We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and Frané Lessac
Hello, Traci Sorell! Happy Monday! I am
grateful you dropped by to celebrate We
Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga.
Traci: Osiyo,
Mr. Schu! Wado for inviting me to share about my debut book for children.
[Osiyo (oh-see-yo) is
“Hello” in Cherokee and wado (wah-doe) is “thank you.”]
Thank you for the
warm greeting and for creating this beautiful picture book!
I wrote the words in
purple, and Traci wrote the words in black.
We Are Grateful:
Otsaliheliga’s book trailer makes
my heart sing! I snap my fingers, sing along and dance in my chair or jump up
and dance every time I play it. “Celebration” is one of my favorite songs of
all time, but to hear it sung in Cherokee by my tribe’s youth choir is a million
times better. Then combine that with Emilee Chavez’s voiceover of the Cherokee
words and Frané Lessac’s artwork—you have perfection to me!
Frané Lessac’s
illustrations blew me away when I first saw them and still do
whenever I look at them. Readers will love poring over them and finding all
the wonderful details she shares in every spread. I envisioned very colorful,
culturally accurate artwork. She nailed both and then some. Frané created art
beyond anything I imagined.
She’s also an
absolutely amazing person to work and a joy to be around. I love her! When I
saw her artwork on the Wernick & Pratt website (we’re both in the same
literary agency), I shared it with my editor, Karen Boss. When I heard months
later that Charlesbridge had selected Frané, my heart leapt with excitement.
Then when she traveled from Western Australia to the Cherokee Nation last
summer to do her research and we met in person, I knew I had won the
illustrator lottery for my debut book. She shared rough sketches with other
Cherokee citizens, sought input, listened and gathered what she needed to
create the beautiful art you see in the book.
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Illustration Credit: Frané Lessac |
On September 4,
2018, I will be recovering from a fabulous early book
launch over Labor Day weekend at the Cherokee National Holiday. I’m signing
books at the tribe’s gift shop and doing storytimes coupled with signings at
the Cherokee Heritage Center. I look forward to seeing posts on social media of
folks picking up or receiving their pre-ordered books because the book will
officially be out in the world! YAY!
![]() |
Illustration Credit: Frané Lessac |
Did you know that
my family is moving back to the Cherokee Nation during my book launch season?
My son has been asking to live closer to our family for a while, so we’ll be
relocating to northeastern Oklahoma in early fall. It’s a little hectic at our
house right now with getting ready to move, but we’re grateful to be closer to
everyone and to be able to participate in Cherokee Nation events more easily.
School libraries
are essential for students. So much additional learning,
exposure to the world beyond the classroom and access to great books happens in
school libraries.
![]() |
Illustration Credit: Frané Lessac |
Picture books are one
of my favorite things in the world. I love the marriage of word and art, each
making the other better. I’ve collected them since my first year in college,
even though I had such limited income then putting myself through school. They
teach us something at every age.
Mr. Schu, you should have asked me what I’m most excited about for this book. I can’t wait to share it with children everywhere! Also, I get to do some joint appearances with Frané in early October in Washington, DC and New York too. I’m truly grateful for all of it. Again, wado for inviting me to drop by and celebrate the publication of We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga.
Look for We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga on September 4, 2018.
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