Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Alaskan Childrens Literature
Alaskan Childrens Literature
http://ankn.uaf.edu/Resources/mod/glossary/showentry.php?
courseid=8&eid=9114&displayformat=dictionary
Summary: This informational geography and history textbook written for elementary
students includes topics specific to Alaskan geography and history, organized primarily by
regions of the state. It includes photographs, maps and illustrations throughout the text.
Application Activities:
How well do you know your state? Pretend that you have visited each region of Alaska.
Create a postcard of the most interesting geographical formation, artifact, or historical site
you saw while there. On one side you should illustrate the card, and on the other you
should write a 2-4-sentence description of the significance of the item or location. Create a
guide to your travels throughout the state by locating each place visited on a blank map of
Alaska. Extension activity: Design a route between the locations. What type of
transportation can you use between them?
Suggested Age Levels: Intermediate (3-6)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Summary: This book intertwines simple poems, prose and detailed colorful drawings to
provide information on the geography, history, plants, animal life, and legends associated
with Denali.
Application Activities:
Denali is visited by thousands of visitors every year. If you were visiting, what would you
hope to see? Choose a topic related to the mountain (plant life, animals, legends, etc.) and
create a brochure to teach other visitors about your favorite topic related to the mountain.
Summary: This information book describes what Alaskan Native life was like during
territorial times, including traditional foods, housing, transportation and lifestyle.
Application Activities:
The book describes Alaskan Natives being caught between two worlds – the traditional
lifestyle and the modern ways introduced once western civilization came. Create a picture
that demonstrates examples of both worlds that might be part of today’s lifestyle in Alaska.
Example: going to a modern school but learning traditional language, etc.
Suggested Age Levels: Intermediate (3-5)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover (library)
Paperback
Application Activities:
Climate impacts the adaptations that animals have developed. Compare the climate of two
different regions of Alaska. What differences do you notice? How would this impact the
animal adaptions? Share your findings by creating a graphic representation of the
information you discover. It could be a poster, brochure, picture, comic, or another form of
illustration you prefer.
Suggested Age Levels: Primary (K-3)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Paperback
Application Activities:
This book shows modern Alaskan life. If you could visit an area of the state mentioned in
this book, which one would it be? Write a paragraph describing which location you would
travel to, and include the reasons why you would like to visit that place.
Application Activities: Elizabeth Peratrovich used her carefully chosen words to persuade the Alaskan
Legislature to pass the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act in 1945. Students can perform a reader’s theatre
reenactment of this historic moment. The script can be found at this site:
https://www.k12northstar.org/cms/lib/AK01901510/Centricity/Domain/1094//Elizabeth%20Peratrovich
%20Lessons/epreaderstheatre.pdf
Application Activities:
Chose one of the women whose accomplishments are highlighted in this book. Create a
poster that illustrates the reasons why they are considered bold.
Application Activities:
Olemaun (Margaret) experiences culture shock when going to boarding school. Choose a
photograph from the book, and describe the cultural differences between her two worlds.
Example: housing, clothing, food, etc. Use internet or text resources to support your
observations.
Application Activities:
Feeling out of place is one of the themes explored in this story. Have you ever felt this way?
In what types of situations would you feel that you didn’t fit in? Write an essay, poem, or
draw an image that illustrates your feelings of not belonging.
Summary: Benny Benson, an Aleut boy living in a mission home, enters and wins the state
flag design contest in a true story illustrated with colorful, detailed acrylic paintings.
Application Activities:
Benny Benson used natural elements to inspire his flag design. Which natural features of
Alaska inspire you? Design your own Alaskan flag, and explain the significance of the
symbols used on your flag. Extension: Write new lyrics to the Alaska flag song to match
your flag’s symbols.
Summary: This book recounts the true story of Rocky Kent’s year on Fox Island with his
father, who was a painter, and the adventures and simple pleasures they experienced
during the early 1900’s. Simple drawings that appear etched from wood illustrate the story,
and real photos and additional background information are also included.
Application Activities:
Rocky spent a winter without any other children to play with, and very few toys or other
normal childhood things. If you were in his situation, what types of games or adventures
would keep you busy and entertained? Draw a picture of this activity, using the setting in
the story.
Suggested Age Levels: Primary / Intermediate (1-4)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Fiction
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Zoey Morley tells the story of her new life in Anchorage and
summer spent in Bristol Bay with her divorced mother, brother, and mother’s new bush
pilot boyfriend. She learns about life on a commercial set net fishing site, the challenges of
living in Alaska, and how to deal with her parents’ divorce and lack of contact from her
father.
Application Activities:
This book describes several situations in which the characters must think quickly in order
to solve a problem regarding outdoor safety. Choose one of these situations, and describe
how you would have reacted if you were faced with a similar circumstance. Include
information for how you could prepare for the situation to increase your likelihood of
making the right decision. Example: Zoey and her brother wander into an area with a bear.
How would you have reacted? What information could prepare you if you were going to be
in an area where bear awareness/safety was needed?
