These brief biographies of seven legendary Native American leaders strive for historical accuracy but suffer from flat prose and unfortunate choices of cover illustrations. Reluctant readers may be attracted by the short, simply written chapters, which are profusely illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions. The books have all been previously published under different titles and a different series name. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Sifting fact from folklore, these titles in the Native American Chiefs and Warriors series introduce key Native American leaders during the time of westward expansion. After an overview of each leader's youth, including family life, vision quests, and warrior training, each book focuses on the U.S. government's infringement upon Native American land and how these leaders responded. Oglala Lakota Chief Red Cloud recounts Red Cloud's fight to prevent whites from traveling along the Bozeman and Oregon Trails, his meeting with President Ulysses Grant, and his band's forced move to a reservation. Accompanied by archival photos and reproductions, these well-balanced biographies encourage students to learn more about these unsung American figures.