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Thunder Boy Jr.
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
35 posts | 49 read | 31 to read
Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad, but he wants a name that's all his own. Just because people call his dad Big Thunder doesn't mean he wants to be Little Thunder. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he's done, like Touch the Clouds, Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of Wonder. But just when Thunder Boy Jr. thinks all hope is lost, he and his dad pick the perfect name...a name that is sure to light up the sky. National Book Award-winner Sherman Alexie's lyrical text and Caldecott Honor-winner Yuyi Morales's striking and beautiful illustrations celebrate the special relationship between father and son.
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GatheringBooks
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

#AMonthOfSongs Day 23: #Thunder Boy Smith, Jr. is named after his dad. While he sees the grand nature of his father‘s name, he imagines being given just a regular name like Sam. While the very essence of the story is #Thunder Boy‘s search for the perfect name, I liked how the father was sensitive enough to understand his son‘s desire to establish his own identity through a distinct name that he can call his own. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-emQ

OriginalCyn620 Aww! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
44 likes1 comment
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Re-memberProgramManager
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Sherman Alexie is one of my faves! This children‘s book touches on the unique names of indigenous people. A little boy learns to accept a name of his own and to be proud of who he is and where he came from.

Chrissyreadit @Re-memberProgramManager What are the thoughts about Sherman Alexie on the Rez? I hear so much conflicting info. 7y
7 likes3 comments
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JenniferMc
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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This modern fantasy (F) about a little boy who is named after his father “Thunder”. He goes on to explain how much he hates his name and wishes he had another name. By the end of the story, the father gives him his own unique name and together they will “light up the sky”. #UCFLAE3414SP18

JenniferMc UDL 2.1 EL 11 teaching strategy IR. This is a read along recommended for grades K-2. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhkh-dZ3Bks (edited) 7y
3 likes1 comment
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Krisjericho
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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I posted a list of my favorite picture books I read this year on Facebook, so I thought I‘d screenshot and post it here, too. It will take me a few screenshots, so check all of them out. If you have questions about any of them, let me know!

34 likes1 stack add
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Citymouse
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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I‘m behind on #riotgrams. Here are some Native and Indigenous reads. I highly recommend asking for them at your local bookstore or library!

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night_shift
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Reading through the available Washington Children's Choice books we have! Fourth one now? I'll have to count them so I can keep a running total. There are 20. This is 5/20

Anyway, this book: cute! Not often I see anything about Native Americans in picture books, so that was cool!

#kidlit #picturebook #washingtonchildrenschoice

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Somasis
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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I'm a big fan of Sherman Alexie, and got to meet him last year when he was promoting this book. If you ever have a chance to see Alexie speak, go! He's fantastic and so. funny. Loved this picture book is great, all about finding your name and identity, and a great story to share with kids. #IndigenousAuthors #junebookbugs

JazzFeathers I'm so envious you met him 😭 7y
20 likes1 comment
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haileybean
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Listened to this at work forgetting that it was a children's novel I checked out on Overdrive for my son. We listened to it together while setting the table for supper. It's Eli approved (and mom approved too!) it's an adorable story about identity and it's by Sherman Alexie. #kidlitsy

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JDHawkins
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Sadly I do not have any photos of the #diversepicturebooks that I love. So here is my beautiful niece reading in the picturebook section of my library!

#marchintoreading

Reviewsbylola She is adorable. 😍 8y
JDHawkins @Reviewsbylola Thank you! She is my little best friend. 8y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Krisjericho
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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These are some of my very favorite recent reads for #diversepicturebooks. They are all fantastic. I especially like that I enjoyed them, and my kids did, too. #marchintoreading

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booksbaconglitter
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

This was incredibly sweet and did a good job of exploring Native American culture for a younger audience. Sherman Alexie is such a great author and writes the best snarky but lovable characters.

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Krisjericho
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Five huge stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I adored everything about this book. I included two of my favorite illustrations here: the view of the grass dancer from above, and the art illustrating Thunder Boy Jr's feelings about his name. I love picture books where both the text and the art are outstanding, and I definitely include this one in that category. I also absolutely love the father/son relationship depicted. Should be a huge Caldecott contender.

38 likes3 stack adds
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Lindy
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

"Together, my dad and I
will become amazing weather.
Our love will be loud
and it will be bright."
The importance of one's name is explored with humour, sensitivity and a sense of wonder in this delightful #picturebook by Sherman Alexie and Yuyi Morales.
#nativebooks
#IndigenousVoices

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missjenniferlowe
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Such a good story!

10 likes1 stack add
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BookInMyHands
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Thunder Boy Smith Jr. loves his dad, but he wants his own name. He wants a name that "sounds like me." Thunder Boy has lots of ideas for names, but in the end it's his dad who finds him the perfect name.

