Jingle Dancer

Smith, Cynthia Leitich, Cornelius Van Wright, and Ying Hwa Hu. Jingle Dancer. New York: Morrow Junior, 2000. Print.

Jenna wishes to dance in the next powwow, but she does not have tins for her dress to make the tink sound when dancing. As Jenna visits family and friends, she asks each to borrow enough jingles to make a row for her dress with the understanding that she would dance for them. She is able to get enough jingles to make three rows, but she needs one more to make it perfect. Who else could she ask? Grandma Wolfe.  With her dress complete, Jenna dances in the powwow to honor those who helped her gain the tins for her dress and for her Grandma Wolfe.

Smith presents to her readers a tradition that many tribes still practice in today’s society, dancing to the beat of a powwow drum. By telling the story through Jenna’s point of view, children will see how Jenna was committed in gaining her jingles for her dress, see the importance of traditions within in tribes or families, and see how Jenna honors those who helped her reach her goal. Smith provides a glossary for the reader to use making sure they are aware of the cultural food, events, and clothing.

Illustrators Wright and Hu capture natural hues of the earth across the pages. Prominent colors that are used to enhance the illustrations consist of blues, greens, browns, and yellows. The illustrations are modern and realistic that the reader can see facial features and the warm skin tones of the characters. The characters display emotions of joy through consistent smiles and excitement of a young child embracing the culture of a tribe and its traditions. The reader will see a regalia (clothing and accessories of a dancer) and can see the difference between Jenna’s dress and the adults in their headdress.

Jingle Dancer could be used to introduce narrative prompts, discuss traditions, folklore, and present a different culture to young readers. Teachers could use the story to present problem and solution on how Jenna got her jingles for her dress.

Reviews 

School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Without enough tin jingles to make her dress sing, how can Jenna be a jingle dancer just like Grandma Wolfe at the next powwow? She borrows one row from Great-aunt Sis, whose aching legs keep her from dancing; another from Mrs. Scott, who sells fry bread; one from Cousin Elizabeth, whose work keeps her away from the festivities; and a fourth row from Grandma, who helps Jenna sew the jingles to her dress, assemble her regalia, and practice her bounce-steps. When the big day arrives, the girl feels proud to represent these four women and carry on their tradition. Watercolor paintings in bright, warm tones fill each page. In scenes where she is dancing, backgrounds of blurred figures effectively represent both the large audience and the many generations whose tradition the gathering honors. Seeing Jenna as both a modern girl in the suburban homes of her intertribal community and as one of many traditionally costumed participants at the powwow will give some readers a new view of a contemporary Native American way of life. An author's note and glossary tell more about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Ojibway origins of jingle dancing, and the significance of the number four in Native American tradition. This picture book will not only satisfy a need for materials on Native American customs, but will also be a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by the women of a culture.

Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA

Publishers Weekly

Smith, a mixed-blood member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, convincingly juxtaposes cherished Native American tradition and contemporary lifestyle in this smooth debut. Watching a videotape of Grandma Wolfe performing a jingle dance, Jenna is determined to dance at an upcoming powwow. But she lacks the cone-shaped, tin jingles that are sewn on to dancers' dresses as part of the regalia. The girl walks down a suburban sidewalk lined with modern houses as she sets out to visit her great-aunt, a neighbor, a cousin and Grandma Wolfe, all of whom lend her jingles for her dress. Smith's language consciously evokes legend. For example, "As Sun caught a glimpse of the Moon" indicates the time of day; and Jenna is careful to borrow only a limited number of jingles, "not wanting to take so many that [another's] dress would lose its voice." Van Wright and Hu's (Jewels) lifelike renderings capture the genuine affection between Jenna and these caring older women. Their easy integration of Native and standard furnishings and clothing gracefully complement Smith's heartening portrait of a harmonious meshing of old and new. Ages 4-10. (Apr.)

Although the story was short, I did enjoy the simplicity of the texts and colorful illustrations. I enjoyed how Jenna gained her jingles and how she honored those who helped her. She danced for those who could not attend the powwow, her Grandma Wolfe, and herself. In a sense this was a right of passage for Jenna being able to join in on dancing to the beat of the drum of her tribe. I do wish that it discussed if Jenna joining the powwow was a right of passage, the meaning of the tins that jingle on the dress, and more about her family. The book does not mention parents, only Grandma Wolfe and other family and a friend. I think if this information was available, students may be able to make a personal connection based on family dynamics. Another thing I would have like to see is the meaning of a powwow and the importance of clothing and accessories. Young readers may not know what a powwow is or why the characters dress like they did.