Reading recommendations
47,000 Beads by Koja Adeyoha and Angel Adeyoha (authors) and Holly McGillis (illustrator)
Peyton loves to dance, and especially at powwow, but her auntie notices that she’s been dancing less and less. When Peyton shares that she just can’t be comfortable wearing a dress anymore, Auntie Eyota asks some friends for help to get Peyton what she needs.
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie (author) and Yuyi Morales (illustrator)
Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name . . . one that’s all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn’t want to share a name. But just when Little Thunder thinks all hope is lost, Dad picks the best name . . . Lightning! Their love will be loud and bright, and together they will light up the sky.
A Book about Color by Mark Gonyea (author and illustrator)
Beginning with the six houses on Color Street—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—and concluding with the introduction of the color wheel, author Mark Gonyea explains how artists visualize and choose colors.
Color Dance by Ann Jonas (author and illustrator)
The girl in red, the girl in yellow, the girl in blue, and the boy in black and white are all set to stir up the rainbow. Watch them create a living kaleidoscope, step by step by step.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (author) and Michaela Goade (illustrator)
When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.
Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith (author) and Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (illustrators)
Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations in her family, and she hopes to dance at the next powwow. But she has a problem—how will her dress sing if it has no jingles?
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell (author) and Frané Lessac (illustrator)
The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.
Opposites Abstract by Mo Willems (author and illustrator)
Is this dark? Is this light? Is this soft? Is this hard? Using colors, shapes, lines, and textures, Mo Willems invites readers to explore abstract concepts through artwork.
Learn more about the Jeffrey Gibson: The Body Electric exhibition
on view at the Frist from February 3–April 23, 2023.
