealing to my children. I am very happy with this product.

This book is incredibly detailed and easy to use. Along with a GPS, there is nothing you cannot find. Whether an occasional traveler or a resident, this is a must to have for God's Country, Michigan's U.P.

I spend a lot of time off the beaten path. This map is great for getting there and back. Very useful. This is my third one, as I keep wearing them out.

I have been using DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteers for many states for many years. I have always found them very useful for travelling over the back roads and secondary highways as they give one detail not found on the usual road maps. They also list parks, historic sites, recreaton areas, etc. which are also very valuable when travelling in unfamiliar areas.

While I also own a GPS system for my automobile, it doesn't give you topographic detail or large area views due to the limitatons of the small GPS screen. However, I find using both the DeLorme Maps and the GPS system to make for very efficient trip planning.

Just fine. No problems at all. Easy to read; clear print

The maps in this atlas are clear and up-to-date. You'll find it hard to get lost, but easy to discover interesting new sights and sites.

It's also much cheaper than your average GPS!

I brought this book for my 4 year old granddaughter, and she loves it. The pictures that appear in the maze make it easy to teach the concept of mazes. For example, the first maze has a hedge bordering all sections of the maze. My granddaughter understood following a path when I told her "you can't jump over or go through the hedge". She had so much fun that she just about finished the book in one sitting.

Purchased for my niece and she loves these mazes. Each page is double sided with an easy maze on the front and a harder maze on the back. She finds the harder maze a little difficult so I place numbered clues throughout the maze for her to follow.

She prefers working with the the pages out of the book, which you can do if you work on it a little. Instead of cutting, you can pull the front cover all the way back until the seam is exposed, and remove the pages one by one without ripping any pages.

My son loves these mazes. I've had great luck with all of the Kumon books. This one is really great for teaching pencil skills. It holds my son's interest and the book is structured to give a high success rate - staring with simpler mazes and progressing. I'm a teacher and I'm very impresed with this and all of the other Kumon books I've tried.

This book is pegged for children ages 3 - 5, and that seems about right. My three year old son had a blast working these delightful (and sometimes challenging) mazes. There are 80 mazes in the book, and there is a certificate of achievement at the back of the book.

Highly recommended.

My 3-year old grand daughter loves doing these mazes. It's geared for 3 - 5 year olds and she wants to try all of them. She can do about half but never gets bored.

It was March 6, 2008, 11:30 PM and about 15 degrees. Scott Weidensaul and I and two others were peering into the dark at a nearby white spruce tree. The flashlight had died a while ago. There was a Boreal Owl - a life bird for Scott - singing in that tree, and we purely could not see it. Scott had to be exhausted. It was 3:30 in the morning by his internal clock, he had given an outstanding, impassioned presentation to the Alaska Bird Conference that night. And he was scheduled to be in Denali National Park the following morning.

So when I tell you that Scott Weidensaul is passionate about birds and nature, I'm not speculating or exaggerating. And that same passion is reflected in his writing. This book retraces the steps of Roger Tory Peterson and British naturalist James Fisher 50 years after their epic trip. It's part biography, part geography, and completely compelling.

And while Weidensaul finds much that has changed for the worse in those 50 years, some things are definitely, even dramatically better. Species believed to be extinct have recovered to some extent. The system of parks and refuges, even if badly neglected by the Bush administration, is more extensive now. There's demonstrable reason for optimism. That's no small thing. Coming from a man deeply committed to environmentalism, it's a cheering bit of news.

Weidensaul writes somewhat like John McPhee, finding and writing about interesting people to help to tell his story. He can be lyrical and still factual. He can write a profound environmental book and still find a few things to be cheerful, even optimistic about. He is also a great nature photographer and a terrific public speaker.

There are very, very few writers who have captured the joy and despair of North American ecological changes as well as Scott Weidensaul. Very highly recommended.

The book does imbue one with a sense of moral responsibility towards the wild spirit of Earth. There are still some wildplaces left on the North American continent, but not for long if everyone goes there. Read about the areas, and help them stay wild.

