Stitches of tradition Gashkigwaaso tradition

"Traditions stitch together generations with love." Nookomis (Ojibwe forGrandmother) sews a ribbon skirt for her narrating granddaughter to wear to a new baby's naming ceremony. Time passes, and Nookomis makes the child new skirts to mark other occasions--the Fall Ceremony, a beloved aunt becoming a district judge, and, at last, the protagonist's coming-of-age ceremony. The book ends with the child--now a young woman--welcomed into a circle of loving female relatives. Employing straightforward, matter-of-fact text that's nevertheless steeped in meaning, Rendon (Ojibwe) beautifully pays tribute to the deep bond between elders and the next generation. She relies on a repetitive structure: Each time, Nookomis selects the right fabrics and colors and takes precise measurements before creating a new skirt. Poignant details, such as the child growing taller as Nookomis grows shorter, emphasize the passage of time. The repeated phrase "My granddaughter, live a good life" anchors the narrative as the years go by. Pawis-Steckley's (Ojibwe) thick-lined art depicts sturdy, stylized characters sporting brilliantly textured garments that pop with color; readers will feel welcomed into the community alongside Nookomis and her granddaughter. Rendon expertly works information about Ojibwe culture into the narrative; her author's note explains that ribbon skirts are a "sacred, spiritual, and political" symbol of Indigenous resilience, passed down by generations of women. A radiant and joyful glimpse at an important Native tradition. (Ojibwe glossary, note from Heartdrum founder Cynthia Leitich Smith)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.