Pocahontas by Ingri dAulaire

Pocahontas Reviews

• 
  Patricia

  Useful in a college class on racism and sexism.
  Not suitable for today's child.
• 
  Asha

  Bad enough that my six year old found a copy of the Disney Pocohantas history mash-up somewhere, and that she is obsessed with long-haired princesses. Disney we know about. But this lamentably-lauded book was granted automatic credibility from living in her school's library.
  
  One star is one too many. A quick glance is enough to see that it is full of derogatory depictions, as well as imprecision and straight-up lies (which is ironic, given Pocahontas is reported to have confronted John Smith about the lie of his "death," and to recognize it as a common trait among "his countrymen").
  
  Worse than its factual distortion, in my opinion (although also via it), this book reinforces negative self-image for non-white children and, perhaps unintentionally, bolsters white supremacy. To whit: "The other Indian girls all envied Pocahontas her beautiful beads. But to her nothing seemed much fun after her white friends had left." The Indians are depicted as (eerily identical in a Wonka-remake kind of way) fierce, unsmiling, magic-wielding savages, with both text and illustrations demonstrating the authors' (European/American society's) utter disrespect for indigenous religious ceremonies and practices. And of course, there is the ubiquitous, self-congratulatory rebuke of indigenous labor division, with the "squaws" (yes, they actually use that word) being worked like mules from childhood while little boys get to swim and make merry (as if there was/is somehow gender equity in current/historical Western societies).
  
  The text also implies throughout that the Indians are all (with the exception of Pocahontas post-encounter) idiotic, materialistic, and superficial. The "ugly" and "fierce" Powhatan, a leader skilled enough to unite 30 tribes into a confederacy, supposedly claims John Smith as his "son" because Smith impresses him with reports of vast British wealth, rather than because Powhatan was attempting to broker some peace or even just secure an ally among people who were invading his lands. Those who betrayed Pocahontas to the British settlers who took her prisoner are made to seem foolish as well as avaricious, supposedly selling her for a shiny (!) copper kettle (a familiar story to those of us who grew up with textbooks claiming Indians traded their land and sovereignty away for shells), when historical resources reveal that these supposedly individual betrayers were representatives of another tribe attempting to strengthen their ties to the British as a way to improve their political/strategic position in relation to the Powhatan. As were the British who held her captive and demanded that Powhatan return their prisoners of war (hardly the minor material goods implied by "all he has taken from us") in exchange for her release.
  
  Powhatan is described as unwilling to fulfill settler demands to give them (more) corn when the people he led were also going hungry, but miraculously moved to generosity through the proffering of royal gifts and flattery. Even in its supposed advancement of "true" nobility, the book rhetorically betrays its bias: Pocahontas "held her head as high as though she had been born in a snow-white palace" and is "proud" of being the daughter of a man elsewhere in the book revealed as having been unwilling to "buy her back" from the settlers who had kidnapped her.
  
  Enough said. This book is enough to make one vomit. In an age when quality books compete for space on the shrinking real estate of library (especially school library) shelves, librarians should make way for more history-as-history, less myth-as-history. Send this one to the dustbin.
• 
  Jill

  This children's picture book was originally written in 1946 so granted it has that historical stamp on it. The lithographs held my five-year-old's attention through the whole story. This is not a short-paragraph-on-each-page book, so I was surprised.
  
  Is the the true story of Pocahontas? I'm sure there are many versions of that story depending on who told it and when and to whom.
  
  I wanted to share a story of bravery with my daughter and this was a good read. It will not be the only encounter she or I have with Pocahontas but it was a good course correction for future studies.
  
  My favorite page was the paragraph about Pocahontas's grandmother and her wisdom - stories, healing methods, spirituality, etc. I believe we disregard the experience of older generations far too quickly now. I appreciated the depiction of Pocahontas's respect for her elders and what they have to offer.
  
  The art was a new style for her to see and we talked about the depictions of the different peoples and their choices. Who knew a book about Pocahontas would begin a discussion with my daughter about taking and demanding what we want without listening to others? She could easily see in a new light something her parents have been saying for a long time: that fighting didn't help either group feel better or reach their goal.
• 
  M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews

  While I didn't find this as good as the Greek or Norse myth books that this couple did, this is still a fun book to have nonetheless. I remember reading this from the library when I was a child. This book is dated to be sure, but it's still a nice sample of D'Aulaire art.
• 
  Contemplative

  We are fans of D'Aulaire books and this classic story of Pocahontas. A great introduction for early elementary kids. Read this with your children before exposing them to the Disney version.
• 
  Hannah

  Read as a free read with my Year 1 student. She found it engaging and enjoyable. I appreciate that it’s not dumbed down but remains appropriate for young children.
• 
  Margaret Chind

  I read this aloud today. It worked out well. It was a book choice both in Simply Classical Level 3 Writing Book 2 and in 3/4 American Studies. I enjoy the switch back and forth of color to black and white images. The story is solid and detailed. Both my girls enjoyed listening aloud but my son wandered off.
  
