Reviewed by Debbie Reese
Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature
Book Author: Andrea L. Rogers
Sometimes a story reaches right into your being and makes you laugh, smile, wince, and then it makes you feel loved. That is my experience reading Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers. She’s a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Illustrations are by Rebecca Lee Kunz, who is also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Look at the cover. Kunz’s art captures precisely what we see as we begin reading Chooch Helped. The posture of the girl as she peers over her shoulder at the boy watering a plant, spilling water as he does it captures what we see in the first part of the book. His red cape and red boots . . . how many of us have memories of siblings or cousins who wore things like that?! How many of us have a younger brother or sister who — even as they grew into toddlerhood — were called “the baby”? Chooch Helped invites us to revisit our own memories and, perhaps, tell our little ones about an auntie or uncle who annoyed us when we were kids. I adore what this story does for me, and can’t wait to read it to kids! Continue reading on American Indians in Children’s Literature.
From Cherokee.org: Remember the Removal bike ride.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our American Indians and Bikes booklists.
Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers
Published by Chronicle Books on October 8, 2024
Genres: American Indians First Nations Metis Inuit
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9781646144792
Review Source: American Indians in Children's Literature
Also by this author: Mary and the Trail of Tears, When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): a Cherokee Tribal Feast
Publisher's Synopsis: A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family's traditions — begrudgingly! — in this picture book written by Walter Award-winner Andrea L. Rogers and featuring gorgeous collage illustrations from debut artist Rebecca Lee Kunz.
Sissy’s younger brother, Chooch, isn’t a baby anymore. They just celebrated his second birthday, after all. But no matter what Chooch does — even if he’s messing something up! Which is basically all the time! — their parents say he’s just “helping.” Sissy feels that Chooch can get away with anything!
When Elisi paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Edutsi makes grape dumplings, Chooch helps. When Oginalii gigs for crawdads, Chooch helps. When Sissy tries to make a clay pot, Chooch helps . . .
“Hesdi!” Sissy yells. Quit it! And Chooch bursts into tears.
What follows is a tender family moment that will resonate with anyone who has welcomed a new little one to the fold. Chooch Helped is a universal story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, told with grace by Andrea L. Rogers and stunning art from Rebecca Lee Kunz showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions.
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