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#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

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.

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

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!

I‘m behind on #riotgrams. Here are some Native and Indigenous reads. I highly recommend asking for them at your local bookstore or library!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

"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

Such a good story!

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

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

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-...

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

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)

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. 💗

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.

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

"Our love will be loud, and it will be bright. My dad and I will light up the sky."

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.

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

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.

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.

"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."

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. ❤️

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

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. 👏🏽🎉👍🏾📚

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

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