  AppleBlossom (9.5) thinks that it is an energetic and adventurous story. The Princess (7.5) says she doesn't know what to say.
  
  The book via the D'Aulaires is copyright 1946. It is not offensive or derogatory in any way of a historical text. It was how things were written and perhaps the political correctness has changed. I do not find this in poor taste and wouldn't hesitate to let my children read it. They are learning about history and the truth that not all history aspects are something to be proud of, however, some good may always be found within the evil of man's actions end results.
• 
  Cathy aka The Attached Mama

  This is a great book that should be read with some guidance and explanation from the parent.
  
  This book contains a lot of outdated racial references. For example, the Native Americans are referred to as "red skinned" throughout the book. So I think that children need some explanation from the parent when reading this book. Parents also need to explain that some of the common anecdotes told about Pocahontas's life may be more myth than fact.
  
  I still rate this book with four stars because the illustrations are beautiful and worth buying the book to study them alone. I also feel like there is some value in children being made aware of certain popular American history myths since they are so often referenced in films, books, and popular culture. (Example: George Washington cutting down a cherry tree.)
  
• 
  Judy

  Thirty or so years ago, this would have rated 4 stars. Now that I am more sensitive to depictions of Native Americans, I did squirm in several places. That's why I read the books before I give them to the kids. I still like the art, and there's a lot of decent history here. When reading this with kids, I'll modify some of the sentences, and we'll "wonder" about some of the things we read, which should lead us to other more recent sources.
• 
  Jodi

  Note: Native American girls wear clothing that does not always cover their torsos, but they are not depicted in any way that is sexual or inappropriate. The few adult women that are shown without tops to their dresses are shown from the back.
• 
  Tara

  Beautifully illustrated. Author's description and attention to detail bring her to life as a mother, explorer, and woman
• 
  Heather

  This was a nice, gentle introduction to Pocahontas. The illustrations were good, but I would have liked to see more clothing on her (even if it's not historically accurate). The story briefly touches on Jamestown and Captain Smith, but you'd need to read another book in order to fully cover that topic. I wish that it had told why she died instead of just saying "she never returned to her land".
  
  This would be all you need (along with a Jamestown book) for K-2nd or 3rd grade. After that you could use this, but might want something more substantive.
  
  I asked my boys how they liked the book and they replied "it's for girls" - but that didn't stop them from sitting right in front of it while I was reading and I later found tons of drawings of Indians and Jamestown and such.
• 
  Ebookwormy1

  The brief life of Pocahontas from favorite daughter of the Powhattan to British nobility is drawn in pictures and words. John Smith, the Jamestown settlement, her kidnapping, marriage to John Rolfe, birth of her son and trip to London are all included.
  
  This is a rather rosy telling. Sensitive children are spared knowledge of her death at the age of 22 (this was confusing and unsettling for our students that knew "the rest of the story"), the death of her son, and her complicate relationship with John Smith.
  
  An enjoyable read that needs some supplemental source material. Recommended.
  
  
• 
  Dolly

  This is a fascinating account of Pocahontas's life. It's a short story, but includes enough details to be a fairly comprehensive overview of her background, family, and adventures. There aren't many illustrations in the book that we borrowed from the library, so we may borrow the book with the colorful illustrations. We borrowed this as part of a kit with an audiocassette narrated by
  Frances Sternhagen and paperback book. We enjoyed listening to the story as we followed along with the book.
• 
  Jordan Carlson

  Another excellent book from the d'Aulaires!
  
  Spiritual life of the Native Americans and the "magic" was one thing we needed to discuss further after reading this...but the kids & I enjoyed this very different sort of princess tale!
• 
  Amber

  We really enjoy the D'Aulaire books. They are beautifully illustrated and are full of information. A good biography of a very interesting character.
• 
  Johannes Kristian

  Own.
• 
  Mochapelt

  my son and I loved it!!!
• 
  Lisa

  The art is beautiful.
  I am not familiar with the story of Pocahontas, but this was well written and interesting and kept the interest of my children (7 & 5.5).
• 
  Bender

  Ipsam eos eveniet voluptatum corrupti recusandae sed. Et architecto deserunt id et nulla. Cumque eligendi molestias.
• 
  Elijah Libert

  I liked this book a lot but it is not a 5 star book. Because it is just kind of dull. Because it is just about like one idea, it does not switch around.
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• 
  Hannah Avery

  Beautiful book! Love this author's books!
• 
  Brooke

  Loved the pictures and the story. Kept the kids' interest. I just wonder how accurate it is...
• 
  Elizabeth

  AR ?
• 
  Sandy

  This should not be the only book about Pocahontas and the Jamestown settlement that is read to children while studying early American history. However, I found the book a nice introduction to the life and legends that accompany this early American heroine. The engaging story line and beautiful illustrations of D'Aulaire are worth some of the dated historical references (which honestly also make a good history lesson/conversation).