Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, yinghwa hu, and cornelius van wright. In jingle dancer, cynthia leitich smith honors the tradition of jingle dancing, a ritual of the muscogee creek nation, which has been celebrated for generations. Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, illustrated by cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu harpercollins, 2000. If youre a teacher in early elementary school, read this book aloud early in the year. Jingle dress dancing a beautiful native american tradition.
Childrens books, entertainment, literature and fiction submitted by. The cat in the hats learning library read by pdear duration. Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith jenna wants to dance at the next powwow with her grandmother, but she needs more jingles for her jingle dress. Several children listening to the story answered, a jingle dance. Jenna wants to jingle dance at the next powwow, but she doesnt have any jingles for her dress. Now the question of the day with this podcast is whether, in light of the truly magnificent childrens books coming out from native and indigenous authors, jingle dancer still stands up. The story about jenna and her search for jingles was written by cynthia leitich smith in the year 2000. Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations of women in her. Jingle dancer is a heartwarming, intergenerational story that shows the power of connection that comes from maintaining traditions. Smith weaves a loving story of the strong female ties in native american societies. Jenna, a contemporary muscogee creek girl in oklahoma, wants to honor a family tradition by jingle dancing at the next powwow. See more ideas about native american children, childrens books and books. Curtis and sparking conversations on native identity, race and resilience, art and.
Cynthia leitich smiths jingle dancer going into reprint. By helping family and friends, shes able to acquire enough jingles for the powwow. But she has a problemhow will her dress sing if it has no jingles. Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, morrow junior books, 2000 illustrated by cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu recommended for ages 4 to 10 synopsis. Its listed here because in my picture book, jennas cousin elizabeth right is a lawyer. Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, illustrated by cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu a contemporary native american girl, jenna, wants to dance the jingle dance at the next powwow but her grandmother wolfe doesnt think theres enough time to order the rolling jingles needed for her dress. Written for kindergarten through third graders, this depiction of modern native american tribal traditions opens the door for discussion. The jingle dance is a wonderful heritage belonging to native americans and this story is how one contemporary young girl finds the jingles for her dress as she reaches out to family and community. The passages of jenna dancing through her day, from dawn to moonlight are pure poetry. Jenna, a member of the creek nation in oklahoma, dreams of dancing the jingle dance with the women of her tribe and is delighted when her grandmother tells her that she can dance with the other girls at the next powwow. A reading of childrens picture book, jingle dancer written by cynthia leitich smith. To get the coneshaped jingles for her dress, jenna visits several neighbors and relatives. The warm, evocative watercolors of cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu complement author cynthia leitich smiths lyrical text. Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations of women in her family, and she hopes to dance at the next powwow.
The original tradition of the jingle dress is from the ojibwa people. Her other grandmother, who is native american, will be making her a jingle dress when she gets old enough to learn the dance. The article 5 fantastic kids fiction books by native american authors. Published in 2000 by morrowharpercollins, the book was a finalist for the oklahoma book award, a runnerup for the western writers of america storyteller award, and is listed as a notable childrens trade book in the field of social studies, on the 2002 texas 2x2 list, and on the 2002. Tink, tink, tink, tink, sang coneshaped jingles sewn to grandma wolfes dress. Jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, cornelius van.
A contemporary native american girl follows in her grandmothers footsteps literally and figuratively, dancing the traditional jingle dance at the powwow. Cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu have illustrated many distinguished picture books, including jewels, by belinda rochelle dutton, which was selected as a notable trade book in the field of social studies. Novembers storytime focuses on traditions shared during first nations powwow celebrations. Includes a note about the jingle dance tradition and its regalia.
Jingle dancer, illustrated by cornelius van wright and yinghwa hu. My 2year old niece is with me today and she grabbed this book, jingle dancer, by cynthia leitich smith morrow junior booksharper collins, ny 2000 and said, aunty, teach me. This book will help introduce her to one of the facets of her culture. Jingle dancer is a wonderful picture book by noted childrens author cynthia leitich smith. This childrens book tells the story of a young native american girl of creek and ojibway ancestry. Even on a cursory first reading smiths words sing, in this warm little tale of a child seeking to dance herself a place.
The trade and library editions of cynthia leitich smiths jingle dancer are going into reprint. Smith celebrates the sharing spirit of friends and family. In conjunction with the glowing illustrations, jingle dancer reads like a visual poem. Jingle dancer also happens to be bestselling author cynthia leitich smith first book. Jenna is a modern native american girl, who longs for a dress with jingles, just like her grandmas, so that it can sing when she dances.
