Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright

1.  Bibliography
Smith, Cynthia Leitich.  2000.  JINGLE DANCER.  Ill. by Cornelius Van Wright.   New York:  Morrow Junior Books.  ISBN 068816241


2.  Plot Summary
Jenna wants to be a jingle dancer like her grandma.  She does not have any jingles for her dress, so she decides to borrow a few from each of her family members to make a jingle dress she can wear for the jingle dance.  "May I borrow enough jingles to make a row?"  Jenna asked, not wanting to take so many that Aunt Sis's dress would lose its voice"  (10).

3.  Critical Analysis
The characters in the story are a family of Native Americans.  The illustrations display the characters skin tones, facial features, clothing, hair styles, and environment to represent the Native American people.  Their skin tones are tan with long dark hair that is braided or hangs down their back.  The clothing in the story is normal for present day, except when the characters are thinking about the jingle dance.  Than the characters are wearing traditional clothes and hairstyles.  The environment in the story takes place in each characters home.  The reader can see different items in the pictures that are Native America decorations.  For example there are dream catchers, woven baskets, and portraits of Native Americans decorating the characters homes.  The pictures in the story are beautiful and realistic to give the reader a glimpse into the homes and life of a young Native American girl.
The theme of the story is sharing and relying on family to help when a dream needs to be accomplished.  There are no physical descriptions in the text about the characters due to the realistic pictures.  The text provides little hints of what type of culture is being represented in the book.  The following words are used to help identify the Native American culture; fry bread, powwow drum, jingle dancing, and Indian tacos.  The language pattern and dialect are standard for present day English.  The names of the characters hint also of the Native American culture.  The characters names in the story that represent their culture is Sun and Grandma Wolfe.  The foods in the story mentioned that are sold at the celebration are another cultural marker that represent this culture.    They are going to sell fry bread and Indian tacos at the powwow.  "Next powwow, you could dance Girls, Grandma Wolfe answered"  (3).  The story shares with the reader the preparation for the jingle dance of the Native Americans.

4.  Review Excerpts
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:  "Smith's language consciously evokes legend. For example, "As Sun caught a glimpse of the Moon" indicates the time of day; and Jenna is careful to borrow only a limited number of jingles, "not wanting to take so many that [another's] dress would lose its voice." Van Wright and Hu's (Jewels) lifelike renderings capture the genuine affection between Jenna and these caring older women."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  "Seeing Jenna as both a modern girl in the suburban homes of her inter tribal community and as one of many traditionally costumed participants at the powwow will give some readers a new view of a contemporary Native American way of life."

5.  Connections
This is a wonderful book to show children what a Native American child's lifestyle is in present day and the information about their traditions.  The book would be good to read aloud to students when learning about celebrations of the Native Americans.
Other books about Native American powwows:
Foran, Jill.  POWWOW. ISBN 1590360958
Kalman, Bobbie.  CELEBRATING THE POWWOW.  ISBN 0865056404
Mitchell, Barbara.  RED BIRD.  ISBN 0688108601
Racket, Linda.  RAINY'S POWWOW.  ISBN 08735867