download the 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Reviews.

13 Pages·2016·2.7 MB·English

Skipping Stones
Vol. 28, No. 3
A Multicultural Literary Magazine
July–Sept. 2016
Reviews of the 2016
Multicultural & Nature Books
• •
Nature Haiku 2016 Book Awards Celebrate America
The 2016 Skipping Stones Honor Awards
E
ach year, the Skipping Stones Honor Awards recognize outstanding multicultural,
international, and nature awareness books, and teaching resources. For this 23rd year
of the awards program, we recommend 27 books and three teaching resources. These
books promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation, and encourage a
deeper understanding of the world’s diversity. Many of these books also encourage
ecological richness, respect for multiple viewpoints, and closer relationships within
human societies. These unique titles offer an exciting way to explore and understand
diverse cultures, places, societies, and their histories.
We wish to thank the many readers and reviewers who helped us select and review
these great reading adventures and learning experiences for readers of all ages.
Multicultural & International Books
Baby Talk Bilingual Board Books/ ers. This portal to a third lan-
Palabras del bebé Libros guage breaks us free of binary
Bilingües, by Katherine Del thinking and unleashes a con-
Monte, illustr. Noël Ill. A set of five fidence for learning new word
books. LecturaBooks.com sounds. The theme of love and
acceptance of differences helps
This collection of board books
kids take pride in their unique
introduces the English and Spanish
version of self and family, par-
language through the use of first
ticularly for multiracial children. You’ll want to read
words for babies. There are five books in the collection,
this book with your young ones over and over as the
covering topics that are always of interest to little ones:
acceptance and love radiates from the pages.
Baby Body—El Cuerpo del Bebé; Animals—Animales;
My Family—Mi Familia; Birds—Aves; and Insects- —Michelle Barnes, parent and educator.
Insectos. The big, brightly colored illustrations are cute,
Lo que mi abuela me dijo/
and definitely grab the attention. The translations are
What My Grandmother Told
precise and literal, allowing for ease in word identifica-
Me: Practical Wisdom from Spanish
tion and language comparison. The use of board book
Proverbs and Sayings by Maria Paz
pages indicates that this collection is for very young
Eleizegui Weir, illustr. Mahala Urra.
ones. Some of the books in the collection work with
All ages. www.unmpress.com.
full sentences, which is in contrast to the majority of
As a student in India, I was always
the books that work with single words. Despite this
intrigued by the many proverbs I
minor inconsistency, the collection is overall an excel-
heard in Marathi and Hindi, the
lent resource for parents wanting their children to have
two languages I grew up with.
a bilingual reading experience.
They have been etched in my memory permanently.
—Diana Lynne Hoffman, parent and author.
Proverbs are much like photographs; they convey a
I am Hapa! by Crystal Smith; photos: Michael Satoshi wealth of information in an easy to understand manner.
Garcia. English/Spanish/Chinese. Eastwestdiscovery.com.
Naturally, when I saw this wonderful collection of
This delightful trilingual picture book focuses on lov- Spanish proverbs and sayings, I fell in love with it. I am
ing yourself as a unique being. The close ups of happy well-versed with Spanish, so I have read the book many
faces make smiles contagious. The phonetic spelling of times, both the dichos in Spanish and their English ver-
Chinese makes it exceptionally accessible for ALL read- sions, and I have enjoyed browsing through the pages
Vol. 28, no. 3 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Summer 2016
each time. I think proverbs are like windows that shine My Tata’s Remedies/Los reme-
a bright light on the culture and life of a community. dios de mi tata by Roni Capin
Rivera-Ashford, illustr. Antonio
These Spanish proverbs and their English translations
Castro L. Ages 7-11. www.cinco-
are presented in six chapters: Childhood, Friendship,
puntos.com
Manners, Work and Strife, Wisdom, and Love and
Destiny. There are also two chapters, in the beginning Aaron’s Tata has been helping peo-
and at the end, that offer a context as well as an epi- ple feel better for as long as he can
logue to the book. The author grew up in the city of remember. This includes his family,
Manila (in the tropical country of the Philippines in Aaron, and even the neighbors, if they ask! His healing
Asia). Most of her childhood until the age of 13 was power comes from his shed, shelves filled to the top
spent with her Spanish grandmother (abuelita) who with jars of medicinal plants and flowers that Tata has
spoke Spanish with her. It is during this time when gathered. Aaron asks him one day to teach him about
the author was living with her abuelita that she learned his remedies, and Tata is more than happy to oblige.
