Reviewed by Debbie Reese
Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature
Book Author: Marcie Rendon
Regular readers of AICL know that I urge them to look at author’s notes whenever they pick up a book by a Native writer. Doing that gives you (teacher, parent, librarian, professor, reviewer . . . ) information that you probably did not get in school or college. That information supports the reading you’ll do when you flip back to the front of the book and start reading the words and looking at the illustrations.
Marcie Rendon’s note for Stitches of Tradition is outstanding. Her note focuses on ribbon skirts. The second paragraph stands out to me:
Skirts are worn not only in traditional ceremonies but also as a political statement. There are many different teachings about the skirt, but the most important thing to remember is that the ribbon skirt says, We are here. We have survived genocide. We are resilient and beautiful.
Some words make me pump my fist and declare YES. Those words did precisely that. The dedication did, too. Rendon’s is “For all the grandgirls.” And the illustrator, Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley’s is “To the women who raised me, and to all the matriarchs guiding us to a brighter future.” Imagine more loud declarations from me. Continue reading on American Indians in Children’s Literature.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our American Indians booklist.
Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition) by Marcie Rendon
Published by HarperCollins Publishers on November 22, 2024
Genres: American Indians First Nations Metis Inuit
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9780063218680
Review Source: American Indians in Children's Literature
Publisher's Synopsis:
"Noozhishenh, bimadiziwin," Nookomis says. "My granddaughter, live a good life."
An Ojibwe grandmother carefully measures and selects just the right colors of fabric, and her sewing machine hums whirr, whirr, whirr late into the night.
In the morning, her growing granddaughter has a beautiful new ribbon skirt to wear, a reminder of her nookomis and the cultural traditions that stitch together her family with love.
This heartwarming story by Marcie Rendon (Ojibwe), with stunning illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Ojibwe), celebrates the power of Indigenous craft and community and weaves together the spirit of resilience, female empowerment, and gratitude for the generations that came before us.
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