Young Kunu has watched his dad and grandfather make many beautiful baskets, but when he tries to make one of his own, he discovers that it’s much more difficult than he thought. With his grandfather’s help he finally completes a fine-looking basket, learning much about patience, perseverance, and family traditions along the way.
Otsaliheliga is a Cherokee word that is used to express gratitude (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah means “we are grateful”). Author Traci Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, invites readers to journey through the year with a Cherokee family and their tribal nation as they express thanks for celebrations big and small. “As the crops mature and the sun scorches, we say otsaliheliga … as we sink our teeth into the season’s first harvest at the Green Corn Ceremony.”
