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By: Traci Sorell / Illustrated by: Fran LessacAhora en espaol! La comunidad cheroqui est agradecida por los logros y desafos que experimentan en cada estacin. En este libro se cuenta la vida moderna de los nativos americanos, narrada por una ciudadana de l
By: Traci Sorell / Illustrated by: Fran Lessac
Los ciudadanos de la Nacin Cheroqui emplean la palabra otsaliheliga (o-ya-LI-ge-li-ga) para expresar gratitud. A partir del ao nuevo cheroqui, que ocurre en otoo, hasta el verano, el ao cheroqui est lleno de celebraciones y experiencias. Este libro, escrito por una ciudadana de la Nacin Cheroqui, describe a un grupo de nativos americanos y finaliza con un glosario y un silabario cheroqui completo, creado por Sequoyah.
Now in Spanish! The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. The complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah, is included.
Here is how to pronounce the Cherokee words that appear in the book. Click on each to hear the official pronunciation from Emilee Chavez, a Cherokee Nation citizen and language speaker:
Listen to Traci Sorell and Fran Lessac interview each other from the exhibit floor at ALA 2019
Listen to Traci talk about We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga on Charlesbridge Unplugged.
Listen to author Traci Sorell discuss the book on TeachingBooks.net.
Listen to illustrator Fran Lessac discuss the book on TeachingBooks.net.
Watch the KidLitTV episode!
If you like this book, youll enjoy these:
Itse Selu: Cherokee Harvest Festival
First LaughWelcome, Baby!
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
Powwow Day
Whale Snow
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Traci Sorell, author
Traci Sorell began writing for young people when she noticed a lack of children’s books featuring Native Americans to share with her son. This is her first picture book. Learn more about Traci here.
Check out Traci Sorell’s name pronunciation at TeachingBooks.net.
Fran Lessac, illustrator
Fran Lessac is the illustrator of more than forty books for children including Caribbean Canvas (Boyds Mills), Drummer Boy of John John (Lee & Low), and A is for Australia (Walker Books). She lives in West Australia. Learn more about Fran here.
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
According to storyteller Sorell, the Cherokee people always express gratitude for the little things they are given by saying the phrase, “Otsaliheliga,” or “we are grateful.” Raised in the Cherokee Nation, Sorell intentionally crafts a narrative that simultaneously embraces modernity and a traditional presentation of Cherokee community and way of life. Throughout, the measured text reminds readers that in all things “we say otsaliheliga.” Colorful, folk art-style illustrations show Cherokee people during ceremonies, in family gatherings large and small, and outdoors enjoying each of the four seasons, always expressing gratitude. The scenes are contemporary; one shows a father taking care of his children, engaging in a positive parenting role, while another depicts a family seeing off a relative who is leaving for deployment in the military, underscoring that Cherokee people serve their country. Children participate in rites and in family outings with adults, and they also play traditional games such as stickball and plant strawberries, a practice that reminds their people to embrace peace with one another. The variety of skin tones represented in the illustrations likewise depicts a present-day reflection of the diversity that exists within the Cherokee people. Occasional Cherokee words are written in Romanized form, phonetically, in Cherokee characters, and in Englisha lovely grace note. A gracious, warm, and loving celebration of community and gratitude.
Horn Book, starred review
Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude. It is a reminder to celebrate our blessings and reflect on struggles daily, throughout the year, and across the seasons. An extended family engages with activities and traditions that express gratitude and carry on Cherokee history and culture, such as stomp dancing at the Great New Moon Ceremony, basket weaving, making corn-husk dolls, and playing stickball. The book underscores the importance of traditions and carrying on a Cherokee way of life while simultaneously incorporating modernity and challenging dated media images of Indigenous people. Here, a father sporting an earring and a topknot minds the children; a family bids goodbye to a clan relative who deploys with the U.S. military. Skin colors range from light to dark, visually underscoring the books message of diversity and inclusion. Staying firmly upbeat and idyllic, the cheerful, richly detailed gouache illustrations in bright, saturated colors cycle through the seasons, beginning with the Cherokee New Year in autumn. The text includes several Cherokee words; a line of text in a smaller font along the bottom of the page provides each word as written in the English alphabet, its phonetic pronunciation, the word as written in the Cherokee alphabet, and its definition. A glossary, an authors note on Cherokee culture, and a complete Cherokee syllabary conclude this attractive and informative book.
