Jingle Dancer
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Illustrator: Ying-Hwa Hu
William Morrow, 2000
32 Pages
Multicultural
This was such a sweet story about how Jenna wanted to carry on a cultural tradition in family. Tradition can sometimes dwindle through time and the shuffle of life. The excitement of a tradition can be brought back by just one person.
Jenna's Grandmother Wolfe was a jingle dancer. While watching an old video of her grandmother dancing, Jenna decided that she would also like to be a jinle dancer at the next powpow. She practiced but had only one problem. She did not have four rows of jingles to add to her dress. She went to various members of her family who would not be dancing in the PowPow and borrowed a row of jingles from each. She was able to follow her dream of becoming a jingle dancer at her tribe's powpow.
There are many neutral/earth tone colors in these pictures. The use of watercolors is apparent.
I would read this book to any grade level. They would more than likely all enjoy this story of a tradition being carried on by a granddaughter.
This would be a great social studies read. Many of us have Native American roots, so this would be a great way to showcase a culture that could be ours.
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