Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

This is a remarkable book that I discovered in our local library and just had to bring home. This heartfelt story beautifully represents the rich diversity of Native American culture. What truly stands out is the inclusivity of the illustrations, which help convey to my son that Native Americans come from all backgrounds. The vibrant and engaging artwork not only captures attention but also sparks conversations about the importance of embracing our differences. The heart of this book lies in the exploration of fry bread, not only as a delicious treat but also as a cultural symbol that connects Native American families. The accompanying recipes and different ways to dress and enjoy fry bread are a delightful discovery. They invite readers to learn and appreciate the significance of this food in Native American communities. One aspect that I truly appreciate is the list of recognized North American tribes featured on the inside covers. It serves as a valuable educational tool, highlighting the multitude of distinct Native American cultures across the continent. Overall, this book is a treasure that not only educates and entertains but also fosters inclusivity and understanding. It's a must-have for families seeking to explore the rich tapestry of Native American heritage.

This is the most adorable book. I bought it to donate it to the Fort at No. 4, which is a living history site in Charlestown NH that often has fourth graders coming in to learn about life during the 1750s. The story of fry bread is laid out beautifully, gently explaining the negatives without erasing them.

Super cute book love the recipe in it and the storyline

As someone who is proud to be Lakota Sioux, I found this book to be an absolutely beautiful and necessary addition to our collection. I purchased this for my nephew, and it is the perfect way to share our culture and history with the next generation. It isn't just a story about food; it is a story about resilience, family, and our identity. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and the writing captures the warmth of a Native American kitchen perfectly. It’s a powerful tool for teaching children that our traditions are living, breathing parts of our daily lives. Whether you are Indigenous or simply want to share a diverse and meaningful story with a child in your life, this book is a masterpiece of storytelling. It is a wonderful way to help my nephew build a strong connection to his roots! Pros: Culturally Authentic: Captures the deep significance of fry bread as a symbol of family and survival. Stunning Artwork: The illustrations are warm, inclusive, and keep little ones engaged from start to finish. Educational & Empowering: Includes great additional information in the back for deeper learning. Perfect Gift: An excellent choice for nephews, nieces, or any young person you want to inspire with heritage-rich stories.

This is a great book to teach my daughter about her culture. Love that it has a fry bread recipe in the back.

Winner of ALA's Sibert Award for Nonfiction 2020 A beautiful book to read aloud with illustrations that your students will want to return to and examine over and over again. Maillard, a member of the Seminole Nation, Mekusukey band, describes in simple verse not only this the physical properties of fry bread (which will make you want some) but also what fry bread represents to those who make and eat it--time, art, history, place, nation. Juan Martinez-Neal's illustrations are rich, beautiful, engaging for our youngest readers/learners. READING THE AUTHOR'S NOTE (for ourself) or back matter is critical to helping our k-3 students make the most of this book. As I read the author's note--I realized how much I missed in Martinez-Neal's illustrations and in the meaning of Maillard's carefully chose words--the Indigenous people's art (placed carefully in the illustrations at various points), the choice of who to represent (in the illustrations and in the words) and so forth. I'd want to keep an eye on what Maillard includes in the notes as I present two-page layouts in the book to students and ask, "What do you notice?" and "Why do you think the illustrator made those choices?" or "Why do you think the author chose this word?" Maillard's notes also highlight how there's not one kind of fry bread--fry bread looks different across families and even within a family and yet it still serves to represent. This idea provides so much content for thoughtful conversations with students. Honestly, I think this could be read aloud or read-by-a-small group-of-students in grades k-8 for different purposes. Older students could read and discuss the back matter and then revisit the author's word choice and evaluate more thoughtfully the illustrator's choices.

Fry bread was a staple for many Native American people groups. The US government gave them flour as part of their food allotment and they invented this way to make bread. If you’ve never had fry bread made by a native you are missing out. Fry Bread has many uses in a classroom situation. When teaching categories, the book could be used to describe the many categories fry bread could fit into - shape, sound, food, and more. Author Kevin Maillard is a member of the Seminole Nation and understands the Native culture. He chose poetry as his means to tell the categories of fry bread. He closes the book with a recipe, directions for making fry bread, and an author’s note which gives further details about each category in the book. Illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal used acrylics, colored pencils, and graphite to illustrate the text. They are beautiful and include people of many colors. They complement the text well. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story received Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children. It was also a Picture Book Honor choice for the American Indian Youth Literature award. I will be adding Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story to my K-12 Christian School library. It will be a great addition to a unit about Native Americans. I borrowed a copy from my local public library. This is my honest review.

I love this book! The illustrations, the great ordeal of food bringing loved ones together, and the recipe included in the book! My son will love it!

The book is beautiful. The illustrations are inclusive. The story is simple and sweet. There's a recipe for fry bread in it. There's even further detail about fry bread at the end of the book, even the beginning and end pages have listed countless Aboriginal tribal names. Excellent story to read together and then evolve into making the recipe for fry bread together. 10/10.

I loved this story and its history lesson for young children. We made the fry bread recipe and it was delicious. A great book for any children's library.

Nice story. Makes you warm and fuzzy. Love all the little extras, like the historical/cultural info at the back. This makes the book so multi-layered. The artistry is phenomenal. The illustrator really knows how to use the page texture to her advantage to create vivid pictures. Sadly, though, I did not like the fry bread recipe. I’m an advanced home cook, so bannock is no sweat for me. I tried several times, but each time it tasted the same, just like cooking oil, because the bread just sucked it up like a sponge while cooking. The bannock would also either be raw in the middle or crisp through, as I tried adjusting the oil temperature during cooking, as well, to see if I could make the bread turn out. I still recommend the book, though. Just don’t get your hopes up about the recipe. Check out Allrecipes for some good bannock recipes.

Nice book. But I’m in Canada and it’s an American story.