these dichos—and the essential truths of living with, and
As the day goes on, Aaron finds that there is always a
relating to, others contained in these colloquial sayings.
cure for every patient, which there seem to be a lot
“Del dicho al hecho, hay mucho trecho,” reminded her of today! People come from all over the neighbor-
abuelita often, “It’s a long way between what you say hood for help. Aaron’s brother’s itchy feet, the neigh-
and what you do.” bor’s baby with diaper rash, the mailman with a cold,
another neighbor with a burn, Aaron’s sister with a
Comic illustrations on each spread add color to the
fever, and even a cut from a knife. While many of these
bilingual text. Recommended for all students of life!
are cured with flowers, medicinal plants, and even fruit,
—Arun N. Toké, executive editor.
sometimes, Tata tells Aaron, a hug can be enough too.
El Día de los Muertos/The Through all this Aaron realizes how lucky he is to learn
Remembering Day by/por Pat all this from Tata, and is inspired to improve to be a
Mora, illustr. Robert Casilla. Ages great healer, just like him.
7-9. www.artepublicopress.com
While many cultural remedies are only passed down by
Mama Alma, Bella’s grandmother, oral tradition, My Tata’s Remedies presents a unique
teaches Bella from the time she and long lasting way to keep these traditions alive
is a baby. As Bella grows up she through its lively watercolor paintings. In the back is a
learns to garden, to weave, to comprehensive list of all the medicinal plants used, giv-
identify and collect medicinal ing the book even more practical use. This book offers
plants, and much other wisdom from Mama Alma. a wonderful opportunity to bond while helping others.
And she begins to teach others. As Mama Alma grows
—Elizabeth Ponce Del Valle, student intern.
older, she reminisces with Bella about all their special
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan
times together. And she repeatedly asks Bella to plan
Story by Reem Faruqi, illustr. Lea
a special remembering day for her when she is gone.
Lyon. Ages 5-9. Tilburyhouse.com
Most importantly, Mama Alma often tells Bella that she
will always be with her, even when she cannot see or Last year, Lailah made the
touch her anymore. In this way she prepares Bella for big move from Abu Dhabi to
her death. This book has both English and Spanish on Peachtree City, Georgia, with her
each page. It beautifully imparts both the importance of family. Now her mom says she is
family in the Mexican culture, and the custom of hon- old enough to fast for Ramadan,
oring the ancestors on The Day of the Dead. but there is one problem. No one
else in her class is fasting. Her classmates don’t even
—Yvonne Young, storyteller, grandmother and retired teacher.
Summer 2016 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Vol. 28, no. 3
know what Ramadan is. Lailah’s mom writes a note This is a very inspiring true
for her teacher, but Lailah is too embarrassed to show story about a boy who is born
it to anyone. She wishes her friends, Hend and Ishrat, in the Dominican Republic,
were with her, because they would know what to do. and he and his older broth-
Ultimately, Lailah has to learn to accept herself, a mes- er Ramon both grow up
sage relevant not only for children fasting at Ramadan, to be pitchers on Major-
but anyone who has struggled to fit in. League Baseball teams. The
Dominican Republic is a very
The story of Lailah’s Lunchbox, the author explains at
poor country, and their family
the end, is in fact based on the author’s own experi-
couldn’t afford much. So Ramon and Pedro practiced
ences. And the beautiful watercolor illustrations bring
pitching baseballs at mangoes! Because of their shared
the story to life for even the youngest readers.
passion for baseball, the two brothers helped each other
—Daemion Lee, Returned PCV and editorial staff.
to become successful and famous.
Mango, Abuela, and Me by
Their hard work and determination paid off, liter-
Meg Medina, illustr. Angela
ally and figuratively. When Ramon and Pedro retired
Dominguez. Ages 5-8. www.
from baseball as multi-millionaires, they came back to
candlewick.com
the Dominican Republic to be with their family, and
This cheerfully illustrated to help improve the lives of kids there. They founded
book outlines the trajectory the Pedro Martinez and Brothers Foundation in 1988,
of when a person moves to and together they have built schools, baseball fields, and
a new land and learns a new other structures to benefit young people and commu-
language. When the grand- nities.
mother first comes to live
I thought this story was a great example of working
with them, the little girl is unsure how to communicate
towards a goal and achieving it. It inspired me to work
with her, and feels shy with the “far-away grandmoth-
harder at the things I’m good at and passionate about.
er.” The expressive faces of the illustrations show the
This story also reminded me of myself and my brother,
frustration and occasional sadness that can accompany
because we both share a love of chess. I would recom-
that transition. Soon the little girl uses her experience
mend this book for ages 8+ and especially for people
with her best friend at school, who used to speak no
that follow baseball.
