JINGLE DANCER

Smith, Cynthia Leitich.  Ill. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.  Jingle Dancer.  New York:  Morrow Junior Books, 2000.  ISBN 0-688-16242-8.


Plot Summary

Jenna, who lives in Oklahoma, is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and is also of Ojibway (Chippewa/Anishabe) descent.  She dreams of dancing the Jingle Dress at the next powwow but she must first figure out how to get four rows of jingles so her dress can sing.

 

 

Critical Analysis

Jenna lives in Oklahoma in a contemporary intertribal community.  Her dream is to dance the Jingle Dress at the next intertribal, or Pan-Indian, powwow.  The problem is Jenna has no jingles for her dress.  Smith's notes in the back of the book are very helpful in understanding the significance of the dance and its regalia.  In Jingle Dancer, Jenna must figure out how to get four rows of jingles to sew onto her dress.  Four is a very meaningful number in the American Indian culture.  Smith's notes explain "many Native people believe that it is an important, even sacred number symbolizing, for example, the four directions, four seasons, four stages of life, and four colors of man." 

 

Smith is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe.  From her heritage, she can describe how young Jenna, from the same tribe, values the spiritual significance of participating in the Jingle Dress dance and the regalia used in the dance.  Smith explains the difference between regalia and a costume. Some people wear special clothes for meaningful occasions such as a bride in her wedding dress, in the same way, a jingle dress is worn when dancing the Jingle Dress.  In the glossary, the regalia is defined as "the highly valued clothing and accessories of a dancer, not to be confused with a costume.  Regalia is sometimes handed down from one generation to the next.  Years are often spent bringing together the various pieces, all of which are handmade.  They carry spiritual significance."  A jingle dress has hundreds of jingles sewn into the fabric or on ribbons attached to the dress.  "The regalia may also include a scarf, cuffs, a bag or pouch carried in the left hand, an eagle wing or tail fan carried in the right hand, a conch or beaded belt, and boots or moccasins with leggings."  In the watercolor illustrations, the girls dancing the Jingle Dress have either a solid or multi-colored dress with attached jingles, a scarf, a feather fan in their right hand, a beaded belt, leggings, and moccasins.  

 

When not at the powwow,  Jenna is dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  The other characters are dressed in blouses and skirts.  Mrs. Scott's accessories have the only cultural markings which are a matching barrette and earring set with geometrical designs.  Jingle Dancer is set in the present day.  As Jenna visits various houses in her intertribal community in Oklahoma, the only cultural décor detected was a dream catcher in Cousin Elizabeth's apartment.  Elizabeth is a lawyer, not a stereotypical American Indian female waiting for the hunters to return from the field.  Smith and the illustration team of Van Wright and Hu were successful in depicting these tribal members just as one would show any average American.  There are no stereotypical American Indians who live in teepees and wear leather outfits.  Nor do the characters speak in guttural tones:  they speak just like everyone else.

 

The various times of the day are poetically personified:  "as Moon kissed Sun good night," "as Sun fetched morning," and "as Sun caught a glimpse of Moon." The reader can hear the rhythm as "Jenna's heart beats to the brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum."  Jenna provides her own transportation as her "bounce-steps crunched autumn leaves."  On two occasions, Jenna enjoys some fry bread with honey, and selling Indian tacos are mentioned as well. 

 

Jenna needs four rows of jingles.  As she visits the various houses of Great-aunt Sis, Mrs. Scott, Cousin Elizabeth, and Grandma Wolfe, she only asks to borrow one row of jingles from each person.  She didn't want to ask each person for more than one row of jingles because she didn't want their dresses to "loose their voice."  Elders are respected by all tribal members, as shown by Jenna's conscientious lack of greed.  Instead of asking one person for all four rows of jingles, she respected their own need for jingles and only asked for the bare minimum.

 

The character's skin tones are a yellowish-brown to a medium-brown shade.  They all have long black hair which is secured with a headband, barrette, or braids.  The watercolor illustrations have a blue, green, or yellow background.  These three colors are dominate throughout the illustrations, and red is used for emphasis such as the red in Grandma Wolfe's jingle dress or the red nail polish Cousin Elizabeth is wearing.

 

Great-aunt Sis retold a Muscogee Creek story about Bat.  The animals come to life in the story.  "Although other animals had said he was too small to make a difference, Bat won a ball game by flying high and catching a ball in his teeth."  Smith explains the significance to the entire family when a girl is old enough to dance the Jingle Dress.  "A new dancer is a cause for joy and for her family to have a small "giveaway" to honor her.  Fine gifts are given not  to the person being honored but to others instead.  The giveaway shows humility before the Creator, generosity, and pride in the honoree."

 

Readers are shown the importance of respecting one's culture and respecting those around you.  Regardless of how old, young, small, or big, respect is to be shown to yourself, your family, your community, and to your heritage.

 

 

Awards and Honors

 

Oklahoma Book Award, 2001 Finalist Children/Young Adult Oklahoma

 

 

Review Excerpts

“As Sun fetched morning, Jenna danced east...." Even on a cursory first reading Smith's words sing, in this warm little tale of a child seeking to dance herself a place. In conjunction with the glowing illustrations, Jingle Dancer reads like a visual poem." ~ Uma Krishnaswami, Children's Literature

"There are lyrical turns of phrase in this picture book about a contemporary Mucogee/Ojibway child who achieves her dream with love and support from her elders. Jenna, her family, and friends all embrace cultural traditions while living contemporary lives, as the full-page watercolor illustrations emphasize.” ~ Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2001

"Smith, a mixed-blood member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, convincingly juxtaposes cherished Native American tradition and contemporary lifestyle in this smooth debut." ~  Publisher's Weekly


Other Books Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Rain is Not My Indian Name
Indian Shoes, illustrated by Jim Madsen
Holler Loudly, illustrated by Barry Gott

Visit her website for more information:  http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/


Book Connections

The Great Ball Game:  A Muskogee Story retold by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated
     by Susan L. Roth

The Butterfly Dance by Gerald Dawavendewa

Creek History and Culture by Amy Stone


Connection Activities

 

• "When Jenna visits her Great-aunt Sis she tells her the story about Bat (again). Is there a story you love to hear told to you? What is it? Retell the story to one of your classmates, so they can share it, too."  This activity is from Cynthia Leitich Smith's website and is found at:  http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/cyn_books_forkids/jingle/jingle_multi-intell.html.
• Listen to six Jingle Dress songs from the Chippewa-Cree tribe Rocky Boy Singers. Grass Dance & Jingle Dress Songs - Volume 2 is available at http://www.indianhouse.com/music/Northern-Plains/Rocky-Boy-Singers-Grass-Dance-and-Jingle-Dress-Songs-Volume-2_IH.4403.