CCBC Booklists

CCBC Review:

“Boom-boom. Shuffle-shuffle.” Raven loves taking part in round dances, holding his grandma’s hand as “round and round they go” with other members of their Indigenous community. Raven especially admires the vibrant ribbon skirts worn by girls and women. Many of them were sewn by his grandmother, the colors carefully chosen for each individual. “Like people, no two skirts are the same.” One day, Raven ventures to ask his grandmother whether a boy could wear a ribbon skirt. Nohkum squeezes her grandson’s hand, pauses, and answers honestly. “I’ve lived for a long time, Nosesim, and have never seen a boy in a ribbon skirt.” As Raven sleeps that night, Nohkum is hard at work at her sewing machine; the next morning, she rouses Raven to present him with “the most beautiful rainbow. His very own ribbon skirt.” “I’ve lived for a long time, Nosesim,” she says, “and I’m lucky to see beautiful things that I’ve never seen before.” At the next round dance, Raven is the first to hit the dance floor, proudly “leading the way” in his new ribbon skirt. As stated in the Author’s Note, this gentle story of belonging and acceptance “honors the imperative of prioritizing our people over rigid cultural protocols.” Raven trusts Nohkum to see his whole, unique self, and Nohkum thoughtfully makes space for him. Soft acrylic paintings depict colorful ribbons flowing through Nohkum’s skilled hands, connecting individuals through a shared dance. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Daniel Ramirez

CCBC Age Recommendation: 4-9
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7) Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format: Picture book
Subjects: Boys and Men Clothing Dance and Dancers First/Native Nations Gender Identity Grandmothers Sewing and Quilting Traditions
Diversity subject: Indigenous Gender Nonconformity
On CCBC Booklist: LGBTQ Lives in Selected Children's and Young Adult Books 

Publisher: Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 24
ISBN: 9780316422161
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Spillett

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