Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

A review by Mayee Duong

Synopsis:

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, uses the traditional Native American food of fry bread to symbolize the culture and diversity of Indigenous peoples. The author writes poetically in verse and examines different elements of fry bread - its shape, color, flavor, time, art, and place - to describe Native American tradition and history. Included in the author’s note is a recipe for making fry bread and more in-depth descriptions about the history of fry bread and the diversity of Native American culture. 

Anti-Bias Elements:

• Positive and Representative Illustrations
• Martinez-Neal’s illustrations are inspiring and unique. They depict a variety of Native American characters ranging from young to old with different skin tones and hair textures. She provides a modern-day representation of how diverse a family of Native Americans can look. Some wear traditional patterned skirts while others have tattoos and straight blonde hair. There isn’t a noticeable characteristic that defines or alienates them from other groups of people.

• Effects on Children’s Self and Social Identities
• The story and illustrations themselves illuminate cultural diversity and pride. There aren’t many books out there that show Native American characters, but with Fry Bread, all the characters are Native American and the whole story is focused on their culture. Rather than talk about how much they suffered throughout history, Maillard decides to write about their resilience, empowering readers who might relate or can connect with identifying as Native American. Others who aren’t Native American can also develop a more positive view of them as they learn about their cultural strengths. 

• Appeal and Relevance to Young Readers
• Maillard appeals to the senses and uses familiar language in this book. Young children are often using their senses of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing to learn and engage in their ever growing world. By writing the story in verse, using digestible words, and appealing to the senses, young readers are able to better engage and comprehend the message of the book. The soft colors and large illustrations also make the story visually appealing, while the physical representations of diverse characters in the book make it relevant for audiences.