I love how we learn about Thunder Boy's interests from the names he suggests for himself. Yuyi Morales' vibrant and joyful illustrations perfectly capture the mood of the story.
#storytime
#nativeamerican
#notawhiteprotagonist

yayeahyeah This sounds so cute! 8y
32 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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merelybookish
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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My love for Sherman Alexie runs long and deep. Short stories, poetry, novels, I love it all. And now add a picture book. Thunder Boy is sweet and silly, about the power of names to connect us with others and help us identify who we are. You don't need a kid to enjoy this book. #kidlit

Centique I love Sherman Alexie too. Did you ever listen to his podcast with Jess Walter? They stopped doing it last year but the old episodes are still fun to listen to. (A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment) 8y
merelybookish @Centique Yes. I discovered it after they stopped. 😖 8y
vivastory Sherman Alexis is awesome. His book "Flight" is one of my favorite time travel novels. I had the pleasure of seeing him read when I lived in Minneapolis. 8y
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merelybookish @vivastory I had a chance to see him speak in Lawrence, KS. He didn't disappoint! 8y
vivastory @merelybookish Zadie Smith is speaking at KU in December. I'm thinking of attending. 8y
merelybookish @vivastory oh wow. I need to check that out. She is one of my favorites! 8y
vivastory @merelybookish I'm really looking forward to diving into Swing Time. 8y
23 likes7 comments
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emtobiasz
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

This book is pretty great, but this quote from an NPR interview with Sherman Alexie nearly made me cry. http://www.npr.org/2016/05/23/478223827/sherman-alexie-on-his-new-kids-book-and-...

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EchoLogical
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Absolutely loved reading this with my daughter! A great way to introduce Native American culture particularly naming practices to my kindergartner. It was a great aid in our discussion about how the US is made of countless different cultures and our job as good citizens to be respectful of them. We also covered a little geography by how lost Columbus actually was when he "discovered" America.
#indigenouspeoplesday

6 likes1 stack add
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BookishMarginalia
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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The #KirkusPrize Finalists for Children's and Young Adult literature 🎉🎉🎉 -- Plus Thunder Boy Jr by Sherman Alexie, of course! (Didn't fit in the pic)

Librariana Thunder Boy Jr had such a powerful, phenomenal message! And combined with those illustrations 😍 8y
BookishMarginalia @librariana I'm looking forward to reading it! 8y
73 likes1 stack add2 comments
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balletbookworm
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Such a sweet book (with beautiful illustration by Yuyi Morales, who also did Viva Frida!) - I hope Alexie does more picture books. I'd love one about Thunder Boy Jr's little sister who appears on almost every page here. 💗

25 likes2 stack adds
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Alohamoraopenabook
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Mehso-so

Thunder,🌩 Lightning, colorful pictures, and finding out who you are can all be found in this picture book, Thunder Boy Jr., by an award winning author.

Teachers could use this book in a lesson on Native Americans as well as a Who Am I unit. Lots of options.

AliBG Why so-so? (Just curious) 8y
Alohamoraopenabook I liked the message of finding yourself and connecting it to a name, but the writing was meh. I feel the most exciting aspect of the book was the colorful pictures @AliBG You? What did you think of it? 8y
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Shay
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Overall a humourous and touching children's book about family and identity. Full review here, including links to some other blog posts discussing things NOT to do with this book: https://goo.gl/7N1sBK

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Shay
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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"Our love will be loud, and it will be bright. My dad and I will light up the sky."

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Shay
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Checking out Sherman Alexie's new picture book, about a little boy who is named after his dad, but wants his own name. Really digging the illustrations by Yuyi Morales. Very textured.

kdwinchester I love this book. 8y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AliBG
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

(it's going on the "Christmas gift ideas" list for nephews and nieces)

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Kenny
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

I will read anything Sherman Alexie writes. I will love anything Sherman Alexie writes. Even a book for small children even though I am not a small child. This book is funny and sweet and says a lot about identity formation.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I'll have to look his one up, I really liked his 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I just saw his interview on The Daily Show and he seems like such a sweet guy! 8y
50 likes9 stack adds3 comments
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Paula.hollohan
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Importance of one's name and identity go hand-in-hand for this young boy who has been named after his father. He loves his dad but wants his own name and is unsure how to deal with possibly hurting his father's feelings.

1 like1 stack add
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RealLifeReading
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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"People call him Big Thunder. That nickname is a storm filling up the sky. People call me Little Thunder. That nickname makes me sound like a burp or a fart."

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ashlieelizabeth
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Love this book and enjoyed it even more after reading Debbie Reese's (@debreese on Twitter) thoughtful reviews. It's a bedtime and classroom pick. Total outfit goals where the mom is concerned. ❤️

5 likes1 stack add
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Sydsavvy
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

What's in a Name? The world is in a Name. I ❤️Sherman Alexie!

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kdwinchester
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Earlier this week I was going to go hear Sherman Alexie speak, but his event was cancelled because he's sick. 😢 But I went and read his picture book at the bookstore anyway, and it's wonderful. Yuyi Morales's illustrations are gorgeous. 👏🏽🎉👍🏾📚

OffTheBeatenShelf.com I hate that he was sick!! I got to hear him speak last month and he's definitely the most dynamic author I've ever heard speak. I hope he reschedules. 😢 9y
63 likes13 stack adds1 comment
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BptBookworm
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

"Can I tell you a secret?" This is a fantastic picture book.

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Hannahhowl
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Pickpick

Heard Sherman Alexie speak tonight and he was excellent! Identity, humor, and storytelling all rolled into one. Thunder Boy Jr. is cute and heartfelt.