“This story is very much about reciprocity, sharing, and respecting elder women—a tribute to my grandmas and great aunties. It is often noted for featuring a professional Native woman character, Cousin Elizabeth, who is a lawyer, and for the fact that the illustrations include biracial Native people, such as Black Indians.
“To aid them in their research, I sent the illustrators a huge box of tribal newspapers, family photographs, and southern powwow video; I can't be more pleased with how they brought such warmth and love to the characters through their exquisite watercolor paintings.”
JINGLE
DANCER by Cynthia Leitich Smith
illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright
and Ying-Hwa Hu
(Morrow/HarperCollins, 2000)
The story of Jenna, a contemporary Muscogee(Creek) - Ojibwe(Chippewa) girl who, in bringing together her regalia, honors the women of her family and her intertribal community.
0-688-16241-X (trade)
0-688-16242-8 (library)
Awards include: Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies and a Selector's Choice for 2001; Named to the 2001 2 x 2 Reading List of twenty books recommended for children ages two through second grade by the Texas Library Association; One of five finalists for the children's/YA division of the Oklahoma Book Award; Runner-up for the Storyteller Award from the Western Writers Association; Named a CCBC Choice for 2001; Debuts That Deliver (Book Magazine); Editor's Choice, Library Talk); featured in GREAT BOOKS ABOUT THINGS KIDS LOVE by Kathleen Odean; 2002 Read Across Texas Bibliography (Texas State Library and Archives Commission).
ALA/OLOS Subcommittee for Library Services to American Indian People/American Indian Library Association (2007): "Engaging colors and flowing words make this book a joy to read over and over."
Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature: "…a treasure, one that I love to share with friends, colleagues, students, and others who look for the best children’s books about American Indians."
Booklist: "The way Jenna gathers her jingles (borrowing enough to make a row, but not so many that the lender's dress will 'lose its voice', and her promise to dance for the women who cannot dance for themselves illustrate the importance of family and community ties."
School Library Journal: "This picture book will not only satisfy a need for materials on Native American customs, but will also be a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by the women of a culture."
Publisher's Weekly: "Their easy integration of Native and standard furnishings and clothing gracefully complement Smith's heartening portrait..."
The Story Bag: A National Storytelling Newsletter (about JINGLE DANCER): "A gentle story of love, tradition, and working for what is important to you."
JINGLE DANCER from Cynsations. A look back at the story behind the story.
An Interview With Children's Book Illustrators Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu from CYALR. Van Wright and Hu are the illustrators of JINGLE DANCER.
Examining Multicultural Picture Books for the Early Childhood Classroom: Possibilities and Pitfalls by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from the fall 2001 issue of Early Childhood Research and Practice (ERIC).
JINGLE DANCER is recommended as an alternative to titles the authors find problematic and highlighted among books that provide "substantial view of contemporary Native Americans as people who live in modern houses, hold down jobs, have pets, take on environmental issues, and honor their own cultures in specific ways."
