Powwow Day

Powwow Day is about a little girl recovering from an illness who attends a powwow but can't participate. We learn about traditions and the illustrations are beautiful. She eventually begins enjoying the powwow and embracing her community's support. The book also includes information about Native American traditions.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young Native American girl named River and her family attend a powwow. River wants to dance in her jingle dress at the event, as she does every year, but she is overcoming an illness and isn’t well enough yet. In the beginning, she is very sad but once the dancing begins and she embraces the fact that their dancing is also for her healing, she begins to enjoy the day.

This book would be a great addition to any elementary classroom or child's personal library. There is also information at the end of the book on the history of powwows. #PowwowDay #NetGalley #TraciSorell #nativeamericantraditions #picturebookreview #indigenouspicturebooks #indigenouschildrensbooks #diversepicturebooks #indigenousculture #childrenslibrary #classroomlibrary

Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for the ARC.

River, a young girl, makes the trip to the annual powwow, but is sick and can't dance. She repeatedly wants to get up and dance but keeps sitting to watch. The story shares a message of the importance of community, healing, and ritual in Indigenous life. The book is beautifully illustrated and uses a lot of sounds to make you feel that you're at the powwow. What a gorgeous book!

If you are looking for a perfect book for indigenous people's day or perhaps a shorter read aloud for 4th grade US history you have found the book. I have enjoyed the beautiful work of Traci Sorell for two school years now and have worked her book Otsaliheliga into my curriculum on indigenous people for two years now. I am excited to have a new book that weaves a more personal tale of a young girl and an essential ceremony for her tribe. I felt a part of the action as she used descriptive language to illustrate the thrumming of the drums and the ways in which the music and dance communicated messages to the tribe. Additionally I really appreciate the notes on Powwows at the end they provide a helpful starting point for planning lessons to education children on cultures and rituals of indigenous people.

This book is delightful from the moment you pick it up to the moment you tuck it back onto it's shelf. The illustrations are vivid and vibrant, capturing the beauty of Native American culture. It would be the perfect addition to a classroom bookshelf to share information about powwows and Native American life with students, especially around Indigenous Peoples Day or during units of study about Native Americans. It is a doorway into the world of Native American culture that so many children never get to learn about or develop an appreciation for.

The main character River is taken to the powwow with her family. She has recently been ill, her hair is cut shorter than the other members of her family. It is never explicitly said why she was sick or what she was sick with, which I appreciated because children struggling with any disease or illness can connect to her character and see themselves in her character. The story touches on her disappointment and how things don't always go the way we want them to. River wants to dance, but isn't able to. I also loved the theme of healing and how River understands that her sister is dancing for her.

There is an informational page at the end explaining some of the terms and history of the powwow and its dances. A wonderful book that all children should have an opportunity to read.

This picture book was a wonderful introduction to powwows, in a well-written, well-illustrated way. The storyline of the girl who is unable to dance in the powwow is moving. This one is definitely a book to recommend to parents and children.

This is a educational and informative book. It brings indigenous culture to life for non-indigenous people. Children and adults need to learn more about different cultures and traditions and this is a great way to try and do that . The illustrations are superb and add a wonderful visual to the story.

Oh I really liked this one. I thought it was very important to introduce the process of recovery from an illness or injury to kids, I really liked the message and the information on powwows at the end. The illustrations were great too.

River has been sick, and she has recovered, but not enough to do dancing at the powwow. But she is well enough to go, and so we see the powwow through her eyes, as she describes all she sees, and misses.

Lovely picture book that shows the march and the jingle dresses, and the other dancers, and how they honor River, because of her illness.

And the end of the book goes into the history of the jingle dress, as well as modern day powows. Excellent book to have in any library.


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

Colorful illustrations and short text build this story well for the reader. Inferences need to be made as to why the young girl can’t dance, but it is clear the tradition is strong. Supplementary text is excellent in explaining aspects of the PowWow itself. I’d like to see more like this, in particular if pictures of a real PowWow rather than cartoons were included. The colorful cartoons are engaging, but do not portray that this is a story taking place in present day, not long ago.

River is woken up on Powwow Day, a day for celebrating her people and culture, with an impending sense of disappointment. Because of her recent unnamed illness ,she is unable to participate in the special dances she loves. We witness the Powwow through River's eyes as she appreciates the beauty of the prayers, drumming and dancing all whilst fighting off feelings of fatigue and gloominess. When her friends dance the healing dance, River's sense of determination and hopefulness return to her. This book is beautifully illustrated with an inviting color pallet that will make it a popular choice for young readers. The author provides detailed explanation of the Powwow ceremony at the end of the book, making it an excellent addition to school libraries and classrooms.

