AT THE MOUNTAIN'S BASE, by Traci Sorrel, with illustrations by Weshoyot Alvitre--a review by Ashleigh, 13

Traci Sorell wrote one of our favorite picture books, WE ARE GRATEFUL, Otsaliheliga. She also finished Charlene Willing McManis' novel INDIAN NO MORE. Ms. Traci is a Cherokee Nation citizen, and she writes great books for kids! Her newest book is another picture book based on Cherokee history and traditions: AT THE MOUNTAIN'S BASE.

The book has a simple text like a poem. It starts with:

At the mountain's base/ grows a hickory tree/ Beneath this sits a cabin.

Then it turns to:

On that stove/ simmers savory goodness in well-worn pans/ By those pans sits a grandma, weaving

At this point we see the grandma hand-weaving with her granddaughter standing beside her looking on. From the beginning of the book, there are many colored strands of fiber around the pictures, each one connected to the next. This is a very beautiful technique by Tongva/Scots-Gaelic illustrator Alvitre. The weaving connects not just the text and images, but also the Cherokee women in the story, on the land and in the sky.

I LOVE this image!!!!

The women on the ground of all ages are singing too--singing their loved one, a female fighter pilot in World War II, to safety. And "within that pilot forms a prayer/ pleading for peace." Here we see it is not just her family weaving and singing that brings her home, but also a Great Being (another grandma) holding the plane in her hands--the same one that weaves mountain life on the cover.

I have read this book several times and I asked my mom to read it to me and my sister Vi. We all loved it! The back of the book tells about "actual Native woman who have served and continue to serve in wars (including pre-US conflicts) while receiving support from their families." An Oglala Lakota woman named Ola Mildred "Millie" Rexroat and her accomplishments are highlighted.

I have never read another book like this before. It has already become one of my favorites. Shonabish, Ms. Traci and Ms. Weshoyot!!!!

*Thanks to Alexis for helping me with this review. :-) <3

Comments

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