All age groups are welcome, but book selections are geared towards prek to grade 2. The couple lives in new york city with their daughter. And this fall, youll want to teach your students how to get their jingle dance on from this contemporary native american childrens story. Cynthia leitich smiths, jingle dancer, is a delightful book. Jingle dancer is a childrens picture book written by cynthia leitich smith and illustrated by the team of yinghwa hu and cornelius van wright, which stars jenna, who is determined to dance at an upcoming powwow, despite not having a dress with jingles. And so, the minute that it became 2020, i ran over to my librarys childrens room and checked out todays title. Cynthia leitich smith is a member of the muscogee creek nation and writes fiction for children based on modernday american indians, a much needed area in childrens literature. The coneshaped jingles sewn to grandma wolfes dress sing t ink, tink, tink, tink. The love of it, is very distinct in the longing of the little jenna. Social justice begins with me book club offers gentle. Upon completion of this lesson on jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, students will be able to. A warm family story, beautifully evoked in cornelius van wright and yinghwa hus watercolor art.
Multiple plot lines and nonlinear storytelling may make it difficult to enter smiths jingle dancer complex novel, but the warmth and texture of the writing eventually serve as ample reward for. Native american childrens books the seattle public library. Jade green asked the group of children as she held up a page from the book jingle dancer. Since jingle dresses are so beautiful and unique, i thought i would share a bit more about them to start our celebration of native american heritage month. Cyntia tells in a simple but loving way about the tradition of the first nation. Buy a cheap copy of jingle dancer book by cynthia leitich smith. Harpercollins in this book, a modern native american girl wants to participate in dancing festival but first must get jingle beads from various members in her community. In honor of her hard work, her continuous contribution to cultural diversity in childrens literature and the inspiration she is to fellow writers and to readers, a copy of jingle dancer will be donated to a. Cynthia leitich smith is muscogee creek and jingle dancer is about a little muscogee creek ojibway girl who loves to dance. Jenna wants to jingle dance at the next powwow, but she doesnt have any jingles. This book is a must have for all the jingle dancers.
The blending of contemporary and traditional, the feel of a child secure in that embrace, the changing face of. But where will she find enough jingles for her dress. Jenna is a delightful, ambitious child with great pridea wonderful heroine for this picture book story. In jingle dancer by cynthia leitich smith, a young girl learns about a traditional dance handed down.
Jingle dancer is a beautifully illustrated and written portrayal of a modernday native american girl and her family, a rare treasure to include in your collection. Jennas heart beats to the brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum as she daydreams about the clinking song of her grandmas jingle dancing. Childrens storytime with jingle dancer kenyon college. It is said that an elderly man had a daughter who was sick. Blueboard message boards are a new online resource that allow members to connect with the scbwi community and find other passionate creatives in the industry. Young jenna is inspired by her grandmothers jingle dance and wants be a dancer herself at the next. Jenna is a thoroughly modern girl who lives in suburbia and learns to dance the jingle dress dance by watching a vcr tape of her grandmother dancing. An unusual, warm family story, beautifully evoked in cornelius van wright and yinghwa hus watercolor art. From the moment jenna wakes up she hears the metal cones clink as she thinks about her grandmas bouncestep. Classic childrens picture books recommended by american academy of pediatrics.
Ccbc recommended books cooperative childrens book center. Jingle dancer by cynthia l smith, cornelius van wright. This modernday picture storybook highlights the jingle dance tradition of the muscogee creek tribe. Was excited to find a book about the jingle dancers for my very young granddaughter. She soon began to see that writing was what she wanted to do and decided to leave the law and begin a career as a childrens author. Her dilemma is that she doesnt have jingles for her dress. Jenna, a member of the muscogee, or creek, nation, borrows jingles from the dresses of several friends and relatives so that she can perform the jingle dance at the powwow, in a picture book that includes a note about the jingle dance tradition and its regalia. Jenna, a member of the muscogee, or creek, nation, borrows jingles from the dresses of several friends and relatives so that she can perform the jingle dance at the powwow. Jingle dancer is a wonderful book for children in the age 4 to 10. Her books include rain is not my indian name, jingle dancer, and indian shoes.