English, to draw her grandmother into the family and
—Owen McCoy, 13, homeschooler.
sharing their two cultures. The granddaughter becomes
her English teacher and tells her the words for every- The Green Musician by Mahvash Shahegh, illustr.
thing surrounding them, and even goes so far as to put Claire Ewart. Ages 6-9. www.wisdomtalespress.com.
a sign on everything like they did in class for her friend.
People have always been fasci-
The joy that erupts when they can finally communi-
nated by stories, and bookstores
cate takes the form of a pet parrot, providing a meta-
today are always filled with the
experience as they teach the new pet words from both
latest novels. Our collective thirst
languages! The thoughtful, colorful illustrations mir-
for stories is a constant, and while
ror the hope and accomplishment of this new family
the underlying themes may not
member finding her place in a new land.
change much over time, the
—Michelle Barnes, parent and educator details of each narrative are what
pull us in. But some stories with-
Growing up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made
stand the test of time, compelling readers for centuries
It from the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major
or even millennia. The Green Musician relates one such
Leagues by Matt Tavares. Ages 8-12. Candlewick Press.
story that first originated over 1,000 years ago, in Persia,
Vol. 28, no. 3 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Summer 2016
and makes it appealing and accessible to young chil- and make this book a visual delight.
dren.
The book was inspired by a Native American tale
Mahvash Shahengh, who retells this ancient tale from “Why the Trees Lose Their Leaves.” Cherokee storytell-
the “Book of Kings,” was inspired by her grandchildren er and community and school specialist Robert Louis
to share this cultural treasure with young readers. As an gave his blessing to this retelling of the story, which was
expert in Persian literature, she has skillfully adapted the probably told in different versions by several east coast
story of Barbad, which is based on a historical figure tribes. Pine and the Winter Sparrow would be a
who served a king named Khosrow Parvez. The story desirable addition to any children’s library.
begins with Barbad as a young man growing up far
—Yvonne Young, storyteller, retired teacher.
from the king’s palace, dreaming of playing his music
Whispers of the Wolf by Pauline Ts’o, illustr. Pauline
for the king. He soon realizes that his greatest obstacle
Ts’o. Ages 5 and up. www.wis-
is the king’s current musician, Sarkash, who prevents
domtalespress.com.
Barbad from meeting the king. Fortunately, Barbad
finds an ally who helps him to get the king’s atten- Two Birds is a young Pueblo
tion in a creative way. While the truth underlying this boy, quiet and shy, and he
charming tale makes it even more entertaining for the avoids participating in the
reader, the personal qualities of Barbad are what really footraces with the other boys.
stand out: his enthusiasm for sharing his gift of music, One day, Two Birds finds a
his unfailing optimism, and his perseverance in over- tiny wolf pup, weak and sick,
coming his adversary. and he brings it home to feed
and care for it. Gradually, the young wolf grows
Since many young children may never get the oppor-
stronger. Now, the strongest runner among all the boys,
tunity to travel internationally, a book like this helps
Gray Bear, begins to go out hunting with Two Birds
them to imagine far away places, and to appreciate
and his wolf. The two boys, opposite in temperament as
their classmates who have a different cultural heritage
they may be, establish an unlikely friendship.
than their own. Some kids may even be inspired by
this book to explore other cultures and languages in But at night, Two Bird’s canine companion hears the
more depth, and perhaps even to travel to the mid-East cries of other wolves in the distance. Two Bird needs to
someday. And for American children with Persian heri- make a decision. And he wonders if his friendship with
tage, this book helps to connect them with the cultural Gray Bear will last.
legacy of their ancestors. With enchanting illustrations, Set in the American Southwest 500 years in the past,
timeless themes, and a likeable main character, readers this book has remarkable illustrations, bringing alive the
are sure to enjoy The Green Musician! light and color of the arid desert landscapes.
—Sarah Mendonca, educator and parent. —Daemion Lee, Returned PCV, editorial staff.
Pine and the Winter Sparrow Retold by Alexis York
Daddy’s Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by
Lumbard, illustr. Beatriz Vidal.
Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo and Elizabeth Sagi.
Ages 4-8. www.wisdomtales-
Ages 8-13. Available at www.createspace.com
press.com.
The story is told from the perspective of Jewel, a
When Sparrow’s family flies
shy girl preparing for her first day in a new school.
south for the winter he must stay
Meanwhile, her dad has just returned from serving
behind because of an injured
in the war. Unfortunately, Jewel’s dad is not the same
wing. Creator rewards Pine,
when he comes home. He is highly reactive, para-
the only tree willing to help
noid, and nervous. Jewel ends up running into prob-
Sparrow after his family leaves.
lems when trying to make new friends, for they are
Beautiful illustrations by Betriz Vidal enhance the story
Summer 2016 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Vol. 28, no. 3
afraid of her dad and constantly It was selected as a Caldecott Honor Book.
tease Jewel about it. After seeing
—Yvonne Young, storyteller, retired teacher.
how miserable Jewel has become,
For The Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by
her teacher invites her father to
Rebecca Langston-George, illustr. Janna Bock. Ages
speak at the Veteran’s Day school
9-12. www.Capstoneyoungreaders.com
assembly about why he is the
way he is. Malala loved to read, loved
school, and loved learning.
This short story does a very good
She studied hard and could
job of teaching readers about the impact of Post-
speak and write her native
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It explains the dis-
Pashto, English, and Urdu,
order in a way that is easy for young children to under-
Pakistan’s national language.
stand. Not only does this story educate kids on PTSD,
But the Taliban who con-
it also encourages them to appreciate all of the war vet-
trolled the area were against
erans that have risked their lives for their country.
letting girls go to school.
Daddy’s Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart is a
They also forced woman to
heartwarming tale showing the love between a father
wear the burqas. This gar-
and his daughter as well as the strength and courage of
ment only allowed a woman’s eyes and hands to show.
a war veteran dealing with a weakening condition.
With great courage and determination Malala kept
—Aiyanna Baker, high school student intern. attending school, she continued speaking up for girls’
right to an education and against the Taliban. One
Voice of Freedom, Fannie Lou Hamer: Spirit of the
day while riding the school bus with her classmates,
Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford,
a gunman jumped on the bus and shot her and two
illustr. Ekua Holmes. Ages 9-13. www.candlewick.com
of her friends. She would have died, but because she
Voice of Freedom,
was flown to United Kingdom for medical care and
Fannie Lou Hamer cap-
because people all over the world prayed for her, she
tures the spirit of Fannie
survived. On December 10, 2014, at age 17 she became
Lou Hamer, who became
the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
nationally known as the
For The Right to Learn is beautifully illustrat-
spirit of the civil rights
ed in bright watercolors and provides just the right
movement.
amount of information for younger readers. There is a
The author’s use of the
large photograph of Malala now and current informa-
first person enables us to feel the pain and trau-
tion concerning her activities. This outstanding book
ma Mrs. Hamer experienced throughout her life.
includes a tiny glossary and index in the back.
She was the twentieth child of sharecroppers in
—Paulette Ansari, storyteller and grandmother.
Mississippi. In sixth grade she dropped out of
school to work with her family in the cotton fields. Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War by
Probably no one was as surprised as she was that Jessica Dee Humphreys & Michel Chikwanine, illustr.
she became a national civil rights leader. There are Claudia Dávila. Ages 10-15. www.kidscanpress.com
other books about Fannie Lou Hamer, but this In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a rebel gorup
one is particularly useful for students and teach- kidnaps Michel, a five-year-old boy, while he was play-
ers. A timeline in the back details important events ing with his friends. The rebels often kidnap innocent
in both her life and civil rights in 20th century children to use as soldiers. Michel, along with many
America. This excellent book is a wonderful trib- other children, is tortured and drugged. When Michel
ute to the extraordinary life of Fannie Lou Hamer. finally escapes the rebels and returns home to his fam-
Vol. 28, no. 3 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Summer 2016
ily, his life never goes back to torture until the guards get what they want to hear out
how it was before. Michel has of the children. Prison Boy gives a child’s perspective
to figure out how to live his life to the tragedy of child imprisonment that goes on in
normally again while he and his other countries.
father try to stop the rebels and
——Aiyanna Baker, high school student intern.
prove their crimes to a court.
