We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

This is my first experience with a Wonderbook. The obvious advantage to an attached recording of the text is that pre-readers can “read” the book by themselves. In this book by Traci Sorell, whose work has been reviewed on The Pirate Tree in the past, the recording is almost necessary. The proper pronunciations of the Cherokee words sprinkled throughout are complement by phoneticization in the text. The colorful, abstract illustrations by Frane Lessac promote contemporary Cherokee culture rather than generalizations about indigenous people or mythologized history.

We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is published by Charlesbridge is marketed to pre-schoolers through second graders, and comes in at 32 pages.