Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge
By Deidre Havrelock & Edward Kay
Illustrated by Kalila J. Fuller
Corn. Chocolate. Fishing hooks. Boats that float. Insulated double-walled construction. Recorded history and folklore. Life-saving disinfectant. Forest fire management. Our lives would be unrecognizable without these, and countless other, scientific discoveries and technological inventions from Indigenous North Americans.
Spanning topics from transportation to civil engineering, hunting technologies, astronomy, brain surgery, architecture, and agriculture, Indigenous Ingenuity is a wide-ranging STEM offering that answers the call for Indigenous nonfiction by reappropriating hidden history. The audiobook includes fun, simple activities and experiments that kids can do to better understand and enjoy the principles used by Indigenous inventors. Listeners of all ages are invited to celebrate traditional North American Indigenous innovation, and to embrace the mindset of reciprocity, environmental responsibility, and the interconnectedness of all life.
Published by Christy Ottaviano Books
8-12 years | ISBN-13 978-0316413336
Praise for Indigenous Ingenuity by Deidre Havrelock & Edward Kay
An NCTE Orbis Picture Honor Book
Winner of the Nerdy Book Club Award for Best Longform Nonfiction
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens
★ ”Engaging and informative, this will be welcomed by both STEM and social studies curricula to help to correct prevailing narratives about Indigenous technology." ―Booklist, starred review
★ "This book will amaze readers and teachers as it demonstrates how pervasive and critical the history of Indigenous people is. A completely unique and important narrative not to be missed; readers and teachers will come away with a new appreciation for the myriad contributions Indigenous people have made." ―SLJ, starred review
"An astonishing, exuberant treasure trove of history, science and hands-on activities that repeatedly begs the question: "Why didn't I know this?" Essential for kids and adults. We need this book." ―Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov
"A conversational tone invites readers to engage with this monumental collection . . . Curious readers will learn facts unique to individual tribal groups while gaining knowledge of STEM/STEAM concepts. An ambitious, appealing, and accessible work documenting and protecting valuable knowledge."―Kirkus Reviews
"Via authoritative, meticulously researched prose, the creators detail Native peoples’ significant strides in scientific pursuits . . . [and] showcase Native tribes’ continual and enduring impact. Photographs, as well as interactive activities detailing recipes and science experiments, feature throughout, lending a hands-on approach to this clear and concise work." ―Publishers Weekly