It's powwow day, a day River usually loves, but she is sick this year and not able to dance as she wants. As River watches her community and family dance for her and healing, she feels comforted knowing she will dance again. This lovely story is a great introduction to modern indigenous culture and traditions, and a good read for preschool and early elementary. Illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight beautifully capture the story by Traci Sorell.

I read this book in one sitting with my daughter and she loved the illustrations.
The book is really colourful and bright and the images really did capture her attention.

As a mum I thought that it had a good underlying theme and a great introduction to a different culture too.
I am teaching my daughter about differences, respecting others and different beliefs so this tied in nicely to that.

It is 4 stars from me for this one – highly recommended!

This book is absolutely excellent, and I can't wait to order a bunch for my store and read it to all the little ones in my life. Focused on a little girl who hasn't yet fully recovered from an unnamed illness (probably cancer, judging from brief comments about her hair still being short), it's about a family's trip to an annual powwow and how the girl is frustrated about not being able to dance yet. But it's more about the girl finding hope and peace in her community and knowing that "next year', she will be able to dance. It's also got some beautiful art and some great 'teaching by showing' moments about some Indigenous Nations' dance traditions (including a very brief appendix in the back).

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell follows River as she returns to the powwow grounds after being ill. She isn’t yet well enough to dance again, and she sorely misses participating in the traditions she loves.

River’s story is beautifully told with simple flowing language that makes her narrative easy to follow for little ones while still being full of meaning. The explanation of traditions including the drums, jingle dress, grand entry, grass dancers, and more are wonderful educational tools that don’t disrupt River’s narrative. The importance of these traditions translates clearly, and the reader sees the impact of both participating and observing inter-tribal powwows.

The overall tone and voice is hopeful while also acknowledging the hardship of not being able to participate in something you love because you are still recovering from illness. River’s story will be relatable for readers of all ages. River’s yearning to get back to normal life is thwarted when she doesn’t have the energy to stand, and when she can no longer feel the drum’s heartbeat rising through her feet. River’s story is sure to encourage empathy, while the people around her who help her throughout her story stand out and are sure to inspire readers to look for ways to help others.

The illustrations perfectly match the tone and voice of the narrative. Chickasaw Nation citizen Madelyn Goodnight captures River’s emotions and the powwow setting in her gorgeous illustrations, fully encompassing the vivid experience of attending a powwow. Each page is full of gorgeous illustrations, capturing the beauty of individuality and community simultaneously.

Traci Sorell is one of my favorite authors and a fellow Cherokee Nation citizen. I am in awe of the work she is doing to have more indigenous representation. Each of her books is absolutely excellent. While you wait for Powwow Day to release on February 8, 2022, I highly recommend her other books. I’m fully obsessed with We are Grateful Otsaliheliga, At the Mountain’s Base, and We Are Still Here. Sorell consistently creates Native stories with a strong narrative while also teaching about Native experiences, whether it is in her nonfiction book (We Are Still Here) or by weaving facts into her fictional books (At the Mountain’s Base discusses female Native service members, We are Grateful Otsaliheliga on modern Native experiences). These picture books are great to read aloud and teach kids and their grownups that Native Americans are not a part of the past, but are real living people.

Powwow Day will be available February 8, 2022 from Charlesbridge. Thank you to Ms. Sorell, NetGalley, and Charlesbridge for an advanced copy of the book so I could share my honest opinions.

This was such a great book for kids. My daughter loved this one, and I enjoyed it as well. It’s always great to teach kids about other cultures, and I would love more books like this.

A touching book about a little girl dealing with illness and a beautiful exploration of celebrations by the Ponca and Omaha tribes. I loved the gorgeous illustrations and information in the back!

I got an ARC of this book.

I am not Indigenous. My Chickasaw is better than my French, but just barely. So I really can’t express just how incredible it is to see Indigenous faces and culture in a picture book. It is something that I am incredibly excited about, because I like picture books, but imagine an Indigenous kid actually being able to see themself in a book. That is what is more important than what I think about this book.

