"This book is exceptional. When people ask me for a short list of recommended books, Saltypie is going to be on that list." -- Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature Blog Looking back to his childhood, Choctaw storyteller Tingle introduces his capable, comforting Mawmaw (grandmother); recalls his shock as a six-year-old at realizing that she was blind (possibly, he learns, as a result of a racially motivated assault in her own youth); and recounts a hospital vigil years afterward when she received an eye transplant. His strong, measured prose finds able counterpart in Clarkson's subtly modeled, full-bleed close-ups of eloquently expressive faces and closely gathered members of the author's large extended family.The title comes from a word invented by Tingle's father as a stand-in for any sort of pain or distress, and its use serves to enhance the vivid sense of intimacy that pervades this reminiscence. A lengthy afterword provides more details about Tingle's family and Choctaw culture, and offers much to think about regarding American Indian stereotypes. -- Booklist "[A] quietly poetic story about dealing with adversity." -- Publishers Weekly "Clarkson's evocative illustrations bathe each scene in a soft light that accentuates the warmth of the family's love.
" -- Kirkus Reviews "[Saltypie] is complimented by Karen Clarkson's softly painted illustrations that really capture all the emotions of the family on each page, but especially the last image of Mawmaw, whose eyes are open for the first time since that fateful morning in 1915." -- Randomly Reading "The large, full-spread illustrations are vibrant.A lovely piece of family history." -- School Library Journal "An American story that underscores the joys of overcoming hardships." -- Tucson Citizen Review "The author subtly touches on [racism and stereotyping] by gently challenging American ideas of "Indians" with pictures of regular people having regular lives. And the "How Much Can We Tell Them?" section in the back of the book, directed at adults, invites us to see our cultural biases and to teach our children to see and understand the truth of the people around us." -- Unshelved "An unexpected and thought provoking multi-generational story." -- Review of Texas Books "Tingle, once again, produces a tale well-told, well-remembered and destined to be well received by readers of all ages.
" --Lisa Kay Tate, El Paso Scene 2011 Skipping Stones Honor AwardWordCraft Circle Children's Literature Award 2012 American Indian Youth Literature Award, Picture Book category, Honor Book ALSC Notable Children's Book 2011 Storytelling World Resource Award (Adolscent Listeners, honor) 2011 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Grades 4-6 WordCraft Circle Children's Literature Award 2012 American Indian Youth Literature Award, Picture Book category, Honor Book ALSC Notable Children's Book 2011 Storytelling World Resource Award (Adolscent Listeners, honor) 2011 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Grades 4-6.