By Eliana H.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and I’d like to share a special book in honor of that observance. I am writing this post at the Elkridge Branch, and before I begin sharing the information about the book, I’d like to acknowledge the history of the land we are occupying. 

We want to respectfully honor the Susquehannock Confederation who governed, lived, farmed, and hunted on the land now called Howard County. Their nations conceded into land treaties in 1652 and 1661 after English colonizers ended their generational governance and stewardship of the land Howard County is built upon. This practice of land acknowledgement is to honor and respect the indigenous inhabitants both from the past and the present. 

Native Americans are part of our present as well as our past, still living in communities around the Americas despite the atrocities that have been committed against them. While none of us has the power to go back and change the course of history, we can make a step toward greater shared understanding through the power of stories. One source for stories from various Native American traditions is The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos, and translated by David Bowles. 

I noticed this book on our new children’s nonfiction shelf, and I had to pick it up. I was eager to increase my understanding of some of the mythology of the groups that lived here for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. I read the tales aloud to my 10-year-old child, and we were both captivated by the narratives, which were very new to us. As with any mythology, the stories in The Sea-Ringed World explore essential questions of humanity: What is our place in the universe? What are the origins of this world? What happens when we move out of this life? And many others.

Before you begin reading the stories in this volume, I encourage you to peruse the back matter a bit. A note about transcription of Indigenous terms is followed by a pronunciation guide, which is especially helpful if you are reading aloud. In addition to those, you will find “A Quick Guide to Cultures,” along with a map of those cultures, a glossary (including more pronunciation help!), and a bibliography. 

Even if you do not make it through all of the narratives contained in The Sea-Ringed World, it is worth exploring at least a few. Be sure to pause on the striking tricolor illustrations that adorn many of the pages. 

Extra note: I was especially glad for the background knowledge provided by this book when I read Gods of Jade and Shadow!

Eliana is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch and co-chair of the HCLS Equity Committee. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).