In 1953 birder Roger Tory Peterson and British naturalist James Fisher journeyed for a hundred days covering some thirty thousand miles around North America, noting their discoveries in WILD AMERICA: here on the 50th anniversary of their trip naturalist Scott Weidensaul retraces their steps and tells of his findings in RETURN TO WILD AMERICA: A YEARLONG SEARCH FOR THE CONTINENT'S NATURAL SOUL. Many changes have taken place in the areas covered in WILD AMERICA: this documents both sad changes and hopeful changes from Newfoundland through the Northeast, where wildlife is returning to urban environments; from Florida where the Everglades continues to erode to Mexico, where rich ecosystems are being saved. It's refreshing to read about successes as well as struggles - and RETURN TO WILD AMERICA, for maximum impact, should be followed or preceded by a re-reading of WILD AMERICA for maximum effect.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Scott Weidensaul has written another spectacular book. In his tour across wild America, he shares how much of our natural heritage we've lost and gained in the past 50 years. The book is beautifully written and it keeps you interested all the way through. Most importantly, it leaves the reader with a message of hope. Although we've lost a lot and we have a long way to go, there have been many environmental success stories in the past 50 years.

This book has been a walk in the park. Almost literally. Needing nothing more technological than sunlight and, for some of us, a pair of spectacles, reading "Return to Wild America" is the closest thing to "being there." Mr. Weidensaul's prose carries us over the rivers and through the woods. His descriptions allow us to see, hear, feel and occasionally smell the magnificence of nature. It is a wonderful and elating trip. For birders, I am sure that there is the added bonus of familiarity with the beautiful birds that I have just met.

Beyond sharing with us the sheer natural delight of his adventure, Mr. Weidensaul also tells the history of this country's efforts towards both the protection and pillage of our natural bounty. This book is a "walk in the park" because much of our remaining truly wild life is precariously protected in our National Wildlife Refuges and parks. Thus, much of Mr. Weidensaul's expedition takes place in refuges and parks.

"A walk in the park" usually brings to mind something easy: a frolic or a romp. Although Mr. Weidensaul's adventure seems like something any sturdy camper might be able to do, responding to his message will be difficult. This well-documented conversation about the places he visits reveals that we face a growing crisis with the destruction of our environment. Sadly, protecting wild America will be anything but easy.

Many of us feel the need to be a part of the on-going conversation about environmental and species protection. To do so, we need to be informed. Reading "Return to Wild America" is an important first step to addressing the environmental crises of the new millennium.

What Northrup has to say is as interesting as the way he says it. I really loved his style of writing: chatty, wry, ironic, funny, serious--often at the same time.

I am so happy that he won the 1999 native american journalism award for his editorials, which appear in indian country today , news from inidan country and the circle. this book is wonderful and very funny! the poem he writes about John Wayne visitng Vietnam is a masterpiece and shows " the Duke" for what he really is a wimp and a wuz! get this book it's truly a gem!

This book is brutal without being harsh, funny without being lightweight. In a society where everyone (and I do mean everyone) is made to feel guilty for everone else's suffering, this is a breath of fresh air. The problems Northrup faces every day are aired alongside with the joys. For every pain, he offers a happiness.

And he never says you can't understand. He just offers another way to see his life.

Don't buy Ian Frazier's book if you want any kind of accurate picture of today's Indians. Buy this one instead - this is the book to get if you want to begin to understand the complexities of being an Indian. The author speaks to both the initiated and the ignorant. It's both a moving and a fun read.

I picked this book up at random while browsing the "Native American studies" shelf at my local book megastore, and I was quickly drawn in, reading it cover-to-cover in a day. Jim Northrop is an Anishinaabe who lives on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota, and in this book he writes about reservation life, about Native American political issues, and about his own travels and experiences. One of the great strengths of this book is his honesty as a memoirist. While sticking largely to a humorous matter-of-fact tone, he does not shy away from his grief at his son's suicide attempt or his difficulties returning from war in Vietnam. Another strength is the conversational quality of the writing itself. At first it bugged me, short sentences put together into these meandering run-on paragraphs, but after some reading I began to think more of Italian vocal technique, where the tone continues, rising and falling, with words just dotted on the surface. Eventually it felt like I was just hanging out with the guy, listening to his interesting stories. There are times when the writing falls down, for example during an extended series of sports metaphors during a dicussion of racism, or in the rather forced series of kangaroo references when describing a tribal "kangaroo court". But despite these problems I found the writing compelling and accessible. I'm not qualified to analyze the political arguments he sometimes makes, but his perspective on treaty rights, sports mascots, and gambling will certainly stay with me, informing and broadening my thinking when I next encounter these issues in daily life.