Summary: Terpsichore and her family move from Wisconsin to Alaska in the 1930’s as part
of the Palmer Colony project, and learn both self-reliance and ingenuity in meeting the
challenges of establishing their farm and becoming part of the community of pioneers to
settle the area. The book is based on research of real conditions, with resources provided
for further study.
Application Activities:
This story describes life during the 1930’s, when many homesteaders arrived in Alaska.
Terpsichore and her friends each found a way to contribute their interests as they formed a
new community and school. Discussion questions: If you were in their shoes, what interest
could you contribute? Would you need to seek help from people outside of Alaska, as
Terpsichore did with her library project? Create a flyer for a new club or society you would
like to begin. Include details about the group’s purpose, any supplies needed, and how it
could benefit the school or community. If funds are needed, include ideas for raising money.
Application Activities:
Leaving home for boarding school took children out of their cultural environment and away
from family support. The characters must look to each other for support. What are some
ways that you might look to friends or family for support? Make a picture or collage of the
people, places, or objects that bring you comfort, support, or inspiration to persevere when
times are hard.
Application Activities:
The forced evacuation of the Aleuts during this time period has had lasting effects on their culture.
Research more about this time period at:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alaska_maritime/AleutianIslandsWWIIMonument.html
If you were going to design a monument/memorial to honor those who were displaced, how
would you choose to design it? Create a sketch of your memorial, and include a paragraph
that explains the significance of the symbols or objects you include in the design.
Suggested Age Levels: Middle/High (6-10)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Paperback
Kindle
Audiobook
Summary: Bo is adopted by two men in a 1920’s Alaska mining camp and tells the story of
the lifestyle and adventures of a child living in this time period.
Application Activities: During the story, Bo sees an airplane for the first time. What do
you think your reaction would be if you lived during this time period? Write a poem or
draw a picture of the first time you experienced something new that you thought was
amazing.
Summary: Fredericka (Fred) narrates the story of life in a rural Athabaskan village one-
room schoolhouse in 1948 after Miss Agnes Sutterfield arrives. The teacher’s inclusive
methods, interest and respect for the lifestyle of the students, and empathy inspire the
entire community to embrace education.
Application Activities:
Miss Agnes was able to help each child in ways that were important to them. What
important things should your teacher know about you? Create an All About Me poster that
shares the things you think your teacher should know to help you learn. Some suggestions:
hardest subject, favorite types of books, how you like to learn (reading, listening,
experimenting, talking through ideas), problems you want to fix, things you do well, favorite
hobbies, dreams for the future, etc. Be creative!
Summary: After the death of their alcoholic father after arriving in a remote fish camp,
Toughboy and Sister try to prove that they can successfully live on their own as they face an
uncertain future as orphans in an Athabascan village.
Application Activities:
Toughboy and Sister were able to survive until help arrived by using what they had in the
cabin, knowing their environment, and not panicking. If you were in their shoes, would you
have done anything different?
Create a survival guide by making a list of the top five necessary items or practices in these
categories: food, tools, attitudes, and daily habits. Compare your lists with someone else.
Be prepared to justify your choices during a small group discussion.
Suggested Age Levels: Upper elementary (4-6)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Paperback
Application Activities:
Toughboy and Sister learned traditional ways of survival from Natasha. When Sister fell
into the icy water, she immediately used survival techniques to keep from going in. Using
this resource from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, review the do’s and don’t of
being safe on ice, and what to do if you were in the same situation. Create a poster with the
information you learn.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/education/educators/curricula/pdfs/lets_go_ice_fishing_complete.pdf
Suggested Age Levels: Intermediate (4-6)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Paperback
Summary: This novel uses strong imagery related to smell as it intertwines the stories of
four Alaskan teens who are struggling with challenging life circumstances, such as teenage
pregnancy, abusive home lives, alcoholic parents, and non-traditional families.
Application Activities:
The characters in this novel all have to make decisions when faced with difficult
circumstances. What is the most difficult circumstance you’ve had to face? What options
did you consider and choose to solve the problem?
Alternate assignment (due to the sensitive nature of the topic):
Write a letter to one of the characters in the novel, explaining the choices they have for one
of their problems, and the options they should consider to solve that problem.
Suggested Age Levels: High school (9-12)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Paperback
Kindle
Audiobook
Application Activities: This story describes both the rewards and the challenging
conditions experienced by the families that arrived in Alaska. If you were living during this
time period, how would you have felt? Write a letter to a friend back home, taking on the
role of one of the characters in the book. Use examples of events from the story to add
details to your letter about the positive or negative events you’ve experienced.
Suggested Age Levels: Intermediate / Middle (4-7)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Paperback
Kindle
Article about a real life situation that some claim Michaelsen may have based his book on:
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/31/us/indian-boys-exile-turns-out-to-be-hoax.html
Application Activities:
Tlingit culture is revealed in the artwork. Research the symbols used on totem poles, and
then create symbols for aspects of your own culture that could be represented on a totem
pole. Create a drawing of or three-dimension totem pole using these symbols.
