Summary
A children’s book follows the journey of the author Ria Thundercloud as she navigates the world of dance through her traditional powwow dance of the Native American tribes. She discovers other dances, such as jazz, but still prefers her traditional dance for its expressiveness and connection to her family. Although Ria’s preferences when it comes to dancing make her different from her classmates, she never loses the love she has for her dance and goes on to become a professional powwow dancer.
Theme(s):
Character Change, Traditions, Family
Personal Response
I enjoyed this book for a couple of reasons. First, because the book is a biography, the reader gets a first-hand experience and feelings from the author. Instead of an author that may not have had the same experience trying to assume what it would be like for the main character. There are no assumptions. Second, this book has a historical context. The author does not miss an opportunity to educate the reader on the topics, such as the locations her tribe is in throughout the U.S.
Teaching Ideas
When using this book in the classroom, I automatically think of adding it to the third-grade curriculum, where students learn about Native Americans and indigenous groups. We deeply dive into various cultures in third grade and explore different aspects, including traditions. This book would be a great way to introduce the unit or to use it throughout. This would also be a great book for SEL lessons and support students’ self-esteem for who they are.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
