This Dakota language dictionary and coloring book was conceived to induce the child to employ all of his or her senses in making language learning as easy and entertaining as possible. Although today Dakota speakers are found everywhere in South Dakota, the Missouri River is the linguistic boundary line and the Dakota traditional homeland was east of the Missouri in South Dakota and in Nebraska and western Minnesota. There may be minor differences, mostly in vocabulary, on the various Dakota-speaking reservations but the language presented in this book is universally understood by all other Dakota and Lakota speakers.

This is the second of a projected series of books which include the Lakota book, now in its second edition, and which will include the Nakota book now in preparation, which will be the last of the series. The artwork and language are authentic within each book for the area represented. We believe that this little dictionary is a valuable contribution to the rather meager stock of Dakota written literature. We hope it will supply the needed impetus for future publications.

It is our profound conviction that the best hope for the survival of this beautiful and expressive Native American language lies in presenting it to beginning students in an attractive and innovative form, as is presently the case with the European languages taught in American schools. This language--a genuine American language--holds the key to a better understanding of a vital and extremely important part of the heritage of our state and our nation and should therefore be presented to students and young people clothed with a dignity and seemliness that is in keeping with the beauty of our land.

---Robert and Muriel Bunge