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If I were to teach a entire section about Native Americans to a group of children in the third grade, I feel as if they would not be able to relate to this time period at all. The world we live in consists of technology and computers. These children have no idea what the world was like during the Native American period. That is why these picturebooks are so important; it gives children a way to become immersed into this setting.The setting is on a rural, countryside Native American reservation. It speaks a lot about the history to the Ancient Ones and about horses. I could teach simple Native American traditions such as naming people, marriage blessings, and the value of friendship between two girls with different cultures. The illustrations of this book gives it a very old, country texture which is suiting for the story. The color schemes are very Native American like because it has a weathered-down country feel. ( )

This book is about a white girl who goes to stay on an Indian reservation. The girl forms a close friendship with another girl named Genni. The two girls become so close they refer to each other as sisters. The person whose point of view the story is being told from, Sparrow, is speaking as if she is writing a letter to Genni. At the end of the book Sparrow says it has been two years since she and Genni have seen each other, but she still thinks of her all the time and has a box full of things the two collected while they lived by each other. If you read the author's not you will find out that Genni is a real person. In fact, the author wrote this book to Genni. The author of the book and Genni are still very good friends and still refer to each other as sister. I would read this to a class when discussing different Indian tribes. ( )

Summary: This book is about two girls from different backgrounds. The Native American girl welcomes her friend with open arms and teaches her about the culture. Even though the girls are different, they still love and accept eachother.

Personal Reaction: This is a good book about not discrimination against other because of the color of their skin. With all the racism and bullying out there, this book can really be used to speak to kids.

Classroom Extension: Good time to teach the kids about different backgrounds and culture. Also, kids can share what they know and different experiences they have had.

Summary: This is a contemporary book about a little white girl who goes to visit a Navajo reservation and meet a girl name Genni. Genni's mother gives her a Native name and they call her "Sparrow" because she eats like a bird.Genni and Sparrow becomes best friends. Sparrow moves and she has to learn how to deal with not being with her best friend.
Person reaction: I really enjoyed this book because it reminds me of my family that still lives on a reservation in Arizona. I only get to see them when there is a death in our family. I also was taught by my mother and elders how to make Navajo tacos. The best meal ever.
Classroom extensions:
1. Make or bring Navajo tacos to the students.
2. Come up with our own native name on our personalities and ask why we chose those names for each student.