Cherokee

The Cherokee Syllabary: An Illustrated Key to the Cherokee Language reintroduces adults as well as children to their language once again. The introduction and pronunciation key aid in understanding the beautifully illustrated syllabary characters. Accompanying each illustration is a Cherokee word that contains the Cherokee syllabary character, the Cherokee sounds of each syllabary character in the word, the word in English and a row of syllabary characters with sound of each below. Young children will be enchanted by the delightful illustrations. The concept for the illustrations was influenced by medieval illuminated manuscripts. The book is a valuable educational resource for schools and libraries that adds multicultural diversity to their classrooms and collections.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8, but anyone learning the Cherokee language could find this useful.

Includes an Understanding the Text page, nothing that the Cherokee alphabet isn't an alphabet but a syllabary (each Cherokee character represents a complete syllable) and explaining more about the information in the book.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

A tender picture book about loss, intergenerational love and the power of family keepsakes, from acclaimed author Thomas King and for fans of Memory Jars.

After Nana passes away, Xavier, his mother and Comet the kitten all head up to Nana's attic to help clean it up.

At first, Xavier is a little nervous. Though there are no dragons up there, it looks like a dragon's cave — it's gloomy, dusty and full of cobwebs. But as Xavier explores the attic, he discovers all kinds of interesting things:

An old tricycle
Two monkeys made out of coconuts
A scrapbook full of photographs
A rocking horse with gold and red stars stuck to its neck

At the bottom of one box, Xavier finds a strange piece of fabric. It's thick, soft and green, and it makes his mother's eyes wet with memories.

As Xavier learns more about this keepsake, he discovers more about his family and himself in this gorgeous picture book about intergenerational love and the power of memory.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.81" x 11.25" | Hardcover 

Nothing welcomes spring like a wild onion dinner!

As the dirt warms and green sprouts poke up, a Cherokee girl joins her family in the hunt for green onions. Together, they pick enough to bring to a feast, which is cooked with love and shared by their community.

Idalisdayvhvga!

Let’s all eat!

Written with simple, sensory lyricism by Andrea Rogers (Cherokee) and featuring warm, vibrant art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw), this picture book celebrates the spring tradition of wild onion dinners—and the community and comfort that are shared when we gather.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

This full-color storybook is based on Netflix’s latest preschool show, Spirit Rangers!

Kodi, Summer, and Eddy go to a concert in Spirit Park, but a water spirit shows up and swallows up all the musicians! Can the Spirit Rangers bring the music back? Kids ages 3 to 7 will love this full-color storybook based on the latest Netflix preschool show, Spirit Rangers! 

Created by Samala Chumash descendent, Karissa Valencia, Spirit Rangers is a fantasy-adventure preschool series following Native American sibling trio Kodiak, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, who have a shared secret—they’re Spirit Rangers!

Spirit Rangers protect every crook, cranny and critter of Spirit Park. With the blessing of the Chumash and Cowlitz tribes, we’ll join the Skycedar kids on their amazing adventures with spirits inspired by Indigenous stories.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Paperback

The true story of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 became the first two Native pro baseball players to face off in a World Series, teaches important lessons about resilience, doing what you love in the face of injustice, and the fight for Native American representation in sports.

Charles Bender grew up on the White Earth Reservation in Northwestern Minnesota. John Meyers was raised on the Cahuilla reservation in Southern California. Despite their mutual respect for each other's talents and their shared dedication to Native representation in baseball, the media was determined to pit them against each other.

However, they never gave up on their dreams of being pro baseball players and didn’t let the supposed rivalry created by the media or the racism they faced within the stadium stop them. They continued to break barriers and went on to play a combined total of nine championships.

With text by Traci Sorell and illustrations by Arigon Starr that brings these two players to life, the stories of John Meyers and Charles Bender remain an inspiration for achieving and maintaining one’s dreams in the face of prejudice.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Additional Information
48 pages | 11.30" x 9.30" | Hardcover 

What if a school's mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone? In this compelling middle-grade novel in verse, two best-selling BIPOC authors tackle this hot-button issue.

Six kids. One mascot. Who wins?

In Rye, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, people work hard, kids go to school, and football is big on Friday nights. An eighth-grade English teacher creates an assignment for her class to debate whether Rye’s mascot should stay or change. Now six middle schoolers–-all with different backgrounds and beliefs–-get involved in the contentious issue that already has the suburb turned upside down with everyone choosing sides and arguments getting ugly. 

