We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
Welcome back to Bibliotherapy Thursday! As we move further into November and approach Thanksgiving, it’s worth devoting some time to contemplating how we are going to be spending the holiday. Thanksgiving can be a complicated day for a variety of reasons. For many families, it will be the first year grieving the loss of a loved one or yet another year unable to come together due to safety concerns. For others with a challenging family dynamic, the prospect of seeing one another can feel daunting. And for many Indigenous members of our community, Thanksgiving is a deeply painful time of mourning, a day on which stories and traditions are shared by their friends and neighbors which unfortunately do not reflect the reality of history. It’s good to be mindful of their experiences on this day, and be respectful of however they choose to spend it.
Meanwhile, for those of us without Native American heritage, we can be faced with some tricky decisions. It can be difficult to marry our deep desire to support and honor our Native American friends while appreciating the happy memories and opportunities for togetherness that Thanksgiving has offered in our own families. Thankfully, there are a fair number of resources for us to turn to as we strive to do so. For example, one of the ways some families from a variety of backgrounds have chosen to both celebrate and commemorate this day is by focusing on universal principles of family unity, service, education, respect for elders, hospitality, and of course, gratitude. A wonderful book that encompasses all those ideas is We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lessac.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga explores how Cherokee families today honor their culture throughout the year. Readers are introduced not only to Cherokee ceremonies and traditions, but the language as well. Each time a Cherokee word is introduced, author Traci Sorell includes a note at the bottom of the page featuring the word spelled in English, how it is pronounced, how it is written using the Cherokee syllabary, and the English translation. The last few pages of the book include the Cherokee syllabary chart and more information about traditions and events in Cherokee history. Beyond the educational aspects, this is a truly beautiful picture book that children and adults of every cultural background will find delightful and unifying. And while this is a great book for all those wishing to spend some time around Thanksgiving educating themselves and their children about Native American cultures, the way it’s structured makes it a perfect book to come back to year-round.
We’re going to be taking a hiatus next week, but we’ll be back the week after for the first pick of December. Until then, we hope your last week of November, however you’re spending it, will be filled with moments of joy and comfort.
You can find We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga in print and e-book at these retailers:
Morning Light doesn’t receive compensation for sharing book recommendations, nor do we receive a commission if you choose to buy the book. We just love them and think some of our clients may find them useful!