As many kids across the U.S. enjoy a day off school for Columbus Day, I encourage you to visit and follow this blog: American Indians in Children’s Literature.
It is written by Debbie Reese, a Nambe Pueblo Indian woman from northern New Mexico. On the blog, Reese, who has been a school teacher and professor of children’s literature, critiques stereotyped portrayals of American Indians in kids’ books and offers better examples. It’s worth a read by any parent, teacher or librarian.
And if you are, indeed, a teacher, I also recommend you check out the Zinn Education Project for some different perspectives on Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day than we usually see in schools. Did you know that Seattle’s school board recently voted to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day each year? The city council followed up with a similar vote the next week.
“Rethinking Columbus” is a volume for teachers, published by Rethinking Schools magazine.
Kara Newhouse 
My son’s 6th grade class is putting Columbus on trial this week for crimes against humanity. His teacher was close to Zinn, and gave his son Zinn for a middle name. He teachers from Zinn’s Young People’s history of the U.S. My son said that Columbus is “goin’ down.”
Wow! I’d love to see a video of that mock trial. What a great opportunity that your son is taught by someone who knew Howard Zinn. Have they read any good books on the subject in the lead up to the trial?
Good question. I’m not sure. I know they get packets to read and write Cornell notes on, but I don’t know the origin of the packets. Must find out….
Gotcha. Lemme know 🙂
yeah i struggle with this whole Native American representation. I want to get it right. I’m all for Indigenous Peoples Day!