Told from several perspectives, readers see how each student comes to new understandings about identity, tradition, and what it means to stand up for real change.

Reviews
"Waters and Sorell (Cherokee Nation) join forces to write about the power of being true to oneself.

In a middle school in Rye, a fictional town near Washington, D.C., a racist mural and offensive pep rally chants shock new student Callie Crossland, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and African American. Callie shares a heartfelt poem with her seventh grade honors English class, reminding everyone that the “stupid tomahawk-chop chant” and the “cheap chicken-feather headdress” are nothing less than symbols of “white supremacy.” Afterward, Ms. Williams, her teacher, assigns a persuasive writing and oration project entitled “Pros and Cons of Indigenous Peoples as Mascots.” The small, broadly diverse group of students is assigned to work in pairs; Callie is matched with Franklin, who is Black and a proud fan of the Rye Braves football team. Franklin insists, “I wish we could Lysol racism away. / It’s a bad odor,” but he feels conflicted: “I still don’t think our mascot is racist though. It brings so much joy. / …what’s the big deal?” This clever novel unfolds in poems told in multiple voices showing the wide range of students’, families’, and community responses to the controversy; for some, initial feelings of opposition, hesitation, or indifference change and friendships are tested. The compelling, highly relevant subject matter and accessible text invite readers to understand different perspectives and witness individual growth.

A brilliant story not to be missed; deeply engaging from the first page. (glossary, additional information and resources) (Verse fiction. 10-14)" —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Told via seven alternating narratives, this ripped-from-the-headlines collaboration in verse by Waters (African Town) and Cherokee Nation member Sorrel (One Land, Many Nations) follows a fictional town’s division over a racist sports mascot. Callie Crossland, who is Cherokee and Black, has just transferred to a middle school in Rye, Va. She immediately expresses disgust at her school’s mascot, a “copper-toned, muscled, loincloth-clad, tomahawk-wielding” caricature of an Indigenous person. Callie’s English teacher Ms. Williams soon assigns a group writing project regarding the “Pros and Cons of Indigenous Peoples as Mascots,” and Callie is annoyed at being paired with Black classmate Franklin, who believes the mascot “brings so much joy.” Waters and Sorrel paint a complex portrait of the differing reactions toward the controversy by layering the racially diverse tweens’ perspectives and showcasing the effects the event has on their individual relationships and the community beyond their school. The creators eschew judgment to present a well-rounded discussion about classism and racism, as well as effective allyship, with compassion and understanding. A glossary and resources conclude. Ages 10–up." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Ms. Williams tasks her... honors English students with a persuasive writing and oral presentation assignment arguing the pros and cons of using Indige-nous peoples as mascots. Throughout the course of a school year the story unfolds in a series of poems that detail the per-spectives of six students: Callie (Cherokee African), Franklin (African American), Priya (Indian American), Luis (Salvadoran American), Tessa (white and previously homeschooled), and Sean (working-class white). Predictably, Callie, Priya, and Tessa (who sees herself as a committed antiracist) oppose Indigenous mascots, while the boys, who enjoy war paint and tomahawk chops at Rye Braves games, claim the mascot de-picts pride in the team and their school. While the discord around the mascot is a long-standing one in the Virginia community, the assignment empowers the students to take the issue to the school board. After further research, one student switches sides, losing a friend in the process. While the plot requires a fair amount of exposition detailing history and arguments on both sides, the characters are well developed and believable, and the story flows smoothly. A valuable classroom pick that demonstrates the importance of debate." —Booklist

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 10+

Includes a glossary and additional resources / information.

Subjects / Themes: Discrimination, Different Perspectives, Identity, Tradition, Standing up for Change, Social Responsibility, Verse Fiction / Poetry

Additional Information
256 pages | 5.75" x 8.56" | Hardcover

A Step into Reading leveled reader introducing kids to the characters of Netflix’s preschool show, Spirit Rangers!

It's nearly nighttime, but the sun won't set in Xus National Park! Kodi, Summer, and Eddy Skycedar go to Spirit Park to discover why, and learn an important lesson about what it really means to be a hero. Kids ages 4 to 6 will love this Step into Reading Step 2 leveled reader featuring an exciting story based on Netflix’s animated preschool show Spirit Rangers!

Created by Karissa Valencia (Samala Chumash), Spirit Rangers is a fantasy-adventure preschool series following Native American sibling trio Kodiak, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, who have a shared secret—they’re Spirit Rangers! Spirit Rangers protect every crook, cranny and critter of Spirit Park. With the blessing of the Chumash and Cowlitz tribes, we’ll join the Skycedar kids on their amazing adventures with spirits inspired by Indigenous stories.

