The prompt of #Inktober Day 26 is “Connect”. This image is from my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. I illustrated the book with dotted lines to symbolize the threads that Kúŋši (grandmother) sews into the quilts. She uses her quilts (throughout the book) to tell stories to her Takóža (granddaughter).
“All summer the village waits patiently to watch you grow. We all have our part.” —Tara Perron, TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL
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.
