Description

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Bee stings on the backside That was just the beginning. Tim was about to enter a world of the past, with bullying boys, stones and Indian spirits of long ago. But they were real spirits, real stones, very real memories...

In this powerful family saga, author Tim Tingle tells the story of his family's move from Oklahoma Choctaw country to Pasadena, TX. Spanning 50 years, Saltypie describes the problems encountered by his Choctaw grandmother--from her orphan days at an Indian boarding school to hardships encountered in her new home on the Gulf Coast.

Tingle says, "Stories of modern Indian families rarely grace the printed page. Long before I began writing, I knew this story must be told." Seen through the innocent eyes of a young boy, Saltypie -- a 2011 Skipping Stones honor book, WordCraft Circle 2012 Children's Literature Award-winner, and winner of the 2011 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in the category of Grades 4-6 -- is the story of one family's efforts to honor the past while struggling to gain a foothold in modern America.

Tim Tingle, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is a sought-after storyteller for folklore festivals, library conferences, and schools across America. At the request of Choctaw Chief Pyle, Tim tells a story to the tribe every year before Pyle's State of the Nation Address at the Choctaw Labor Day Gathering. Tim's previous and often reprinted books from Cinco Puntos Press--Walking the Choctaw Road and Crossing Bok Chitto--received numerous awards, but what makes Tim the proudest is the recognition he receives from the American Indian communities.

Karen Clarkson, a Choctaw tribal member, is a self-taught artist who specializes in portraits of Native Americans. She did not start painting until after her children had left home; she has since been widely acclaimed as a Native American painter. She lives in San Leandro, California.

About the Author

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Choctaw storyteller Tim Tingle makes his living telling stories and teaching folklore at schools, universities and festivals nationally. The Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers selected Tim as Contemporary Storyteller of the Year for 2001. Tim Tingle lives in Canyon Lake, Texas, near San Antonio. Choctaw artist Karen Clarkson lives in San Leandro, California with her husband Bill and their two dogs. A trip to Paris when she was ten inspired her to study the old masters but she feels she came into her own as an artist when she started creating portraits of Native Americans.

Praise For…

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"This book is exceptional. When people ask me for a short list of recommended books, Saltypie is going to be on that list." —Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature blog

"His strong, measured prose finds able counterpart in Clarkson’s subtly modeled, full-bleed close-ups of eloquently expressive faces and closely gathered members of the author’s large extended family…A lengthy afterword provides more details about Tingle’s family and Choctaw culture, and offers much to think about regarding American Indian stereotypes." —Booklist

"[A] quietly poetic story about dealing with adversity." —Publishers Weekly

"Clarkson’s evocative illustrations bathe each scene in a soft light that accentuates the warmth of the family’s love." —Kirkus Reviews

"The large, full-spread illustrations are vibrantA lovely piece of family history." —School Library Journal

"An American story that underscores the joys of overcoming hardships." —Tucson Citizen

"The author subtly touches on [racism and stereotyping] by gently challenging American ideas of 'Indians' with pictures of regular people having regular lives. And the 'How Much Can We Tell Them?' section in the back of the book, directed at adults, invites us to see our cultural biases and to teach our children to see and understand the truth of the people around us." —Unshelved

"An unexpected and thought provoking multi-generational story." —Review of Texas Books

"Tingle, once again, produces a tale well-told, well-remembered and destined to be well received by readers of all ages." —El Paso Scene