Stella by Starlight, a novel by
This graphic novel reflects the
Sharon M. Draper. Ages 10-14.
sad truth of the political mis-
Atheneum; kids.Simonandschuster.
haps in other countries. It may
com.
inspire readers who live in wealthy countries to take a
Stella was in the fifth grade the
stand for what they believe will make a world a safer
night she and her younger broth-
place. The back of the book provides a section on
er, Jojo, witnessed the Klan burn a
Michel and his current project of raising awareness
cross on the other side of the pond.
about poverty and conflict in other countries, as well as
The year was 1932 in a poor little
a list of organizations that allow people to get involved.
town called Bumblebee located in North Carolina.
—Aiyanna Baker, high school student intern.
During the Great Depression many people struggled
Prison Boy, a novel by Sharon
to make ends meet. The colored people survived by
E. McKay. Ages 11-17. www.
helping each other, prayer, gleaning the surrounding
annickpress.com
woods, and with a heavy use of the barter system. The
In the tear-jerking novel Prison election was approaching and a few men (Stella’s father
Boy, a baby named Kai is thrown included) in the colored community decided to register
into the hands of a poverty- to vote despite the danger.
stricken orphanage in an un-
This story is told through Stella’s eyes. She doesn’t
named developing country. He
understand why some white people are so mean, but,
is immediately taken into care
because she is supported by loving parents and com-
by Pax, a seven-year-old boy, and
munity, hate does not damage her spirit.
Bell, the caretaker of the orphanage. As Kai grows up,
Stella by Starlight is a gripping book which addresses
everyone notices that he has a great amount of intel-
adult problems without getting too far into the deep
ligence, and is very well ahead of other kids in his age
ugliness of segregation, racism, and spousal abuse. This
group. Pax wants nothing more than to protect Kai and
novel is over 300 pages long and difficult to put down
get him the education he deserves, which leads him to
once you start reading.
take a risky job with a stranger named Mister. This job
leads to the Pax and Kai being set up with a bomb, and —Paulette Ansari, storyteller and grandmother.
then being arrested and charged with being terrorists.
Give Me Wings: How a Choir of Former Slaves Took on
The rest of the novel focuses on Pax and Kai trying to
the World by Kathy Lowinger. Ages 11-17. www.annick-
escape from the hellish guards and trying to establish a
press.com. ISBN 9781554517473
stable life for themselves.
This wonderful history of the Jubilee Singers is a must
This story brings a powerful message to the readers
read for anyone who has ever struggled to make a suc-
regarding courage and love. It shows how two young
cess of something against the odds. Ella Sheppard, born
boys have to deal with imprisonment and torture.
a slave in 1851 was very lucky to be a student at Fisk
Unfortunately, this story is not unrealistic, for many
Free Colored School. But the school was on the verge
countries have no laws that protect children from being
of closing for lack of money. Members of the American
subject to punishment in prison. They are unable to
Missionary Association (AMA), were starting schools all
fend for themselves, so they just have to deal with the
Summer 2016 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Vol. 28, no. 3
over the South, believing that by Marilyn Nelson, an acclaimed
blacks could only be truly free writer, professor, and former state
if they had an education. This poet laureate. She conjures up
was also Ella’s belief. Besides, she vignettes of a multi-ethnic 19th
was told at an early age that she century Manhattan village that
had “God’s work to do.” In 1866 was razed and replaced by Central
there were many who did not Park. Each of her poems is a win-
want to see black people edu- dow that opens into a bustling,
cated. This is why the Fisk Free industrious community of African
Colored School, in Nashville Americans and a motley collection of immigrant set-
began in twenty yellowing buildings that had been tlers whose futures were scattered to the four winds.
thrown together during the war to serve as a military
Together the poems form a tapestry of tender reveries,
hospital. Ella was born with a deep love of music and a
sad longings, and broken dreams that mirror the lives of
beautiful soprano voice. When her father, who was the
a strong and self-respecting community that vanished
master’s half-brother and a reader himself, presented her
silently in the name of urban progress.
with an old upright piano, Ella instinctively knew how
We meet Andrew, a land-owning bootblack who buffs
to play it. She loved the idea of touring from the start,
the shoes of well-dressed men, "his face aflame with
Ella saw it as God’s mission for reaching people’s hearts.
pride"; neighbors waving flags in a parade or tending
But she had no idea just how difficult it would be.
