Raven's Ribbons - by Tasha Spillett (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A boy shares his dream of wearing a traditional ribbon skirt to the community's round dance with his grandmother"--

Book Synopsis

★ "Spillett captures the joy of the round dance, and a feeling of belonging and connection offered in intergenerational Indigenous community."​ --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Simple and tender." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and illustrator Daniel Ramirez comes a joyous intergenerational celebration of gender self-expression and acceptance through an Indigenous lens.

Raven loves Round Dances. The drums sing to the people. The people dance to the music. Raven's favorite part is to watch the ribbon skirts, swirling like a rainbow. He wishes he could have a ribbon skirt of his own, but his grandmother has never seen a boy wearing one. Until the next round dance, when it turns out that even someone who has lived a long time can see wonderful things that they've never seen before.

In the spirit of beloved books like Julián is a Mermaid, here is a moving intergenerational story celebrating identity, self-expression, and the realization that even within our traditions, there is room for beautiful reinvention.

Review Quotes

"A beautiful intergenerational Indigenous story, this book should be in every library."--School Library Journal

* "Simple and tender, this picture book honors Native traditions as it makes space for all members of Indigenous communities to take part...Weaves Two-Spirit self-expression and collective belonging into a beautiful tribute to Indigenous heritage."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Spillet (Cree and Trinidadian) uses repetition to set the rhythm of the story . . . . Ramirez (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe) blends bright, bold illustrations and neutral backgrounds to highlight the vibrant ribbon skirts. . . . Join Raven and his grandma and stand heart by heart alongside them as they learn that boys, too, can wear ribbon skirts."--Booklist, starred review

"[A] welcome story about an Indigenous child's gender expression."
--Horn Book

* "Spillett captures the joy of the round dance, and a feeling of belonging and connection offered in intergenerational Indigenous community."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Tasha Spillett is a Cree and Trinidadian award-winning poet, scholar, and writer. She is the author of several books for young readers, including the New York Times bestselling picture book I Sang You Down from the Stars with art by Michaela Goade. She makes her home in Treaty 1 territory, Manitoba, where she lives with her family.

Daniel Ramirez is a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan and a much-celebrated fine artist. His award-winning art has appeared in exhibitions and museums across the world, including at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. He lives between Phoenix, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.