Sorell, Traci. Powwow Day. Madelyn Goodnight, Illus. Charlesbridge, 02/2022. [32]pp. Picture
Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. $16.99. 978-1-58089-948-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Unable to participate in the jingle dress competition due to an unnamed illness, a young
Indigenous girl attending a tribal powwow with her family processes her complex feelings and becomes hopeful about her future. With a deft and natural voice, River’s narration guides readers through the sequence of events at a powwow and her own emotional journey. Well-sourced back matter provides more context about the history of powwows and the development of the jingle dress dance, believed to bring healing. The colorful digital illustrations complement the story and create the scope of the powwow, from intricate details on the dancers’ regalia and tufts of grass highlighted in the foreground, to blurred spectators (and even portable toilets) in the distance. The powwow attendees have a range of skin tones and expressive faces. The author and illustrator are members of the Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation, respectively. In an author’s note, Sorell explains that powwows are not a Cherokee tradition and expresses her appreciation for the fostering of community among Native and non-Native people alike at the events. An inspirational story with nuance, and an invitation to learn more about a cultural tradition.
Caroline Davis—Alameda County Library