Fry Bread
This book is deceptive because the seemingly simple language makes you think it's a book for little children but Fry Bread's meaningful illustrations along with the Author's Notes in the back, make it perfect for all ages. The text celebrates Indigenous people of today by highlighting aspects of resilience, culture, and history. I love how the author explains that he purposely represented the rich diversity of the Indigenous Community and included many other cultural and historical details in the illustrations which are explained in the Author's Notes.
-DenaSocial Justice Activities:
Use the Author's Notes to study the ways the Author and Illustrator choose to represent historical and cultural aspects of identity. (Identity 3)
Connect to the cultural wealth within your communities and build relationships with local Tribal Nations to learn from them. (Diversity 8)
Relevant Social Justice Standards:
Identity 3. Students will recognize that people’s multiple identities interact and create unique and complex individuals.
Diversity 8. Students will respectfully express curiosity about the history and lived experiences of others and will exchange ideas and beliefs in an open-minded way.
Reading Strategies:
Main Idea: Each page has a title like, “Frybread is Sound...Frybread is Art,” and then gives cultural details that are explained in the Author's Notes.
Figurative Language: Every page start with metaphor (ex. Fry Bread is History) then goes into free verse that often includes descriptive words and sensory details.
Summarize/Synthesize/Author's Purpose/Theme: Use the concepts, ideas, and details in the Author's Notes to practice any of these skills.
- Fiction, All Ages
- Perspectives: Indigenous People
- Author's stated heritage: Seminole Nation, Mekusukey band.
- Subject Integration: Art, Science, History
Book covers images are from publishers and in the public domain