their gardens, planting for a future that would change
There was heavy opposition to Fisk students going
course suddenly; Freddy the schoolboy who wonders
out to sing in order to raise money for the struggling
about the fathomless skies; Obadiah, Diana, Angelina,
school. Most of the faculty refused to support because
and others whose hearts are draped in melancholy
they felt it was doomed to fail. The heaviest opposition
musings about freedom and the elusive hope of justice.
came from the parents of the teenagers. In the begin-
This is a spirit-filled journey back in time to a lost
ning the tour was failing due to poor travel/lodging
enclave of souls who shared lives of honest work, altru-
conditions, no warm clothing, ill singers, little food
ism, and modest aspirations. Through their eyes we are
or rest, public ridicule, and little money raised. Things
allowed a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of American
took a turn for the better when they sang “Steal Away”
history, a village called Seneca that existed for a single
at the First Church in Oberlin, Ohio. The church gave
generation under the shadow of a great city that swal-
them $130. They went on to sing in New York City
lowed it without apology. There is a message of sympa-
and they sang for Queen Victoria in Great Britain.
thy and lost yearning in this book, but we can also hear
Afterwards the Jubilee Singers toured all of Europe, and
the sounds of laughter, merry-making, and the sheer
by the time they returned home in the spring of 1874,
joy of living.
they had earned $50,000 for Fisk. To this very day there
are Jubilee Singers representing Fisk University. Although the style and diction are best suited for older
children and adults, younger readers (ages 12 and up)
This wonderful history includes many portraits, draw-
will be inspired by a guided reading.
ings of the people, and the times. Many of the pictures
are in deep colors. The book has a timeline, an exten- —Stephen J. Mendonça, poet, professor, and grandparent.
sive index, and an afterward section which explains The Hero Twins: A Navajo-English Story of the Monster
what happened to each member of the original choir. Slayers by Jim Kristofic, illustr. Nolan Karras James.
—Paulette Ansari, storyteller and grandmother. Ages 11-15. ISBN 978-0-8263-5533-1. University of
New Mexico Press. www.unmpress.com
My Seneca Village by Marilyn Nelson. Poetry. Ages
12-18. www.namelos.com. The Hero Twins tells the story of the miraculous
birth and coming of age of two brothers, and their
My Seneca Village is a unique collection of poetry
Vol. 28, no. 3 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Summer 2016
fight against the naayéé’, fear- Hero Twins is for grades 5-9, but it is also an excel-
some monsters that constantly lent resource for people who want to learn more about
attack the Navajo people, the Navajo stories.
Diné. This story is a re-telling of
—Daemion Lee, Returned PCV
a traditional Navajo story, passed
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings by Margarita
down through the ages, part of
Engle. Ages 12-17. Teen.Simonandschuster.com.
a cycle of stories that tell about
the origin of the world and the Enchanted Air is an autobio-
reasons that things are the way graphical account of a girl named
they are. Margarita who lives in Los
Angeles but feels a strong connec-
It is a bilingual book, and each page has text in both
tion to Cuba, which is her moth-
Navajo and English, making it an excellent resource for
er’s homeland. The story begins
those learning Navajo and offering a glimpse of how
when she is two years old, and
the story sounds in its original language. One interest-
ends when she’s in high school.
ing feature is that marks in the text show which phrases
in the Navajo and English are translations of each other, What’s unique about this book is
helping learners identify and remember key phrases. that it’s written entirely in verse.
It’s a collection of poems strung together to tell
The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
a story. Sometimes, the poems are hard to understand,
In the preface, the illustrator describes how he chose
but the images and descriptions are very powerful.
colors based on the pigments that are used in sand
paintings. They part of the ceremonies that traditionally In the book, when Margarita boards an airplane, she is
accompany the retelling of these stories. in foggy, smoky, gloomy Los Angeles but when she gets
off, she sees the dancing plants and sunny blue skies of
In the story, the brothers wander far and wide in search
Cuba. Enchanted Air was a really good title, because
of their father, Jó’honaa’éí, the Sun. Through a series
she felt that the air truly was enchanted.
of tests, including encounters with snakes, bears, torna-
dos, spikes and poison tobacco, the brothers prove their There is a particular scene in the book that stands out
identities to their father. He then gives them armor to me, when Margarita’s mami is reading to her. Her
and weapons to fight the naayéé’, like sheet-lightening mami reads a poem by Jose Marti about growing a
arrows, sunbeam arrows and rainbow arrows. Thus pre- white rose for his enemy and his friend. Margarita, as
pared, the brothers face Yé’iitosh, one of the naayéé’, in a child, does not understand the poem, and her mami
a final battle to prove whether or not they are able to explains that it is a simple poem about forgiveness. I
protect the Diné. thought that was interesting because she wrote the
whole book in verse! I guess she understands poetry a
The illustrations, representing a mixture between comic
little better now.
book-style illustrations and Navajo symbolism, depict
the two brothers moving through semi-abstract, sur- I recommend this book for readers who are 12 years or
real landscapes, filled with shapes and iconography. The older, especially for kids who know how it feels to be
result is dream-like. pulled between two different places.
