Jingle Dancer (Smith)

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Jingle Dancer. Ill. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 2000. ISBN 0688162428

PLOT SUMMARY

A young girl name Jenna longs to participate in the jingle dance at an upcoming powwow, but does not have the tin jingles needed for her dress. Inspired by the traditional Muscogee Creek story told to her by her Great-aunt Sis, Jenna does not lose hope and sets out to collect the necessary four rows of jingles. Slowly, she respectfully asks to borrow just a few jingles from each of the strong women in her life. With the help of others, Jenna is able to “bounce-step” in the place of women who are unable to participate and merrily joins the jingle dancers!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jingle Dancers is a modern day story of a girl belonging to the Muscogee and Ojibway nations. The illustrations depict mainstream, suburban life. Jenna wears jeans and t-shirts, lives in a suburban home, and watches television. She also eats honey on her fry bread, listens to Muscogee stories, attends powwows with her family, and dreams of being a jingle dancer just like her grandmother! Jenna watches videos of her grandmother dancing and practices her “bounce-steps” as she dreams of wearing the special garment filled with rows of “singing” jingles. Throughout her journey to collect enough jingles, Jenna continues to demonstrate how many American Indians hold on to traditions from the past but live in the present. and 

Cynthia Leitich Smith carefully uses language throughout the story to invoke images of American Indian stories and traditional powwow sounds. For example, as Jenna moves from house to house collecting jingles, the time of day is announced through phrases such as when “Sun caught a glimpse of Moon” and “as Sun arrived at midcircle.” Important sensory language helps place readers in Jenna’s world and continually emphasizes the importance of the number four when her heart beats in rhythm with the powwow drums, “brum, brum, brum, brum” and the jingles on the dresses sing “tink, tink, tink, tink.” Author’s notes and a glossary help the reader further understand the importance of jingle dancing and the symbol of four in many American Indian cultures.

Illustrations play an important part in helping readers step into Jenna’s story.  Watercolors relay the warmth and sincerity in Jenna’s relationships with her grandmother, cousin, great-aunt, and friend. Varying skin tones, hair styles, and clothing choices show the individuality and diversity of members in the Muscogee and Ojibway nations. They also interweave elements of western design and clothing with accurate accents from Jenna’s heritage. Beautiful regalia worn by Jenna and her fellow dancers in the ending pages are accurate, as carefully explained by Smith in the author’s note. 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist: “The colorful, well-executed watercolor illustrations lend warmth to the story.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A useful portrayal of an important cultural event in a Creek girl's year.”

School Library Journal: “will give some readers a new view of a contemporary Native American way of life”

CONNECTIONS

Read about Shannon, a real modern day Ojibway dancer.

King, Sandra. Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer. ISBN 9780822596431

Learn more about Powwows with this introductory book.

Boyden, Linda. Powwow’s Coming. ISBN: 9780826342652

Read about other traditional dances found in a variety of American Indian cultures. 

Denny, Elizabeth. Jenneli’s Dance. ISBN: 9781894778619

Savage, Leah. Niimiwin: Everyone Dance. ISBN: 9780982087060