Salmon Without Rivers is a great book of historical facts. It includes many issues like; original salmon locations/populations, "Economy over Environment" issues, and the ineffectiveness of large decision making commissions/agencies. However, with all his good background information the book does not propose any solutions nor investigates today's coastal human communities as they relate to the salmon and/or habitat.

This is a must read book for anyone interested in salmon, rivers and the ecology and history of the Pacific Northwest. Excellent information and a good read.

This is an excellent book that documents the history of salmon, how native Americans viewed them and how modern Americans view them. It focuses on why the pacific northwest is facing a salmon crisis, and our failed attempts to replace what we have lost. Great read for anyone who is concerned about environmental issues.

A thoroughly researched and impassioned presentation including the history of salmon, their decline, why billions of tax dollars in restoration efforts have had paltry returns, and insights into the where we should go from here. A complex issue is examined from many perspectives in an easy to read and compelling book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in salmon.

As a freelance author writing a piece about salmon for a California-based magazine, this book was indispensible and eye-opening. It is unfailingly sensitive and intelligent about salmon, discussing the fish as fellow creatures in the "natural economy" in which we all live, rather than as mere commodities in the "industrial economy" that has transformed the West in the last 150 years. It is fascinating about the geology that shaped the salmon's environment, the evolutionary history of the fish, the relationship between Native Americans and salmon in the Northwest, and it provides a detailed history of the many factors that have led to the salmon's decline, including habitat destruction, misbegotten hatchery programs, overfishing, dams, mining, grazing, irrigation. If you like to read books about ecology, the creatures of the earth, fish, or the Northwest--you can't go wrong. This is a wonderful book.

THE SPIRIT HORSE is a terriffic book about horses. In the story, Running Crane is the only member in the tribe that has not ridden a horse nearly since birth. HE is teased by nearly all the other boys. Though he cannot ride like a pro (yet), the leader of the tribe still picks him out of all the other boys to be one of the children that will acompany the seven warriors on the horse raid. But not only do others laugh at him at camp, his long time enemy is comming as the third boy. Despite all the obsitcals, Running Crane keeps to his dream, to capture the spirit horse no matter what tries to stop him. I love the determination and spirit of RUNNNING CRANE. i have only had this book about a month and i have already read it at least 3 times THIS IS A MUST READ!!!!!!!! ENJOY!!!!

I've read Spirit Horse, and I've given it as a gift more than once. It's one of those stories that creates empathy for the protagonist with each chapter. At the end of each chapter, I could hardly wait to get into the next one to see how our young hero would handle the challenging situations. Ta daa! There's a rewarding--feel good conclusion, but I don't want to give away the end of the story.

Thanks Ned Ackerman!

Barbara Murray Klopp, Children's Author

Ned Ackerman has succeeded in telling a credible tale. The young reader (and adult ones like myself) are pulled in quickly to the challenge ahead of our young protagonist. Spririt Horse is less a horse story and one of how a boy finds courage and grows; the charcters are beliveable, the adventure compelling. It made me want to be a kid again.

This is my second time reading *Spirit Horse* and I have to say I was so not disappointed. The first time I read it, I skimmed over it because I wanted to read the action and adventure and didn't really care much for the details. But this time when I read it, I read everything and it gave me such a clear picture. This is a must read for everyone because it's soo good.

Running Crane was chosen to go along with Wolf Eagle's war party and it is a great honor to be chosen. But the bad thing is that Weasel Rider was also chosen to go along with the party. Running Crane doesn't like Weasel Rider because Weasel Rider always taunt Running Crane about how he wasn't able to ride a horse. (Everytime Running Crane rides a horse, the horse throws him off) Running Crane doesn't like the taunts and he dreams about this great spirit horse which runs very fast and is magnificent.

So Wolf Eagle and the party goes to steal horses and during their journey to travel to the Snake People's land (their enemy), Running Crane has to endure Weasel Rider's taunts. When they arrive, they hear how there's this great horse and if fits the description of Running Crane's great horse. They go to steal horses but something goes wrong and Running Crane is separated from the party. Now it is up to Running Crane to survive the wilderness and to tame that great horse, that was let loose during their mission.

