Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal

 

CITATION: Maillard, K. N., & Martinez-Neal, J. (2019). Fry bread: A Native American family story. Roaring Brook Press.

CHARACTERS: The story presents characters who are authentic and accurately represent Native American families in a realistic, everyday context. The reader sees people within this culture showing how fry bread connects generations, traditions, and identity of each other. 

Throughout the book we see pictures of members of the Native American community, and it is emphasized that they are all very diverse. There is not a single Native American experience or look. The illustrations include a range of skin tones, hair types, and features. Each person within the book is acting in a different role from cooking, telling stories, or interacting with their families.  

 

SETTING: There is not a distinct setting for this story. Characters are seen making and enjoying fry bread in their kitchens and homes. The homes are drawn as modern and contemporary styled homes. Characters are also drawn sitting with other family members outside of their homes in nature sharing stories. This brings an emphasis to the importance of nature to the Native American culture. 


CULTURAL VALUES: The story is rich cultural details focused around the importance of fry bread to the Native American communities. The reader can see how fry bread brings together generations of families and how it is rooted at the center of their interactions. 

There are not specific gender roles depicted in this story as we can see both the male and female characters are cooking the bread and enjoying it together. Some of the characters are wearing what appears to be more traditional dress or wearing their hair long. Elders are seen telling stories to grandchildren after they have finished enjoying their fry bread. 

This story brings to light the importance of food in all cultures but specifically focused on the Native American culture. 


OVERALL QUALITY: The story invites the reader to reflect on the importance of food to culture. While we read primarily about fry bread, it is reminiscent of how other cultures bond over their own specialty foods. 

The illustrations are accurate portrayals of Native American culture. There are very specific details featured in each of the illustrations, which brings the story to life. The book is an overall engaging and immersive experience for all readers while providing a culturally rich story. 


REVIEWS AND AWARDS:

  • Kirkus Reviews, 2019: “Fry bread is much more than food, as this book amply demonstrates.” 

  • Booklist, Starred Review: “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.” 

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

  • Robert F. Sibert Information Book Medal (Winner) 

  • American Indian Youth Literature Award (Honor Book) 

CONNECTIONS:

  • Students can write out or make a recipe that is special to their family and their culture. The students can go around trying each other’s recipes and create a class recipe book. 
  • Students can read Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez or Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham and C. G. Esperanza 

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