Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story

A stunning picture book biography of a 19th century Hidatsa woman, from award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson

Buffalo Bird Girl (ca. 1839-1932) was a member of the Hidatsa, a Native American community that lived in permanent villages along the Missouri River on the Great Plains. Like other girls her age, Buffalo Bird Girl learned the ways of her people through watching and listening, and then by doing. She helped plant crops in the spring, tended the fields through the summer, and in autumn joined in the harvest. She learned to prepare animal skins, dry meat, and perform other duties.

There was also time for playing games with friends and training her dog. When her family visited the nearby trading post, there were all sorts of fascinating things to see from the white man's settlements in the East.

Award-winning author and artist S. D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux) captures the spirit of Buffalo Bird Girl by interweaving the actual words and stories of Buffalo Bird Woman with his artwork and archival photographs. Backmatter includes a history of the Hidatsa and a timeline.


Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Published: 10/01/2012
Pages: 56
Weight: 1.3lbs
Size: 10.10h x 10.10w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781419703553
Age: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.9
Point Value: 1
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 153336 / Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story


Award: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Young Hoosier Book Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2012
School Library Journal 11/01/2012 pg. 124
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 12/01/2012
SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2012 pg. 35
Publishers Weekly 12/24/2012
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2013 - Recommended, Satisfactory

About the Author
S. D. Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas. He is the award-winning author and illustrator of numerous children's books, including Black Elk's Vision, Gift Horse, Coyote Christmas, and The Star People. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. Visit him online at www.sdnelson.net.