American Indian Stories details the hardships encountered by the Yankton Dakota writer Zitkala-Sa and other Native Americans in missionary and manual labour schools. The autobiographical details contrast her early life on the Yankton Indian Reservation and her time as a student at White's Manual Labour Institute and Earlham College. Old Indian Legends is a collection of fourteen Sioux stories that Zitkala-Sa learned as child and had gathered from various tribes. Zitkala-Sa intention was to preserve the traditional stories of her people.

American Indian Stories includes legends and stories from Sioux oral tradition, along with an essay titled America's Indian Problem, which advocates rights for Native Americans and calls for a greater understanding of Native American cultures. The work offers a unique view into a society that is often overlooked. Old Indian Legends is a collection of stories directed primarily at children. The collection was an attempt both to preserve Native American traditions and stories in print and to garner respect and recognition for those traditions from the dominant European-American culture.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.