This story is truly multicultural, merging Navajo oral —Mary McCoy, 10, homeschooler.
tradition with traditional English language written
Urban Tribes: Native Americans in the City, edited by
narrative. So this book is something unique, neither
Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale. Ages 15
strictly belonging to the Navajo tradition or strictly
and up. www.annickpress.com
to the European-American tradition. For that rea-
So just how Indian are you? That question is sometimes
son some young readers accustomed to Western-style
posed to Native people living in large cities, based
books may find the story to be somewhat cryptic. The
Summer 2016 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Vol. 28, no. 3
Nature and Ecology Books
on stereotypes about isolated,
Crane Boy by Diana Cohn,
rural Indian reservations. In an
illustr. Youme. Ages 5-9.
effort to challenge these stereo-
Cincopuntos.com
types, the editors of this book
reached out to young people Have you ever looked at ani-
13 to 35 and asked them to mals and just marveled at
share their stories about being their gracefulness, beauty, or
Native in a big city. Some of strength? Kinga has. And he
the largest Native populations really loves them, especially
are in fact located in large the cranes.
urban centers.
Every year Kinga waits patiently for the black-necked
The result is this collection of interviews, photographs, cranes to return to Bhutan. When they swoop past each
poems, visual art, and first-person accounts. Meet Tyson October, they bring color to his simple life. But their
Atleo, the next in line to fill a twenty-seventh-gen- numbers are gradually growing smaller. Kinga and his
eration Hereditary Chief’s seat of the Ahousaht First classmates want to protect them —but how?
Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth people. He was born
Then Kinga has an idea. What if they put on a special
and raised in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.
dance for the cranes? Will that raise awareness and save
And meet Travis Hebert and Craig Edes, the two mem-
these wondrous creatures? They ask the monks...and
bers of a conscious hip-hop duo, who rap about a vari-
they say yes! Kinga and his classmates work hard to
ety of contemporary issues from a Native perspective.
prepare for the big dance. But will their plan work to
Michael Woestehoff is Navajo and works as a commu-
save the cranes? Read Crane Boy to find out!
nications specialist in Washington D.C., and Gabrielle
Reviewed by Mary McCoy, 10, homeschooler.
Scrimshaw is a leading business person in Toronto,
Canada. Roanna Shebala, a Diné slam poet, shares a If You Love Honey: Nature’s
poem about cultural appropriation of Native identity, Connections by Martha Sullivan,
especially via sports mascots. The book is organized in illustr. Cathy Morrison. Ages
four sections: Tribal Citizens, Shattering Stereotypes, 4-9. www.dawnpub.com
Building Bridges, and Native Renaissance.
The rhythm of the book “If
Urban Tribes: Native Americans in the City is a visu- you love _____, then you’ll
ally oriented book, filled with photos and digital art, love____,” makes this book
creating a powerful mixture of words and pictures that a quick read despite the fact
effectively counters the stereotypes that the editors set that the pages are packed with
out to challenge. interesting tidbits of biodiver-
sity and ecology. The structure of sing-song repetition
—Daemion Lee, Returned PCV, is on our editorial staff.
propels that action forward. The book comes full circle,
mimicking the cyclical nature of life by beginning and
ending with bees, delving into dirt, worms, and mush-
rooms along the way. The realistic expressions on the
Our 28th Year Special Sale! animals’ faces draw the reader into the tiniest facets of
the web of life, and make learning their connections
Receive Any 28 issues for $88 ($128, overseas)!
easy and fun. The book ends with pictures of children
Contact: P. O. Box 3939, Eugene, OR 97403 USA;
on a picnic in the woods, and places the reader squarely
[email protected]; www.skippingstones.org
in the middle of the action of the book.
—Michelle Barnes, parent and educator.
Vol. 28, no. 3 2016 Skipping Stones Book Awards Summer 2016