That being said, here is my opinion of this book: I really liked it, but the art is what made me excited. I was talking to my Chickasaw partner about this book last night. They said that the art was wonderful, because the faces are not just tinted white faces, that they had Indigenous features. That isn’t something I noticed, but I feel like it is more important than anything I noticed. I noticed the colors, I noticed the outfits, I noticed the hair. I noticed things that just felt exciting. Everything felt alive and exciting. I don’t know a great deal about powwows, so the last few pages that explain the different words and the important of the celebration was really appreciated and meant that this could be used to teach kids that aren’t growing up with these celebrations.

I am going to recommend books by name that you should also read if you are looking at this one. There are other Indigenous picture books out there that seem to be a “if you know you know” situation.

47,000 Beads

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior

Little Loksi

C is for Chickasaw

Chikasha Stories (there are multiple volumes, this is the first one)

There are more out there. These are just the ones I have learned about in the last year or so. Please keep looking, please keep talking about these books.

Wow! Just wow! Knockout illustrations and the storytelling has a gentle touch. We know that our protagonist is ill, but the illness is never identified, though the back matter refers to Covid-19. The story conveys the power of community to heal. The back matter also explains how the powwow is one of the inclusive traditions, where outsiders are welcome.

This beautifully illustrated book does a fantastic job of describing a tribe's culture, traditions, and spirituality as told through the eyes of a little girl whose health has prohibited her from dancing this year. The reader views the story as she does, from the audience. The traditions and meaning are described in easy to understand language, and the importance of learning from other cultures is celebrated in this book.

I love that there are more books featuring youth who identify as a member of an indigenous culture. This book is a wonderful story that should be shared with all children and their families.

After Traci Sorell’s “We Are Grateful” and “We Are Still Here”, I was looking forward to her upcoming picture book “Powwow Day”. This book is a great window for me to know more about ‘Powwow’, a sacred social gathering held by many North American indigenous communities.

River, who is recovering from illness, would not be able to participate in the Powwow Day this year. A simple yet enriching story, it is a vibrant narrative about Powwow Day and the uplifting quality of community. It is important to read this book even in this part of the world, because when we hear stories about customs and traditions from the opposite end, we know that we are more alike than different.

This is my fourth picture book by Traci Sorell, and she has very quickly become an author whose books I will always grab when possible. I wasn't familiar with Madelyn Goodnight's work prior to this, but the cover is gorgeous, so I was looking forward to this overall.

Powwow Day is an absolutely gorgeous book, in both art and story, about River, a young jingle dress dancer who is excited for the powwow but recovering from illness and unable to dance herself. Reading this as someone with chronic illnesses that prevent me from freely doing many of the things I love, it was so easy to connect with River and her longing to dance. The book is also a really beautiful look at powwows and it has an excellent section at the end that provides extra context for readers who haven't been to a powwow before.

I wanted to read Powwow Day because it looked gorgeous and I know Traci Sorell's work won't let me down, and I can't say no to stories about powwows. I am white, for the sake of clarity, but I have attended a powwow, and this story really captured how beautiful both aesthetically and culturally they are. I didn't delve into the description before reading it though and was surprised to find a deeply relatable sick character at the centre of it.

I would highly recommend it for the gorgeous art, beautiful powwow portrayal and learning opportunities, Indigenous and illness rep, and all-around overall wonderfulness.

I received an eARC for this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I really enjoyed this book, which is the second of Traci Sorell’s books I have read. I enjoyed this one so much more - probably because I read rather than listened to it! The information was well presented and I appreciate how Ms. Sorell adds references to her books. The art was beautiful and engaging. While I inferred that the main character has been battling cancer, no specific illness is ever mentioned, so any child who has been through a memorable illness can relate to the main character. It gives a positive, hopeful viewpoint. I am glad to know now that jingle dress dances are for healing!

A beautiful book with all of the colours and sounds of a POW Wow. The main character takes us on a journey through a Pow Wow through her eyes. Unfortunately, this year, she is unable to dance, but her descriptions of the drum, regalia, and dances are beautiful. An enjoyable read that your littles at home or in the classroom will really enjoy.

This book is a wonderful representation of Powwows in society. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to sharing it with my Native American family.

This book is perfect for young readers or to share in a classroom. I’m always looking for more books to share in my class about Native American history. I loved Rivers story and the pictures that went along with it. It will definitely captivate young children and educate them on traditional dances in a fun way.

Powwow Day is a gorgeous picture book that lives up to the standard Traci Sorrell has brought to all of her work thus far. As we follow the main character through her day, we see jingle dances, hear drums, and see community come to life. The colors are bright and lively, while creative use of spacing and text placement draws our attention to important parts of the story. I only wish that River had found to feel more of a part, rather than feeling left out due to her illness, but I appreciate how everyone affirms her and speaks hope to her future. It also acknowledges the very real feelings that young children may have when they cannot do the things they used to or do things that they see their friends doing, for any number of reasons.

