Brenda J. Child

So I've read this book twice and fallen in love with it two times at this point. When I first read excerpts of it for a class, a classmate described this book as a gift, and it truly was--reading about Child's grandmother, for example, brought tears to my eyes, especially in her resistance to agency surveillance in her life. So the first two chapters are just incredible gifts to the reader, and it definitely sucked me in on the second read.

The latter chapters are sort of a more traditional show more historical fare, but Child is so careful in her analysis, so attentive to gender and changes across time in the gendering of labor practices while also avoiding painting everything with a broad brush about that change. It's an incredible book and I strongly recommend it to anyone looking to know more about American Indian labor history, or just anyone looking for a really great, nuanced piece of nonfiction. show less

Brenda J. Child, a professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota, and a member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation of Minnesota, makes her children's book debut with this bilingual picture-book, which follows the story of a young girl who, attending a powwow with her uncle and her dog, falls asleep and has a dream about a 'Bowwow Powwow' involving all dog characters. Child's English-language text has been translated into Anishinaabemowin by Gordon Jourdain, a member of the Lac La show more Croix First Nation of Ontario, and a teacher at the Misaabekong Ojibwe Language Immersion program in the Duluth Public Schools. The accompanying artwork is provided by Jonathan Thunder, also a member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation.

I found the story here interesting, and appreciated the brief author's note at the end, explaining how the concept of the book - a powwow attended entirely by different kinds of dogs - had its roots in a traditional Ojibwe dance in which participants, singing "we are like dogs, we are like dogs," solicited food and gifts at all the nearby houses. This custom reminded me of some western European Christmas traditions, in which groups of singers travel from house to house, likewise asking for food and drink. I also appreciated the fact that the book was presented in both English and Anishinaabemowin, although I was only able to judge the former. The artwork from Thunder was not to my taste - too cartoon-like in style, with odd proportions and perspectives - but leaving that aside, I enjoyed Bowwow Powwow : Bagosenjige-niimi'idim, and would recommend it to anyone looking for picture-books about powwows and/or dreams, or that feature an Ojibwe cultural background. show less

Summary: Windy Girl and her dog love to adventure. Some of her favorite times are traveling with her uncle, listening to stories, and going to powwows. One summer day at a powwow, Windy Girl falls asleep and dreams of the silliest thing--a bowwow powwow (a powwow with all dog dancers). She takes the reader through the elements of a powwow and the beauty of the dances and traditions while maintaining authenticity to the event.The story is written in both English and Ojibwemowin side-by-side show more on the page!

Review: This is my current favorite book. First of all, it is breathtakingly beautiful. From the end pages to the individual illustrations, every page is colorful and alive with the energy of a powwow. The story is told by and Ojibwe author and illustrator, and although it pays homage to their home of Red Lake Nation, it is intended for all Native people to find a piece of home within the story. I cannot recommend this book enough. show less

Itchy Boy is Windy Girl’s dog: a lively and loyal companion who barks at everything. The inseparable pair enjoy spending time with Uncle, who drives them in his truck, takes them ice-fishing, and, despite Itchy’s incessant barking, manages to tell Windy stories of his youth. Windy’s favorite is about how the Native American powwow tradition has both survived and changed with the passage of time. One summer evening, a powwow continues late into the night, and the festivities and show more Itchy’s persistent presence creep into Windy Girl’s dream, where dogs replace humans in the celebration. Readers observe costumed canines marching as war veterans, participating in a drum circle, and dancing in an array of styles: traditional, grass dance, and fancy. Created by a Red Lake Ojibwe author and illustrator, this story offers accessible cultural insight, and an appended note adds important details to those provided in Windy’s dream and corrects misconceptions. The story is written in English and Ojibwe, and its crisply colored digital-media illustrations add a contemporary feel. show less