Little Runner of the Longhouse (I Can Read Books (Harper Hardcover))

Rating:
Summary: All the maple sugar I can eat
Review: A favorite from my childhood. Glad to see it's still around even if it doesn't sit well with everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Little Runner of the Longhouse
Review: As an Iroquois (or as we prefer to call ourselves Haudenosaunee), I am deeply urked by this book!!! The book's sacriligious use of allowing a young boy to play with a false face mask rips at the core of my religion. A child would never be allowed to show such disregard for such a sacred object. This book should NOT be read!!!!!!!! At best it should be used to show the disregard for Native American religion and culture by the dominate society!!!

Rating:
Summary: Stereotyped and offensive - avoid it!
Review: This book, written in 1962, sadly reflects the worst tendencies of Indian-themed children's books.

Little Runner, whose tribe is never identified, looks Anglo and dresses like Daniel Boone. His life is made to look like a cartoon. Sacred items are treated in a disrespectful, offensive way. Imagine a book showing a young Jewish boy playing with a Torah, or a young Christian tossing about a crucifix, and you might get the idea of how offensive this book is.

Avoid this at all costs, and toss it out of your school library. There are many, many children's books with Native themes that are beautiful and entertaining. (...)