Debbie Reese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Debbie Reese
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Reese at 2016 Association of Children's Librarians Institute
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| Born | |
| Nationality | Nambé Pueblo Nation |
| Occupation | Scholar, educator |
| Known for | American Indians in Children's Literature |
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Notable work
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An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People (2019) |
Debbie Reese is an important scholar and educator from the Nambé Pueblo Nation. She is well-known for creating American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). This organization looks closely at how Native and Indigenous peoples are shown in books for kids. She also helped write a special version of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for young people in 2019.
Contents
Who is Debbie Reese?
Debbie Reese is a respected scholar and educator. She is a member of the Nambé Pueblo Nation. Her work focuses on making sure that Native and Indigenous peoples are shown accurately and respectfully in children's books.
Early Life and Education
Debbie Reese grew up on a reservation in New Mexico. She is an enrolled member of the Nambé Pueblo Nation.
She earned a PhD in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Later, she received her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. She got this degree from San Jose State University through a special program for Native students.
Her Work as an Educator
Before getting her PhD, Debbie Reese was a school teacher. She taught at two regular American elementary schools. She also taught at two schools specifically for Native Americans. These schools were Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She also taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)
In 2006, Debbie Reese started American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). This is an organization and a website. AICL carefully examines how Native and Indigenous peoples are shown in books for children.
Reese often talks about how some classic children's books show Native people incorrectly. For example, she points out problems in books like Peter Pan and the Little House on the Prairie series. She believes these books can make readers think that Native people no longer exist.
Debbie Reese encourages teachers and parents to choose books written by and for Native Americans. She believes this is the best way to understand their stories. She has often spoken out against large publishers releasing Native stories written by white authors. Reese was one of many writers who spoke against the book A Birthday Cake for George Washington. She used AICL to follow how the publisher responded to the concerns.
Writing Books for Young People
In 2019, Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza wrote a book together. It is called An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People. This book is based on the adult book An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States.
Their book was recognized as a 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Young Adult Honor Book.
Personal Life
Debbie Reese lives in New Mexico. She is married and has one daughter.
Awards and Recognition
Debbie Reese has received several important awards for her work:
- 2018 - May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award from the American Library Association
For An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People:
- Best YA Nonfiction of 2019, according to Kirkus Reviews
- Best Nonfiction of 2019, according to School Library Journal
- 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Young Adult Honor Book
- 2020 In the Margins Award