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Reviews
“An early reader that catches young readers’ attention and becomes a doorway to legendary stories from marginalized communities.” —School Library Journal

Educator & Series Information
This book is recommended for ages 4 to 6.

Part of the Spirit Rangers series.

This book is also part of the Step Into Reading series.  This series is designed to give every child a successful reading experience.  The grade levels are only guides; children will progress through the steps at their own speed, developing confidence in their reading.  The F&P Text Level on the back cover serves as another tool to help you choose the right book. 

This book is a Level 2 book.  Level 2 books are listed as Reading With Help for Preschool to Grade 1 students.  They include basic vocabulary, short sentences, and simple stories.  For children who recognize familiar words and sound our new words with help. 

Additional Information
24 pages | 6.00" x 8.94" | Paperback

Find out all about Wilma Pearl Mankiller, the first woman Cherokee chief whose image will appear on a 2022 US quarter, in this Step 3 Biography Reader.

In 1985, Wilma Pearl Mankiller became the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She had to convince her people that the chief should be the best person for the job, man or woman.

Before the English came to what is now the United States, Cherokee women and men shared the leadership of the tribe. This created balance. But the English colonists told the Native People that men should be in charge.

It stayed that way for many years, until Wilma Pearl Mankiller made history. She used the concept of gaduji, of everyone helping each other, to make the Cherokee Nation strong.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots and popular topics—for children who are ready to read on their own.

Reviews
“This work is historically accurate on an underrepresented topic in the curriculum.” —School Library Journal

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

This book is part of the Step Into Reading series. This series is designed to give every child a successful reading experience. The grade levels are only guides; children will progress through the steps at their own speed, developing confidence in their reading. The F&P Text Level on the back cover serves as another tool to help you choose the right book.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots and popular topics—for children who are ready to read on their own.

Additional Information
48 pages | 6.06" x 9.00" | Paperback

What happens when we die? In this beautifully illustrated Native American tale, a wise grandmother explains their people's understanding of death to her granddaughter as they work together on the land, for which they show an exemplary respect and love.

In this Native American tale, a wise grandmother explains the meaning of death, or the Great Change, to her questioning granddaughter. While going through their daily tasks in the Native way, taking from Mother Earth only what is needed and returning what is not used so as to replenish her, nine-year-old Wanba asks, “Why do fish have to die? Why does anything have to die? Why did Grandpa have to die?” Grandmother explains that just as a caterpillar “dies” only to become a beautiful butterfly, there is no “death” in the Circle of Life—only the Great Change.

This is a story of passing on tradition, culture, and wisdom to the next generation. It is a moving tale for everyone—child and adult—who wonders about what lies beyond this life.

Reviews
A gentle and sensitive story about mortality and the interconnectedness of generations and of life-forms that provides a nondoctrinal, reassuring response to a child's questions about the necessity of death. Grigg's watercolors are spare, with washes of brilliant color (cheering a potentially somber subject) against pure white pages. The characters are not romanticized, but the overall effect is delicate and impressionistic." —Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle Grades 3–6, School Library Journal

This wistful text, based on a Native American tale, ponders the meaning of life and death—reaching the sensible if daunting conclusion that one is impossible without the other.…Delicate pastel watercolors capture the story's essence on gossamer wings with a pleasing combination of sophistication and childish impressibility. —Publisher's Weekly

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"  | Paperback 

From National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson, a kaleidoscopic middle-grade adventure that mixes the anxieties, friendships, and wonders of a Cherokee boy's life with Cherokee history and lore.

Ziggy has ANXIETY. Partly this is because of the way his mind works, and how overwhelmed he can get when other people (especially his classmate Alice) are in the room. And partly it's because his mother disappeared when he was very young, making her one of many Native women who've gone mysteriously missing. Ziggy and his sister, Moon, want answers, but nobody around can give them.

Once Ziggy gets it in his head that clues to his mother's disappearance may be found in a nearby cave, there's no stopping him from going there. Along with Moon, Alice, and his best friend, Corso, he sets out on a mind-bending adventure where he'll discover his story is tied to all the stories of the Cherokees that have come before him.

Ziggy might not have any control over the past -- but if he learns the lessons of the storytellers, he might be able to better shape his future and find the friends he needs.

