Although Debbie Reese’s popular American Indians in Children’s Literature blog may not further her academic publishing needs, it feeds her first loves as a parent, teacher and librarian.
Reese, of the Nambé Pueblo tribe from New Mexico, is an assistant professor of American Indian studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She began writing her blog in May 2006.
Motivation to begin the blog grew out of her own frustrations as a parent and elementary school teacher over the dearth of accurate resources for teaching about American Indians. According to Reese, much that is taught about Native people in U.S. schools, from preschool through college, is laden with errors and stereotypes. The purpose of her Web site, she states, is to help people develop a critical stance when evaluating American Indians in children’s books.
“I wanted to write something for teachers, librarians and parents who don’t have the time to read academic journals,” she says.
The blog, entitled “American Indians in Children’s Literature: Critical Perspectives and Discussion of American Indians in Children’s Books, the School Curriculum, Popular Culture and Society-at-Large,” provides critiques of popular children’s books about American Indians, lists of recommended books and resources, holidays and Native- themed lessons, first-person stories by parents and teachers, images of Indians in children’s books and best sources for books about American Indians as well as information about native-related current events and topics.
Reese has been surprised by the blog’s popularity, which averages 500 hits per day. Links to her blog are listed on numerous Web sites of teacher, librarian and tribal organizations, including the Internet Public Library, ReadWriteThink and School Library Journal. According to data she keeps from her respondents, more than 75 professors within the academy use her blog in classes.
