Fact Friday (a day late): We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell

This was posted fairly late to my school's learning platform and out town's library FB page yesterday. I forgot to it post here. It was a tough day for me as Friday marked three months since my husband died. I had extra trouble concentrating and following through on tasks yesterday. My apologies.

Image: Charlesbridge

We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell. Illustrated by Frané Lessac. unpgd. April, 2021. Charlesbridge, April, 2021. 9781623541927.

Happy Friday TMS Readers! Sorry for the late post today. It has been a tough day for me. The weather is gorgeous though! I hope you are out and enjoying it.

Fact Friday features We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell. Illustrated by Frané Lessac. This is the book to read for a perfect introduction to Indigenous history, especially if you don't have the time or stamina to read Anton Treuer's, Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But were Afraid to Ask (Young Reader's Edition), which was featured here on July 16, because I try to read diversely all through the year. The book is also a partner with Ms. Sorell's multiple-award-winning, We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga.

In We are Still Here, a class of Native American kids take turns presenting their "class project," which covers historical and contemporary facts about Indigenous life, culture, laws, struggles, and activism. Topics include forced assimilation, where Indigenous children were forced to attend boarding school and severely punished for speaking their tribal language; land allotment; termination of tribal nations; the Indian Child Welfare Act that protected the forced removal and adoption of Native children by white families. The text is concise and age-appropriate, aimed at introducing middle grade readers to history. Helpful back matter includes more detail about events in the book, a timeline and suggestions for further reading.

The folk-style gouache art is vibrant and depicts a variety of skin tones present in the community as well as activities past and present.

Closter Public Library's copy of We are Still Here is checked out, but their copy of We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is available to check out. Of course, We are Still Here can be ordered in through ILL (Inter-Library Loan). Happy reading!