21FA-LS-5653 - Native American Literature: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

"Fry Bread is YOU"

Bibliography:
Maillard, Kevin Noble. 2019. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN: 9781250760869

Plot Summary:
Fry Bread is a Native American traditional food that is passed down through generations. Fry Bread is little rounds of fried puffy pillows in different shapes, forms, colors, and flavors. Fry Bread brings families together, provides time with one another, and tells the history of Indigenous people. "Fry Bread is everything. Fry Bread is food." 

Critical Analysis:
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard is a charming picture book about Native American tribes throughout the United States (and honorable mention to our northern cousin, Canada!). Maillard's story and Juana Martinez-Neals's detailed illustrations perfectly blend together, creating an authentic depiction of a family making fry bread together. As fry bread is made, the different sounds, colors, flavors, and forms of the bread represent how Native American families are bonded with unique individuals. There are millions of Indigenous tribes in the United States, each with their own customs, cultures, traits, and languages, just how every fry bread varies from family to family — All fry bread is the same, but none are exactly alike. 

Readers will find the representation of characters accurate and enjoy the family dynamic as they bond together, making fry bread. I really enjoyed reading the different tribes listed at the beginning and end of the book, which emphasizes the billions of Native Americans in the nation, such as "Abenaki, Apache, Arapahoe," and many more. Readers will also want to try making Kevin Noble Maillard's fry bread recipe at the end of the book, which could turn out to be a fun family project and pay tribute to the real meaning of the book — bonding with your family. At the end of the book, the author's note is essential to the story, and readers should not skip over Maillard's in-depth meaning to what fry bread means to him and all Native Americans. 

Overall, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is a beautiful and intricately illustrated picture book that perfectly depicts Native American families representing millions of Indigenous tribes. Readers of all ages will enjoy learning about fry bread and remind them of time spent with their own families. The book is also culturally authentic and relevant to people from all backgrounds. Readers can also create memorable family moments by trying the recipe at the end of the book.

Awards & Reviews:
  • 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book
  • 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner
  • 2020 Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Honor Book
  • 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner
  • 2020 Sibert Medal 
  • 2019 Booklist Editor's Choice
  • 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Books
  • 2019 Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book
  • 2019 Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book
  • 2019 School Library Journal Best Picture Book
From ALA Booklist, “Fry Bread celebrates the thing itself and much, much more . . . Maillard and Martinez-Neal bring depth, detail, and whimsy to this Native American food story, with text and illustrations depicting the diversity of indigenous peoples, the role of continuity between generations, and the adaptation over time of people, place, and tradition.”

From Kirkus Reviews, “With buoyant, heartfelt illustrations that show the diversity in Native America, the book tells the story of a post-colonial food, a shared tradition across the North American continent . . . Through this topic that includes the diversity of so many Native peoples in a single story, Maillard (Mekusukey Seminole) promotes unity and familiarity among nations. Fry bread is much more than food, as this book amply demonstrates.”

From School Library Journal, “This warm and charming book shows and affirms Native lives. The informational text and expressive drawings give it broad appeal.”

From The New York Times Book Review, “A wonderful and sweet book [that] takes a staple food of many tribes across the country and uses it to think about family, history, memory and community. . . Lovely stuff.”

Connections:
Discussion: Fry Bread is a story about a Native American family bonding over traditional food. Invite patrons or students to discuss what traditional food their family cooks or makes together. Have they tried other people's recipes? What is the children's favorite part about cooking with their family? 

Activity: For young patrons, take out any Playdoh in storage (or purchase if you don't have any in stock) and encourage the children to roll out their "dough" or pretend bread. Can they replicate the fry bread from the story? 

For patrons who enjoyed Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, recommend the following picture books about Native Americans:
  • Flett, Julie. 2019. Birdsong. ISBN: 9781771644730
  • Hunt, Dallas. 2019. Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock. Illustrated by Amanda Strong. ISBN: 9781553797791 
  • Lindstrom, Carole. 2020. We Are Water Protectors. Illustrated by Michaela Goade. ISBN: 9781250203557
  • Smith, Monique Gray. 2016. My Heart Fills With Happiness. Illustrated by Julie Flett. ISBN: 9781459809574
  • Van Camp, Richard. 2013. Little You. Illustrated by Julie Flett. ISBN: 9781459802483