Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!

The thing about teaching, in a picture book, is to do so that the child doesn't realize that is the point of the book. This book does that, and also takes the concept of getting ready for a Cherokee celebration be park of the story as well, throwing in common Cherokee phrases, and games.

The problem, int eh book, is how to gauge volume and space, to find a container that will display the marbles that Bo has painted. He is told it has to fit on the table, but also has to take up a small footprint. So, he has to find a container that does both.

Very cool story, and you get to learn a few Cherokee words a long the way, as well as about the marble game, digadayosdi.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

Both a welcome ethnic piece (the story concerns a young Cherokee lad who's painted some stone marbles for their national day) and a brief look at mathematical concepts, this manages to hide its educational side really quite well. Our hero is told to find something the right shape to bring the marbles to the family's craft stall in, so he can sell them on, but just what will be the right size and capacity? The abject mess he makes of his bedroom in trying things out will add a recognisable touch to proceedings, before we get to the end-matter, which allowed me at least to learn about the sport the marbles are used for – and to witness some actual Cherokee script. Deserving of a wide audience; at least four stars.

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! is a beautifully illustrated children's book celebrating Cherokee heritage. Coulson packed so many different but cohesive ideas into the book that it can be explored in multiple ways. You could use the book to encourage flexible/creative thinking, to discuss math concepts such as volume, or to discuss language and heritage.

Art Coulson’s Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! is a fabulous picture book for young children. The book follows Bo, who is now old enough to have painted traditional marbles for his family’s booth at a festival celebrating Cherokee culture. How will he display his beautiful creations? He is off on a mission to find a container to display the marbles while fitting in the space he has available in the booth.

Art Coulson, a Cherokee author, has wonderfully incorporated many aspects in this book without detracting from the story or flow. Children look at volume during Bo’s search while also seeing some traditional Cherokee items and hearing some Cherokee words. The book gives much needed representation We definitely need more picture books from Indigenous authors like this.

This book celebrates Cherokee culture and traditions, through a young boy's preparation for a craft fair at a festival. Bo, our lead, must find a way to gather all his marbles, leading him to explore space and volume through different vessels. This book would be a great jumping off point for mathematics conversations, but also for the different traditions and festivals of cultures and how they are celebrated. The illustrations in the book are excellent at drawing attention to the different shapes and sizes of containers, while also representing Bo and his family well.

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi is my first book by the author, and I absolutely enjoyed it so much. A huge thanks to Charlesbridge Publishing for my e- ARC in exchange for an honest review..This is an incredible picture book that follows Bo, who wants to display his marbles at a festival celebrating Cherokee culture. We follow him as he strives to find a container that will display them in an aesthetically pleasing way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it was also a historical cultural look at how marbles were formed.




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One does not often hear of, read or see many children's books about the Native Americans. Therefore, it was very pleasing to discover this educational story of a young Cherokee boy and to learn a bit of his culture and language.

Young Bo prepares to sell the marbles he had made at the Cherokee National Festival but cannot find a proper sized container in which to display them. Encouraged by his Grandma, he goes on a hunt for one. As he does, he "learns" some math: shapes, sizes, volume and area, in a subliminal manner, until he finds just the right one. During the Festival, the Cherokee play a traditional game of marbles so Bo's sell well.

The end sections of Look Grandma! Ni, Elisi includes a Glossary of Cherokee words used; a "Try This" hands-on math section; and a short explanation of the marble game. This type of book is branded as, "Story Telling Math". Incidently, the author of this book is Cherokee and the illustrator is from the Chickasaw Nation: both Native Americans. Added bonus.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

July 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by the publisher.

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I love this children's book from Art Coulson (Cherokee) in which Bo, a Cherokee kid ("atsutsa" or "chooch"), searches for a container to display his hand-painted marbles for an upcoming holiday celebration. Bo's grandma ("elisi") tells him the display can't be too big and gives him a mat to show him the size his container can be. Bo, by trial and error, tries out different containers from around his home until he finds the perfect one.

Where this book shines is in its integration of Cherokee words and phrases throughout the book. The words aren't defined in the book, but are defined in the back of the book in a glossary ("dikaneisdi"). I appreciated that this brought in a hybrid language as would commonly be spoken in bilingual homes.

The book ends with fun extension activities extending spatial awareness and reasoning, as well as more information about Cherokee marbles ("digadayosdi"). I love that it situated Bo and his family in the modern world, showing life of a contemporary Cherokee family. Great book - I'll definitely be recommending!

This book contains applicable lessons about math (volume, area, capacity) and cultural significance (the Cherokee National Holiday is central to the book. The illustrations are great and I think this will be a great read for lots of kids.