School Library Journal, starred review
Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, offers readers a look at contemporary Cherokee life as she follows a family through the seasons of the year as they take part in ceremonies and festivals. The book opens, Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude. It is a reminder to celebrate our blessings and reflect on strugglesdaily, throughout the year. Beginning in the fall (uligohvsdi) with the Cherokee New Year, a variety of rituals and cultural symbols are introduced, all in spare, lyrical, accessible language. Traditional foods, crafts, and songs are part of the engaging narrative, as is the refrain, we say otsaliheliga. Once through the calendar, Sorell circles back to the Cherokee National Holiday (Labor Day weekend), when we recall the ancestors sacrifices to preserve our way of life. to celebrate nulistanidolv, history, and listen to our tribal leaders speak. Cherokee words are presented both phonetically and written in the Cherokee syllabary. Lessacs lovely gouache folk-art style paintings bring the scenes to life. Back matter includes a description of the various ceremonies, notes, and a page devoted to the Cherokee syllabary. VERDICT This informative and authentic introduction to a thriving ancestral and ceremonial way of life is perfect for holiday and family sharing.
Shelf Awareness, starred review
Cherokee poet Traci Sorell makes her picture book debut with We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, illustrated by the prolific Fran Lessac. “Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude. It is a reminder to celebrate our blessings and reflect on struggles–daily, throughout the year, and across the seasons.” With seasonal chapter headings in both English and Tsalagi, Cherokee, Sorell takes the reader through a year in the life of contemporary citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Using the refrain “we say otsaliheliga” (pronounced oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah), each season is given special joys, sorrows and celebrations both specific and generic, personal and communal. In autumn (uligohvsdi), gratitude is voiced as shell shakers dance around the fire during the Great New Moon Ceremony; it is expressed as citizens of the Cherokee Nation clean their homes, don new clothes and feast to welcome the Cherokee New Year; it is communicated through acts of remembrance for “ancestors who suffered hardship and loss on the Trail of Tears.” In winter (gola), “[a]s bears sleep deep and snow blankets the ground,” the large, tightly knit community is thankful for the stories of elders and for traditional lullabies. Lessac’s folk art-style gouache illustrations depict the diversity of contemporary life experiences described in Sorell’s text. On one spread, the family hugs a “clan relative” dressed in fatigues as he heads off “to serve our country”; on another, children play in a cornfield as “the crops mature and the sun scorches.” In Sorell’s author note, she says “Cherokee culture places a strong emphasis on expressing gratitude to unelanvhi… literally ‘the one who provides all,’ ” as well as for “one another.” An elegant representation of this concept, We Are Grateful has the ability to resonate with any reader: “Otsaliheliga for all who came before us, those here now, and those yet to come.”
Booklist
In Cherokee culture, Sorell shares, the expression of gratitude is part of daily life and extends from elaborate celebrations to struggles to ordinary life moments. She organizes her debut picture book by seasons, beginning with the fall, which is a time for collecting foliage for basket making and remembering those who suffered on the Trail of Tears. It also contains the Cherokee New Year and the Great New Moon Ceremony, a celebration of renewal and coming together. Each season section starts with the name of the season in Cherokee, an expression of gratitude for the change in nature, and subsequent pages describing community activities pertinent to that season. Lessac’s folkloric illustration in bright gouache colors stands in pleasing contrast to the books contemporary feel and setting. The text reads like poetry but has a gentle instructional dimension to it. On many pages, Cherokee words are accompanied by English translations, pronunciation guides, and Cherokee syllabary. Back matter contains relevant explanations and provides good context, and the author’s note sets past misrepresentations right.
Brightly
The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Readers learn about Cherokee culture, celebrations, and language. Cherokee history and traditions are also seamlessly woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way. I love that this is an #OwnVoices picture book that helps expose children to Native American perspectives and culture. The back matter includes pronunciations for Cherokee words, a glossary, a Cherokee syllabary, and a personal author’s note.
Download the CoverDownload the Teacher’s GuideDownload Coloring SheetsDownload the Poster
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-772-3
Spanish Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-429-4
Board
ISBN: 978-1-62354-299-3
E-book
ISBN: 978-1-63289-633-9 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-63289-634-6 PDF
Ages: 3-7
Page count: 32
91/2 x 101/2
Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 10
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