♦ "Two Cherokee teams play a game of stickball in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Vann feels insecure about having missed a key shot in last week’s match. “Stickball requires speed,” after all, and his “towering body” won’t cooperate. As Vann and his team, the Eagles, take to the field against the Redhawks, they “zip,” “chase,” and “rush” for the ball, their wooden sticks clashing with a “CLACK, CLACK!” Coach gives the team a pep talk in Tsalagi, the Cherokee language. He reminds them of gadugi, the importance of working together. As the players return to the field to finish the game, Vann’s best friend, Jesse, gives him an encouraging smile. The game is now tied. Can Vann and his team win? Sorell and Erb, both members of the Cherokee Nation, deliver an uplifting story of team spirit and collaboration; the emphasis is on group triumphs rather than individual victories. Writing in terse, alliterative prose—“a tackle, a twist, and a wrong turn”—Sorell skillfully builds tension as she choreographs this action-packed game. Erb’s thick-lined cartoon illustrations have a pleasing solidity; they capture the chaos and drama of the game and depict players with a range of brown skin tones. The story features frequent Tsalagi words and phrases. Backmatter stresses the importance of keeping the Cherokee language alive and explains the significance of stickball, which traditionally was used to settle conflicts.
Stand and cheer for this fast-paced tale of sportsmanship and community."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
♦ Teamwork makes the dream work in this stickball-centered picture book from Cherokee creators Sorell and Erb. Haunted by missing the final shot in the previous game, Cherokee player Vann also worries about his speed: “His towering body isn’t fast. Smaller teammates—like Vann’s best friend, Jesse—zip across the field.” In English and Tsalagi, the game progresses as the coach encourages the team to “work together—gadugi—an important Cherokee value.” Onomatopoeic text relays the “CLACK CLACK” of play while subtly outlining the sport, and bold-lined digital illustrations capture the fast-moving match alongside the ample community watching from the sidelines, making for a work that supplies a strong sense of camaraderie and competition—and allows for values to win the day. A Tsalagi glossary and notes about stickball and language conclude.
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
