Tag: Traci Sorell

Review: Powwow Day

~ Devyn ~ Leave a comment

I am thrilled to be sharing one of my most anticipated picture books of 2022 by one of my favorite award winning authors today! Powwow Day by Traci Sorell and Madelyn Goodnight is a beautiful picture book that lived up to all my anticipation.

Title: Powwow Day
Author: Traci Sorell
Illustrator: Madelyn Goodnight
Published: February 8, 2022
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Format: Picture Book

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Following a young girl named River as she and her family attend a powwow, Powwow Day offers a contemporary story highlighting Native American traditions – but it is also a beautiful story of healing and hope. River wants to dance at the powwow more than anything, but because she is recovering from an illness, she cannot dance with her sister, friends, and cousins. As River witnesses the powwow dances and listens to the drums, she is uplifted by her community as she remembers the meaning behind the jingle dress dance and finds hope that she will dance again.

The theme of healing feels incredibly timely as we all navigate the uncertainty of the continued pandemic. The hopeful ending is a beautiful reminder to young readers that they too will be able to do the things they love, and our limitations are often temporary.

Madelyn Goodnight’s illustrations are absolutely wonderful. Fans of Look, Grandma!/Ni, Elisi! will be happy to see the familiar vibrant colorwork and detail on every page,

There is also detailed information providing education about the cultural tradition of powwows, making Powwow Day a fantastic addition to school and classroom libraries.

Powwow Day is available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge for sharing this amazing book with me! I was so happy to learn more about powwows, and I’m so excited to be able to share this book with everyone today.

About The Author:

Traci Sorell writes fiction and nonfiction for children featuring contemporary characters and compelling biographies. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and lives in northeastern Oklahoma, where her tribe is located.

About The Illustrator:

Madelyn Goodnight is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. Her work reflects her love of childhood. She holds a degree from Rhode Island School of design and lives in Brooklyn. She is the illustrator of The Pear Tree and Look, Grandma!/Ni, Elisi! http://www.madelyngoodnight.com

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We Are Still Here! – Native American Truths Everyone Should Know

~ Devyn ~ 2 Comments

Traci Sorell and Frané Lessac, the award-winning creators of We Are Grateful: Otsliheliga are back at it with a companion title: We Are Still Here!

We Are Still Here! is a nonfiction book documenting the challenges Native Nations have faced and the ways they continue to fight for their rights today. Focusing mainly on the actions taken by the United States Government, this book shares many lessons currently taught in Native-operated schools today.

The book actually uses a Native-operated school as its backdrop as we follow a class working on their Indigenous Peoples’ Day project. On the first page we are introduced to some “familiar” history, but each child’s presentation will focus on topics after treaty making stopped in 1871, such as forced assimilation, religious freedom, and economic development. Every child’s presentation drives home the fact that Native American History is still being made today.

Fans of We Are Grateful: Otsliheliga will be glad to find Frané Lessac’s familiar vibrant style continues into this companion book as well. Each spread depicts the subject of a child’s project, capturing both historical and contemporary Native American experiences.

The back matter contains lots of additional information about each of the twelve topics discussed in the children’s projects, as well as a glossary and timeline, making this title the perfect addition to classroom and school libraries.

We Are Still Here! officially releases tomorrow (April 20,2021), but you can preorder your own copy today where books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)

Traci Sorell is a dual citizen of the Cherokee Nation and The United States, and is an award-winning author of five children’s books. She lives in Oklahoma, where her tribe is located. To learn more about her and her work, please visit her website at tracisorell.com.

Frané Lessac is an award-winning author and illustrator of over fifty books. Please visit her website at franelessac.com to learn more about her and her work.

I would like to thank Charlesbridge Publishing for providing me with a review copy of We Are Still Here. I am honored to share such an important book and encourage young readers to learn more about Native American history.

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