A great book that shows both some of what happens at a powwow and a girl who cannot participate while recovering from an unnamed illness. A great book for developing understanding and empathy. There's also a section in the back that explains some context information about powwows for readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

I must say the illustrations are the stars of this gorgeous picture book! The detail in the drawings of the jingle dancers' dresses and of all the regalia is stunning! I love that we get to learn about the dances at a powwow and have a visual representation to refer to. The end of the book has some great information on powwows, the Grand Entry, and other important information that may not be known to the reader. I can't wait to purchase a copy of this for my classroom library!

Powwow Day tells the story of a sick young girl named River who will be attending a Powwow with her family. Although River is disappointed that she is not able to participate and dance in the Powwow, she still enjoys the ceremony with her family. The story also contains information about Powwows and the significance of the drumming and dancing. The illustrations are very realistic and depict the stunning ceremonial clothing that is worn for this special event.
There is also a section at the back of the book which contains additional information about Powwows. This is great information for a teacher and/ or caregiver to share with children as they read this beautiful story aloud. I also liked that this story is written by a Native American who has attended Powwows, even if the author is not a member of a tribe which conducts Powwows. I appreciate learning about and sharing information concerning Native American culture. This is vitally important so that the customs and traditions are celebrated and passed down for more generations to enjoy.

Wow, wow, wow! I am always looking for indigenous picture books to add our collection. Traci Sorell never disappoints. This is one of my favorites so far. Beautiful graphics and a narrative that is both interesting and deeply empathetic. As a native person myself, I found the representation of native spirituality accurate and refreshingly nonchalant. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for children’s collections, classrooms, and parents.

This is a lovely picture book for young readers, who will relate to eight-year-old River, whether they are Native or non-Native. River loves to dance in her jingle dress at powwows, but she's still recovering from a serious illness. She's sad when she can't join her sister and friends in the dance, but even more scary is the fact she can't feel the beat of the drums. But as the dancing continues her heart begins to beat with the sound of the drum and she knows that she will dance at the next powwow.

The text by Cherokee writer Traci Sorell is simple but never talks down to readers, while the illustrations by Chickasaw artist Madelyn Goodnight are full of color and charm. Older readers will also benefit from the clear explanations at the end of the story about the history of, and etiquette for, powwows. The story is all the more poignant as the dress and dance originated during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, when a father received a vision as to how his daughter could be cured.

Thanks to Charlesbridge for a copy of the soon to be published book in exchange for an honest review. (

Have you ever been really sick? So sick it left you weak for months afterward? I have, and so has the main character of Traci Sorell’s new book “Powwow Day”. Sorell’s young protagonist, River, has been very sick. She’s getting better, but she’s still weak. When powwow day comes, she’s sad because she’s too weak to dance. As River watches her friends and relatives dance she gradually comes to a place of hope for the future.

I enjoyed this book. For one thing, I could really relate to River’s struggle, having been in that same place of slow recovery from sickness. For another, I I loved Madelyn Goodnight’s colorful illustrations, and I appreciated the chance to learn more about powwows. There are so few books out there that teach respectfully about native culture, and this book did a very good job of summarizing about powwows in a way that’s accessible even to young children. I loved learning more about these special celebrations.

“Then the powwow begins as the emcee calls, ‘Time for Grand Entry – stand up. Gentlemen, remove your hats.’ My uncles strike a large drum together. Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam. They sing, ‘EH-yah, EH-yah, WEY-eh-yah-ah.'”

Both of the ladies who gave us this book, Traci Sorell and Madelyn Goodnight, are native themselves. Traci Sorell is Cherokee and Madelyn Goodnight is Chickasaw. The book is filled with so many little details about powwows, and there is even more information in an afterword.

I recommend “Powwow Day”. It’s a wonderful way to teach your little ones about the humanity of native people.

Such a gorgeous book; the illustrations are fantastic. River is so sweet and my heart went out to her a few times throughout this book. I loved all of the information that Traci provides about powwow's, it is always great when you get to learn about other cultures.

The illustrations are clear, bright and engaging. Upon first look, I was worried that the simpler, less realistic illustrations wouldn't translate the intricacy and beauty of the clothing but it actually worked very well. The idea of the details, feathers and beads came through and the bright colors were just right. The text was well done, using correct language, but not so complicated that it needed explanation within the story. It felt more like the child was really telling the story, rather than the author explaining everything to the reader.

