Sacagawea

“Behind every great man stands a great woman,” the saying goes, and there is probably no better example of this in American history than Sacagawea, whose resourcefulness, bravery, and communication skills were absolutely essential to the success of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Here, the fascinating story of Sacagawea, for kids, is told with dynamic details that make her come to life. Just 15 – and the mother of a two-month-old son – when she joined the expedition, she quickly proved indispensable; she foraged for food for the group and was adept at leading the way through Shoshone country.

On the journey, one of the most incredible things to happen to Sacagawea, kids will learn, was that she was reunited with her Shoshone family, from whom she had been kidnapped as a young girl. But she stayed on with the Corps and eventually, they made it to the coast in Oregon Territory in 1805, having traveled across the vast Louisiana Purchase. But the tale doesn’t end there: Clark and Sacagawea maintained contact for years afterward, and she even sent her son to him to be educated. Plus, one account of her death has him adopting her son and daughter after she died at 25. However, Shoshone oral tradition has her living to a ripe old age of 94. No matter what the truth is, the life of Sacagawea – for kids who love tales of adventure and exploration – is a timeless one.

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