"Chooch isn't really a baby, anymore.
We just celebrated his second birthday.
Still, whenever Chooch makes a mess,
everyone says,
"He's just usdi. Let him help."
It seems to me, Usdi Chooch
just gets away with everything."
Chooch, at 2, is a helper. No matter the work, Chooch is right there with plans to make a difference. His sister Sissy is not impressed. She sees the help Chooch gives as detrimental to the work being done. Adding streaks to Elisi's mural makes a mess. Interrupting Edudu's guitar playing annoys Sissy. Family members dote on the baby and give him a wide berth while interrupting the work they are doing. With each hint of misbehavior, Sissy is not amused.
Chooch helps her make a clay pot, and messes it up. Sissy yells, Chooch cries, her parents reprimand, and Sissy goes off to cry in her bedroom. Chooch helps, with a smile and a loving touch to her wet cheeks. The family settles. Her parents apologize for their anger, and offer proof that once Sissy was very much like her little brother - anxious to help. They explain that Sissy is an important teacher for Chooch. With needed help from his big sister, Chooch is able to fashion his own clay pot. Lovely!
Cherokee traditions are at the heart of every facet of this story. Pronunciation is useful when reading new and unfamiliar words for the story's people. Notes from both author and illustrator, who are members of the Cherokee nation, make the connections between the story and their cultural heritage. The tale's lesson is expertly offered for readers, and the mixed media illustrations add context at every turn. The warm colors and representative Cherokee emblems add beauty to every spread. I love the dust cover, its brilliant introduction to the two main characters, and the designs that embellish the cover itself. Back matter is important and telling: notes from author and artist concerning Cherokee history, a glossary, a pronunciation guide, and a step-by-step guide for making a pinch pot.
No comments:
Post a Comment