This book is a must read because it holds a lot of knowledge and sense. I think everyone would enjoy this book!!! I know I have enjoyed it.

^_^ ~ Izzy

Spirit Horse captured and held both my interest and my imagination. I found myself (a 62-year-old white woman living in a large metropolitan area in Michigan in 1999) identifying completely with Running Crane (a young Blackfoot boy living on the plains of what is now Alberta, Canada, or Montana in 1770). Ned Ackerman succeeded brilliantly in telling his story through Running Crane and weaving into his story much of what makes us all human. Spirit Horse is very well-written and moves right along. I read the book straight through, and I know that I will read it again and again. Congratulations to Ned Ackerman on his excellent book. I believe that teachers will consider Spirit Horse a welcome addition to units on multiculturalism and diversity. I believe that the book's appeal extends well beyond the target age group.

This is a really wondeful collection of stories. Two-Rivers takes us from Sapawe, Ontario to the streets of Chicago with stories that are immediate and from the heart. He is a terrific writer who takes us on a great journey of distance, time, and emotion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book that brings back fond memories of my own Ojibwe upbringing. Two Rivers writes with a style that is raw and true to his Anishinaabe people. Gchi Migwetch Eddie!

I have known of E. Donald Two-Rivers' work since he started the "Red Path Theatre Company" of Chicago, and am glad he found the time in his busy schedule/career to write a book on short stories based upon the Native American experience(s).

Good Luck E. Donald; and may the you always stay in the Gods' favor for Poety & Muse.

David Andrew Shawanokasic, Menominee

I knew Harold Ball. I wasn't his friend because, as this book explains, for most of his life he drove people away. I wasn't at the party that changed his life, but I know some who were. In fact, I know everybody in this book. Set in the city, on the rez or on the road, these stories read as real to me as the last time I stepped out the door or walked into a truck stop. Each person has his or her own fully realized voice. But what recommends this book most to me are the narrator's voices.

Many writers talk about cultural conflict, the Relocation Act or going back to the reservation, but few express it in more than one voice. Eddie Two-Rivers has the classic short story writer's gift for implication: "It was mid-afternoon-the time of day for sighing. That second when everything is just right and silence slices through time. A slight wind rustled the leaves of a nearby tree and the moment was lost to the past." (p. 54) He evokes nostalgia: "Timber supported the town and everyone in it. I remember it as a green, blue, and brown place: forest, sky, water, and sawdust everywhere. A great place for a kid." (p 221)

Yet he also has that educated awareness that summarizes whole decades in short, sociological parapgraphs: "Bill and Glenda thought of themselves as second-generation urban Indians. Their parents had moved to Chicago's South Side during the 1950s in accordance with the Relocation Act. They met at Red's, a blues bar on Thirty-fifth and Archer Avenue. It was love at first sight. They dated a couple of weeks then decided to live together. Their families disapproved so they moved to the more liberal North Side. Both had been raised in working-class homes. Both regarded their families as being provincial, not with the times." (p. 144)

But Eddie Two-Rivers also understands deeply the power of writing to heal communities and make each of us whole: "Everybody got something they do to make themselves feel better. Writing is my medicine." (p. 83)

You may see it in other writers; you can hear it here.

Ed Two-River's book Survivor's Medicine is an important contribution to the literary world both for Indians and non-Indians. The stories unfold to present a fresh perspective on the human condition in general, and the reality of American Indians specifically. As an educator, the collection of stories explores a spectrum of issues and themes that makes it a dynamic book for teaching in the classroom. Each story broadens the reader's perspective about the reality of American Indians' experience today and challenges the reader to consider and question his or her own perceptions. It grapples with history, politics, and culture in a way that is accessible and poignant to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Survivor's Medicine can be used with students of all academic abilities. The story "Slow Walker: Hero of the Mud Flats Battle" which tells the story of childhood lessons and lifelong memories fought out in the bush in Canada, can be read to a third grade classroom or in a college literature class. I highly recommend this book for educators at all levels and encourage Native educators across the country to use this book with their students. Mr. Two-Rivers is a wonderful and rare role model for young Indians today. I anxiously await his next book.