Audiobook

 

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and read by Lauren Hummingbird, Agalisiga (Choogie) Mackey, Ryan Mackey, Traci Sorell, Tonia Weavel. Pine Plains, NY: Live Oak Media, 2019.

Summary: This audio version of the lauded picture book is a celebration of Cherokee culture and language, family, gratitude, nature, and the seasons. Each season - summer, spring, winter, and fall - is beautifully described with connections to Cherokee customs.

Awards:  2020 Odyssey Honor Award, AudioFile Earphones Award

Target Audience: Ages 3-7

Strengths: Ambient sounds of nature and people along with music bring the story to life, extensive historical context provided as well as an explanation of the Cherokee language, narration is clear and well-paced, repetition of Cherokee words is very helpful to listeners unfamiliar with the language

Weaknesses: Music at the beginning is a bit loud and overwhelms the title and other contextual information

Meaningful/Creative Uses: Students could draw pictures of the seasons as they listen to the audiobook, particularly drawing pictures of what they hear. Would also be useful for an introduction to the Cherokee language. The emphasis on family and gratitude would make it a good selection for Thanksgiving as well as the base for a discussion about the relationships between Native Americans and early European settlers.

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