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Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Smile So Big, written by Sunshine Quem Tenasco and illustrated by Chief Lady Bird, North Winds Press, Scholastic. 20023. $21.99 ages


"It was time to give Challa this special gift. 
It had been passed on from her mom, and
from her djo djo before her. 
Challa's mom said that whoever looked into 
the mirror would see their true self. There was
just one rule everyone needed to follow. 
They had to say what they saw in the reflection.
" 

Challa has a huge smile, showing lots of teeth. It is a smile that lights up the space she is in; the kids at school tease her about it. Her mother has a solution. An Anishinaabe mirror passed from one generation to the next is the gift her mother offers. Challa accepts the gift and the advice shared. 

"You have to say out loud
what you see. Say it loud 
and say it proud.
"

What Challa sees in the mirror is exactly how she looks. The more she looks at her reflection, the more she sees of her true self. Remembering her mother's advice, she recognizes that she has a big smile and looks cute with it. The mirror lights up to make Challa feel better about herself. It is time to share it with her friends. 

Neebin is sometimes teased about his long hair. As he looks closely at the mirror, he reacts to the beauty of his braids and his dark, sparkling eyes. The beads light up and magic glows around him. Next, Challa shares the mirror with Keggy who loves her dark skin. Magical! Kiniw is next, teased about being shorter than the others. The mirror works its magic and lights up the beads and shakes the ground. 

Why does that not happen for Challa? The beads light up but there is no magic rumble. She is confused. She turns to the mirror to mention other features she likes about herself, The mirror finally responds in the same way it does for her friends. What happiness! It seems the real magic lies within ourselves. 

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