We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga ᎣᏣᎵᎮᎵᎦ
The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
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. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.
*Starred reviews – Kirkus, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, The Horn Book
A look at modern Native American life as told by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-le-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. Appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.
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- Published: 04 September, 2018
- ISBN: 9781580897723
- Imprint: Charlesbridge Publishers
- Format: Hardcover
- Pages: 32
Activities
We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Teachers' Notes
Cherokee words pronunciation guide by Durbin Feeling
Here is how to pronounce the Cherokee words that appear in the book: Cherokee words spoken by Emilee Chavez
Cherokee words pronunciation guide by Durbin Feeling: Cherokee word transliterations and pronunciations
Awards
2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor
2020 Odyssey Award Honor Audiobook
2020 Audiobook of the Year Finalist
2019 Boston Globe–Horn Book Picture Book Honor Award
2019 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
2019 Reading the West Book Awards Picture Book Winner
2018 Nautilus Children’s Illustrated Non-Fiction Winner
2019 AudioFile Best Audio Books
2019 Notable Book American Library Association
2019 Notable Book for a Global Society
2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
2019 Oklahoma Book Award Finalist
2020 Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award Shortlist
2019 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices List
2018 Best Books List – Kirkus, School Library Journal, NPR
2018 Best of the Books List – Chicago Public Library
2018 Best Multicultural Children’s Books
Center for Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature2018 Nerdies: Best Nonfiction Picture Books List
2018 Junior Library Guild Selection
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga ᎣᏣᎵᎮᎵᎦ Trailer
About Frané
Frané loves to travel and create books based on her worldwide journeys. She is an artist and an author-illustrator, publishing over fifty books for children. Frané speaks at festivals in Australia and overseas sharing the process of writing and illustrating books, empowering both children and adults.