Reviews
"The Storyteller is an all-night adventure between four kids, and it's a journey they will never forget. Hobson's middle-grade debut is thoughtful, moving, and even humorous at times, while also challenging colonial history and bringing awareness to MMIW, Missing Murdered Indigenous Women." - Andrew, Goodreads Review 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
224 pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Hardcover 

Award-winning author Eddie Chuculate recounts his experience growing up in rural Oklahoma, from boyhood to young manhood, in an evocative and vivid voice.

These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

"Granny was full-blooded Creek, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs insisted she was fifteen-sixteenths. She showed her card to me. I’d sit at the kitchen table and stare at her when she was eating, wondering how you can be a sixteenth of anything."

Growing up impoverished and shuttled between different households, it seemed life was bound to take a certain path for Eddie Chuculate. Despite the challenges he faced, his upbringing was rich with love and bountiful lessons from his Creek and Cherokee heritage, deep-rooted traditions he embraced even as he learned to live within the culture of white, small-town America that dominated his migratory childhood.

Award-winning author Eddie Chuculate brings his childhood to life with spare, unflinching prose. This book is at once a love letter to his Native American roots and an inspiring and essential message for young readers everywhere, who are coming of age in an era when conversations about acceptance and empathy, love and perspective are more necessary than ever before.

Educator Information
For ages 12+

This book is part of Scholastic Focus, the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers.

Additional Information
240 pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Hardcover

Trickster Coyote is having his friends over for a festive solstice get-together in the woods when a little girl comes by unexpectedly. She leads the party-goers through the snowy woods to a shopping mall -- a place they have never seen before.

Coyote gleefully shops with abandon, only to discover that filling your shopping cart with goodies is not quite the same thing as actually paying for them. The trickster is tricked and goes back to his cabin in the woods -- somewhat subdued -- though nothing can keep Coyote down for long.

Awards

• Winner of the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Awards, Best Picture Book

Reviews
"The humor is dry and affectionate, the rhyming text delights with sly turns of phrase, the watercolor cartoons are whimsical … [A] holiday treat." — School Library Journal

"This witty winter tale deftly skewers the materialistic aspect of the holiday season in a humorous, trenchant way." — Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 5 - 8.

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Geography, Physical Education and Health, Science.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4
Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.

Additional Information
64 pages | 5.25" x 7.75" | Paperback

Chooch is not thrilled to be spending some of his summer with his Cherokee story-telling uncles and cousin Janees at a convention in North Carolina. While there, the uncles want to visit Judaculla Rock, a place of spiritual significance to the Cherokee people. Little does Chooch know that he has his own connection to the rock--a connection that could put him in mortal danger.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
216 pages | 5.51" x 7.56" | Hardcover 

Jimmy Benge is excited to celebrate his thirteenth birthday with an ice fishing adventure in northern Minnesota. He's even allowed to invite his best friend, Ryan, to spend winter break at the family’s lakeside home. The two boys learn a lot about ice fishing and catch a few panfish but decide to fish for something bigger: Northern pike, the alpha predators of the lake. The trip is fun until one day, while out fishing by themselves, the boys are hit by a sudden, unexpected snowstorm and find themselves fishing on thin ice.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 11.

This book is part of the Wilderness Ridge Series. Authentic hunting and fishing stories are brought to life in this chapter-book series perfect for fans of Jake Maddox. Readers will experience the highs and lows of outdoor adventures—from the thrill of a young hunter’s first deer camp to the disappointment of missing a big fish. No matter the outcome, these stories will demonstrate essential skills young sportsmen and sportswomen need, including teamwork, respect, personal responsibility, and positive thinking. With action-packed illustrations and accessible text, Wilderness Ridge will reel in readers and have them hunting for the next book.

Additional Information
72 pages | 5.25" x 7.50" | Paperback

Fall hedge over heels for this story of first crushes, friendship drama, and prickly pets!

Rayna is used to being the new kid at school. But that doesn’t mean she wants to make new friends! Why bother when the military will only reassign her mom again soon anyway? No, the only friend Rayna wants is a furry, four-legged one.

But instead of the dog she’s been dreaming of, what Rayna gets is a hedgehog named Spike who is as prickly and emo as she is. Worse, Rayna’s mom insists she enter Spike in a pet talent show to get to know some kids her age, including a very cute boy named Nick. Only Spike doesn’t want to hang out or show off any more than Rayna does. Will Rayna curl herself into a ball and hide, or will she and Spike take a chance a new pack of friends?

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Additional Information
272 pages | 5.27" x 7.57" | Paperback