It's Powwow Time!

PreS-Gr 3--An outwardly simple tale that really captures how children interact with the world. Bineshii goes to a powwow, and these are his sensory experiences, from the buzz of mosquitoes to the "Thump, thump, thump, weh ya hey ya ya, weh ya hey ya ya" of the drums and chanting. He feels "the sun is scorching," and "Inside the circle, Bineshii moves his whole body to the beat of the drum." The dialogue is minimal, and most of the text focuses on Bineshii's participation in the powwow. Certain phrases and noises are repeated, i.e., the "Pop, crack, pop! Pop, crack, pop!" of bacon and eggs cooking in the beginning is echoed by the "Pop, crack pop! Pop, crack, pop!" of the fireworks at the end of the powwow. The vividly colored illustrations burst from the pages with joyful exuberance and energy. The shading creates abstract shapes within shapes. Most illustrations are spreads showing home and the powwow location. Some of the individual drawings contain a single image, such as Bineshii radiating pride and delight as he practices dance steps, surrounded by white space. The text alternates between the top and bottom of page, and words describing sound are in a different font and color. A short author's note on powwows appears at the end. VERDICT Glorious illustrations and the constant refrain of chants and noises draw readers into Bineshii's powwow through sound, sight, and movement. Strong first buy and a good addition to story time materials.--Tamara Saarinen

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"An outwardly simple tale that really captures how children interact with the world. . . . Glorious illustrations and the constant refrain of chants and noises draw readers into Bineshii's powwow through sound, sight, and movement." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"Morning greets Bineshii as he rises, excited to dance at his first powwow. . . .Skillfully incorporating onomatopoeia, Troian (Lac Seul First Nation) brings to life the graceful movement and energy of a dancer. . . .Pichette's (Mushkego Cree) rich illustrations are vibrant and dynamic with a unique shading technique that conveys action and elicits joy. Readers unfamiliar with powwows will find this a dynamic window into the experience; they'll share Bineshii's pleasure as the book draws to a close." — Kirkus Reviews

""It's Powwow Time!" is a delightful picture book about a young boy, Bineshii, who accompanies his mother to his first powwow—a cultural gathering—where he experiences dancing, singing, drumming and other things. Complementing Martha Troian's story about the joyful community event are exceptional, colourful illustrations by Hawlii Pichette. This book is Troian's debut picture book and was inspired by her son's powwow experience." — Metroland Media