Stories come in all shapes and sizes. This image is from my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. TAKÓŽA (grandchild) learns about gardening ( and seeds) from her Kúŋši (grandmother). This endearing, lyrical picture book is full of love, family and community. #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.
“Takoza (grandchild), you must realize all great things grow with time.” —Tara Perron, TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL
Who doesn’t like getting fan mail?! Recently, Rep. Deb Haaland became the Secretary of the Interior in the Biden Administration. She will be the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary in a presidential administration. I was so excited for her, that I sent her a signed copy of my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. And today, Rep. Haaland sent me a thank you note!
Takóža (granddaughter) is an endearing, lyrical, illustrated children’s story about a young Dakota girl, Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, and her Kúŋši (grandmother). The grandmother teaches her Takóža through story while making star quilts, and planting seeds and caring for a garden.
“A Laguna Pueblo member, Haaland, 60, said she had learned about her culture from her grandmother’s cooking and participating in traditional ceremonies, and had learned about the importance of protecting the environment from her grandfather.” (Source: The Guardian)
“Our way of life, our survival is interconnected to the land, water and animals. Today we honor the woman set to be the first Native American in history to fill a presidential cabinet position, and look forward to working with her to ensure that indigenous voices are heard and our human rights respected.”
—Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the steering committee for the Gwich’in people in Alaska.