The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a unique diabetes prevention effort targeted at Native youth. Authored by Georgia Perez of Nambe Pueblo, with beautiful illustrations by Patrick Rolo from Bad River Band of Ojibwe and Lisa A. Fifield from the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the Eagle Books are available and used throughout Indian Country. This is a four book series (Through the Eyes of the Eagle, Knees Lifted High, Plate full of Color, and Tricky Treats) that encourages children to eat healthy and enjoy being active while incorporating traditional teachings and the importance of elders.

For those who have not heard of the series, the books feature children (Rain that Dances and his friends) who encounter an Eagle. The Eagle shares with them how their people led active lives in the past and how changes in lifestyles have negatively impacted Tribal people’s health. In subsequent books the Eagle discusses the importance of good nutrition, an active lifestyle, and demonstrates the difference between healthy and unhealthy snacks. These books can be ordered from the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a resource for Head Start Programs at: Eagle Book Kits

The Eagle Books have been recently featured as special exhibits and will be available through the coming year at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D. C. and New York. They will also be in traveling exhibits with special activities throughout Indian Country. Information is available at:

In addition, there are other materials that were created to support the Eagle Books.

1. NEW animated versions of the Eagle Books on DVD with special features (closed captions & video descriptions for special needs audiences, American Indian language translations of the books, Spanish translations, and many resources for teachers, parents and communities). After October, the DVDs will be available at the same IHS site for ordering the books.
• Video Version (with closed captioning)
• Description and Access to the Animation
  
  
2. Teachers Guide/Community Guide to accompany Eagle Books along with other resources such as coloring books.
   
   
3. New Braille and Big Book (large print/large graphics) print versions of the Eagle Books are available in November, 2008. The Braille and Big Book versions can be requested in very limited quantities from CDC at: 1-800-CDC-INFO or cdcinfo@cdc.gov. (NOTE -the majority are being sent to IHS Head Start (Big Books) and to Disability programs (Braille) in Indian Country.) 

*** Non-tribal, non-IHS, and non-urban Indian programs will need to order their bulk requests for books at the Public Health Foundation. There is a nominal printing cost of $1.25 per set of books for bulk orders. Anyone can order one set of the Eagle Books and the DVDs from the CDC publications website at no cost.