I was so excited about a new book from Traci Sorrell! I Powwow Day, like others of her books, we are given a glimpse into one of the tradition of the jingle bell dance. River is recovering from an illness and is not able to dance this year at the traditional dance. By the end of the dance River realizes that the dance is for her even if she isn't dancing. The illustrations in this book (also by an Indigenous illustrator) are bright and joyful. As wonderful as the story is, the notes at the end are a treasure in themselves. Sorrell details all of the Indigenous items or activities that are included in the book. Powwow Day would be a wonderful addition to a child's library. The book could also be used in multiple ways in the classroom, though it would be wonderful as a read aloud just for enjoyment of the story and illustrations.

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight

To be published on Feb 8, 2022. Please support this amazing picture book🔥 Perfect for beginning readers!

Many thanks to @charlesbridgepublishing
for sending me an ARC. Powwow Day is a wonderful story about healing and the power of community.

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It's the first Powwow Day since little River got sick. She wants nothing more than to dance at the Powwow alongside her sister. Yet she's incapable of doing so since she's still recovering from a long illness. This makes her very sad.

We follow River as she listens to the beating of the drums and admires the beautiful movements of the dancers around her. All of this moves River deeply, inspiring her to believe that she will be able to dance again one day. She learns that community can be a great source of healing.

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River's journey felt very similar to my childhood. There were a lot of things I couldn't do as I was also recovering from a long term illness. It can be quite isolating. I felt the same vibes of loneliness from River's character too. It's hard seeing your peers partaking in an activity you love, but you yourself can't participate. These feelings of loneliness are multiplied by a thousand when you're a kid.

In addition, I appreciated the manner in which this story showcases Native American culture! You can tell every word was written with the utmost love. It was also very informative. I only had a limited understanding of what powwows were before reading this book, but the author does an amazing job of explaining the significance of this cultural event.

I can't end this review without talking about the beautiful artwork. Madelyn Goodnight's illustrations are a burst of color and delight. Just gorgeous. I especially loved the panels in which the characters are dancing in their jingle dresses. Her artwork only added to this deeply moving story.

This book will be so important to young readers to increase their knowledge of Native American culture and customs. The main character, River, is recovering from an illness, and can not yet participate in their powwow.
The beautiful illustrations show the magnificence and beloved traditions of their celebration. So many other topics are touched upon--friendship, patience, and above all, resilience.
What a welcomed addition this will be for young readers' libraries. I learned so much about tradition in such a lovely way.

This was a beautiful and inspiring children's book about a young girl who, because of a physical limitation, isn't able to dance at the tribe's pow wow. I loved her internal strength and the message this brought. The illustrations were beautiful too, and I appreciated the explanation of the terms used at the end of the book!

Powwow Day is a great book for children to learn about Indigenous culture and ceremony. It is also a great way to start a conversation with your kids.

This is a beautiful story about powwow day and healing. The importance and the power of tradition not only for ourselves but for the ones we love who can’t participate. There is always hope for another year.

This gorgeously illustrated book with a gentle storyline introduces non-Native Americans to the wonderful Native American cultural tradition- POWWOW. thanks to The story follows River a little girl who’s just recuperating from illness and is sad because she can’t participate in her favorite part of the POWWOW festivities, the cultural dance. She wants to dance with other girls, but she can’t, “my feet stay still. I can’t feel the drum’s heartbeat.” She says. Luckily she’s surrounded by family who constantly check up on her. My favorite line in this book must be: “…but the girls don’t dance for the judges, they dance for the creator, the ancestors, their families and everyone’s health… including mine.” The story ends on a very hopeful note.

I absolutely loved this book. The illustrations, the story the end where it teaches you what is in the story. It really is a great book. If you want to add a great book about Indigenous culture this is the book for you. I hope to see more books just like this in the future.

This book did a great job introducing children to powwows. It used an insider to help guide children through the process, even though the main character was sitting outside the event observing. The main character has an illness that is not named (although the author mentions that many indigenous people brought powwow videos to the internet during Covid, so maybe she has Long Covid?). That means that she cannot participate in the powwow even through she longs to join. There is a gradual transition from the main character feeling out of the loop to re-connecting with herself and the powwow during the event. I loved that it isn't just telling what powwows are, but it has a bit of a story element. A great purchase to expand your collection.