Suggested Age Levels: Intermediate (3-5)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Paperback
Kindle
Special Notes / Links to Critical Reviews:
Review
https://www.juneauempire.com/life/little-whale-takes-readers-on-tlingit-canoe-journey/
Folktale / Legend
Application Activities:
The man made several stops as he searched for his wife. Draw a story map of the man’s
journey. Use the story map as a guide for retelling the tale to a partner. Discussion
questions: Do your stories sound similar to the original tale read? How do storytellers
change stories as they are retold?
Author/Illustrator: Tlingit story, Adapted Title: The Woman Who Married the Bear
by Frank Henry Kaash Katasse / Illus. by
Janine Gibbons
Publisher: Sealaska Heritage Institute Place: Juneau Date: 2017
Format/ # of pages: Picture book / 40 p. Genre: Folktale
Topic/themes: Respect for nature / Alaska Key Words: bear, berry picking
following rules
Point of View/Tone: Style/ Literary Elements:
3rd person / reflective, educational Narrative / dialogue, humor
Summary: A grandfather tells the story of a woman who is enchanted and captured by a
bear after insulting it, and her rescue. Dark hued, detailed paintings provide a dream-like
mood to the tale.
Application Activities:
There is only one page where there is no illustration. Discussion questions: Why do you
think the author and artist left this page blank? If you were asked to create an illustration
for this page, what would you include? Create a sketch that would match the story line for
these blank pages.
Suggested Age Levels: Primary / Intermediate (K-5)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Application Activities:
Tall tales use exaggeration to tell their story. Choose an activity that you enjoy doing, and
write a paragraph using this style of writing to create your own tall tale.
Application Activities:
Each region of Alaska has animals that can be typically found there. Which animals should
be included if this story were set in the central Kenai Peninsula? Rewrite the part of the
story showing all of the animals, using local wildlife. Draw a background that represents a
Kenai Peninsula location.
Application Activities:
Students can create a “mini” book, retelling the main parts of the story, then read that story
to a partner.
Summary: Through descriptive language and illustrations, a story is told of how a young
Athabascan girl transforms into a salmon to learn first-hand how to honor the yearly return
of the fish. The girl is able to rejoin her community and share what she had learned from the
salmon and how to treat them to ensure their return to their rivers every summer.
Application Activities:
In this book the girl learns how to be respectful to the king salmon by keeping knives sharp
and the salmon camp clean. What are some of your families fishing traditions in hopes of the
fish returning each summer? Design and illustrate an art piece that shows how you
celebrate the return of the king salmon.
Application Activities:
Pourquoi tales try to explain how something came to be. With a partner, choose one part of
this story to act out. Take turns being the narrator and the actor.
Summary: This folktale recounts the story of two old Athabaskan women who were left by
their families to die because the rest of the group was struggling with their own survival
and viewed the women as a drain on their resources.
Application Activities: The people from their village didn’t think to ask the old women
about their knowledge of the past to help them solve their problems. Once they realized
how resourceful the women were, they had much more humility and respect. If you could
offer someone advice about a topic you feel confident in, what would that advice be? Create
a poster, write a “how to” list, or use another method of your choice to give this advice.
Fantasy
Summary: Using southeast Alaskan fishing communities as inspiration for the setting, this
is a retelling of the Cinderella story. Color drawings illustrate the scenery and lifestyle of
Alaska, which are incorporated throughout the retelling.
Application Activities:
Compare the traditional (Disney) and Alaskan retelling of the Cinderella story. Create a
Venn diagram comparing the two stories. Choose one part of the story, and create a
retelling that matches the local environment.
Suggested Age Levels: Primary (K-3)
Cover Art: Available Formats:
Hardcover
Paperback
Poetry
Application Activities:
The book uses sounds as one inspiration for its poetry. What sounds do you hear when you
step outside of your house? Are they different from the sounds you hear when you are at
school? Hiking? Walking on the beach? We will take a sound field trip to various locations
on the school grounds. Write down your observations, and then choose one of the locations.
Write a short poem that includes the sounds you hear.
Application Activities:
Each poem suggests a humorous situation or reason for the animal’s pose or actions
portrayed in the photo. Choose a poem and write a short story to accompany the photo and
poem. Your story can be about the actions that led up to the photo taken, or can tell what
happened next.
Arts
Application Activities: Choose one of the pieces of artwork in the book, and research the
Alaskan Native group that created it. Include geographical and cultural factors that
contributed to its creation.
Author/Illustrator: Van Zyle, J. Title: Best of Alaska: The Art of Jon Van Zyle
Publisher: Epicenter Press Place: Fairbanks Date: 1990
Format/ # of pages: Picture / 80 p. Genre: Arts
Topic/themes: Alaskan themed painting Alaska Key Words: Van Zyle, Alaskan
scenes
Summary: This book contains examples of the artist’s paintings, which show Alaskan
scenes of wildlife, Alaskan Native culture, and fishing.
Application Activities:
Choose one painting, and write a poem that expresses your reaction to the scene depicted.