We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

Title: We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

Author: Traci Sorell

Illustrator: Frané Lessac

Genre: Multicultural

Awards: None

Age Group: 1st-3rd

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga tells about the gratitude of Cherokee people throughout the four seasons. Throughout fall, the Cherokee community participates in the Great New Moon Ceremony and celebrates the Cherokee New Year. During winter, the Cherokee people spend lots of time with their families, making memories, passing down traditions, and reflecting on the past. At springtime, the Cherokees gather the food that has grown in the fields and plant new seeds. When summer comes, the Cherokee people catch crawdads and enjoy a delicious harvest meal at the Green Corn Ceremony. They even get to celebrate their Cherokee history at Cherokee National Holiday. Throughout each season, they are grateful. 

I would use this book in my classroom! I would definitely have to practice all of the Cherokee words before using it as a read aloud though, haha! Some of those words are super difficult to pronounce. That aside, this book teaches about the Cherokee culture in a simple way that would be perfect for the classroom. The illustrations are also very bold and definitely add to the story.

I would suggest this book for 1st through 3rd grade. This book is simple yet relatable for students, as it shows people that look like you and me, which may not be what kids think of when they imagine Cherokee people. In the back of the book, the author has included definitions and descriptions of different Cherokee traditions, which was very interesting! You can also find the Cherokee Syllabary, which looks very complex! I think students will enjoy these features of the book.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga would be perfect to read around Thanksgiving since it is all about being grateful. In response to this book, students could write about what they are thankful for and why. Students could include aspects of their own culture that stand out to them that they are grateful for, as well.