Already ordered a copy for my library. I enjoyed every aspect of this book. This illustrations were fantastic, and writing was great. We have a large group of patrons who check out FNIP books, and I'm sure they will love this one.

I love the art, that there are so many bright, high-quality spreads in this book. It's also a strong feature of Indigenous culture. I found a bit of backstory lacking, but the story itself is so vivid and full of life that it's a must-read!

Powwow Day is a beautiful picture book showcasing the significance of the Powwow to a young girl and her family. Accessible text and brightly colored illustrations make for a lovely reading experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Powwow Day brings us to the sidelines of a local Powwow. The story is told through the eyes of 8 year old River who is recovering from an illness. She is not able to participate and is a bit down because of that, but she wants to see her sister and cousins dance. Her friends and family dress in their Jingle Bell Dresses and dance for her healing in the arena. Watching them, gives her the faith and strength to believe she will dance next year.

This is a great book to teach children about a different culture. Through River's eyes we learn about about powwows and the importance of community to the Native Americans. The illustrations were beautiful. So colourful and emotions showed on their faces. The information in the back of the book is informative and provides readers with insight to the structure and importance of of a powwow and the participants. They share the history of the jingle dress, as well as modern day powwows. I found it interesting that during the pandemic, many jingle dances were shared on-line to help those who were sick. A great book for all libraries (Public, School and Classroom)

This a beautiful picture book. Loved the art and the story. Brings back memories of past powwows I've been too.

This book is beautifully illustrated and filled with great information about native culture and the practice of powwows. Non-native readers will get an easily accessible glimpse into another culture's traditions and native children will see their culture and traditions reflected in a beautiful and professionally published picture book.

My only complaint is that instead of being an overall positive book just celebrating powwow traditions the story is told through a girl is who is sick and sad she can't fully participate so the tone of the story isn't as celebratory as I had hoped. However, it is still a very good book.

This vibrant book is about life and healing. The story is told from the point of view of River, a young girl living in a tribal community. Due to her recent sickness, she is too weak to participate in the dancing at the powwow. Readers will observe the colors, sounds, and feelings evoked during the ceremony through her words. Most of the picture book consists of two-page layouts. The illustrations show perspectives from different angles including downward, close-up, from afar (including blurring out faces to show distance), as well as a few that could be from River's own view. The text is placed in key areas and never interferes with the scenes on the page. There are no dominate colors since the illustrator has taken care to include so many bright hues and lovely details in the dresses, flags, and regalia. It is implied River may be recovering from COVID-19, based on statements in the informational pages in the back. This section is a kind of glossary, explaining key elements of powwows and how they relate to culture and history.

Thanks to Charlesbridge Publishing Inc. and NetGalley for the e-galley. I read the published book for this reviews. My ratings and reviews are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell is a beautiful book about a little girl who is suffering from an illness and is disappointed that she can’t dance at her tribal powwow. Whether you have attended powwows before or have never heard of one, you will love and learn from this book. The Indigenous representation of tribal powwows, family and community is powerful. I would definitely incorporate it into an elementary or homeschool curriculum and I wouldn’t relegate it to just November. It addresses themes of childhood illness, disappointment, family and community support through an Indigenous lens.

Childhood Illness
On the day of the powwow, River wakes up to the reminder that she won’t be able to dance in the jingle dress competition. River, understands that she doesn’t have the energy to participate in the dances. But her family and friends support her as she copes with being on the sidelines. At one point, she thinks that she can participate in the opening dance, but is disappointed again when she doesn’t have the energy to do so. It’s an important point to discuss with children reading the book regarding empathy and how to show a sick friend support.

Family Support
River belongs to a strong family unit. They support and encourage her as she gets ready to attend her first powwow since becoming sick. Her sister is by her side making sure she is okay. Her mother is close by to offer a supportive hand when she feels her energy waning.

Illustrations
This book has beautiful, brightly colored illustrations. The colors of the girls and womens dresses set a gorgeous contrast to the green grass. I love that River is dressed in a brightly dress of orange and yellows. It seems like a decision her family would make to keep her spirits up.

History Of The Jingle Dress
I definitely recommend reading the last pages of Powwow Day by Traci Sorell that provide more information about the various aspects of powwow traditions. What I found especially interesting was the history of the jingle dress and it’s connection to the World War I flu pandemic. Dancers perform it in connection with both spiritual and physical healing.

A touching book about a young indigenous girl attending a powwow, but unable to dance this year as she recovers from an illness. It's a testament to the power of community and tradition to heal the spirit.