I’m excited to announce the release of my newest book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, by Tara Perron, illustrated/designed by Alicia Schwab. From: Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing ISBN: 978-1-7327706-3-8, release date: May 2020. Order a copy today!

Tara Perron, a Dakota/Ojibwe author, has written an endearing, lyrical children's story about a young Dakota girl (Walks With the Blue Moon Girl) and her Kunsi (grandmother). The grandmother teacher her Takoza (granddaughter) through story while making star quilts and planting and caring for a garden.

Dakota Star Quilt

by Gwen Westerman
South Dakota

Dignity of Earth & Sky statue in Chamberlain, South Dakota; (photo: wikipedia)

“Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing is a Native owned non-profit company that publishes children’s fiction and non-fiction paperback books and ebooks, reading levels K-6, on Native topics serving a regional audience, including the Dakotas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.”

I was hired to tell the story about a loving family through art, working with the publisher and members of the Native American community to ensure my art represents the characters in the best, truest and most meaningful way. I was initially drawn into this beautiful story because of the similarities to my own childhood. I helped my mom and grandmom pick raspberries from the patch, and we grew our own vegetables. My mom canned, froze and preserved food for us to eat all year, and she taught me how to cook. As she made us clothes to wear and quilts for our beds, I also learned to sew. We often had cut fabric pieces around the dining room table, just like in this story.

From the book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL by Tara Perron illustrated by Alicia Schwab. “Then, together they fill the kettle with water and make cedar tea and feast on bread with maple syrup.”

Baby Quilt

By Sue Broenkow (my aunt)
California

I have never made a quilt, but I admire those who do. Recently, I’ve sewn 100s of cloth face masks to donate to hospitals to supplement their PPE supplies during the Covid19 pandemic.

I hope you enjoy this book TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL as much as I do. Please be kind and do good work.

My friend David Geister has been painting a series of three "World War One America" murals at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul for months. In this photo, you can see him work on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. His pictures are full of the notable people during 1914-1918. Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and William Randolph Hearst are just some of the famous portraits that fill his paintings.

And David is such a great guy he handed me his painting palette and let me take a crack at his painting! President Woodrow Wilson stands in front of the memorial, next to Teddy Roosevelt.

Here I am painting the collar of Mary Pickford, Americas first sweetheart of silent film. The blue shadow just to the left of her chin looks out of place but he coached me on how to transition the values on the collar.

It is such a treat to see his work up close and in progress. There are so many figures to work on. Bravo, David!