TeachingBooks
Jingle Dancer

Book Resume

for Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Ying-Hwa Hu, and Cornelius Van Wright

Professional book information and credentials for Jingle Dancer.

See full Book Resume
on TeachingBooks

teachingbooks.net/QL5YKIC

Jenna wants to jingle dance at the next powwow, but she doesn’t have any jingles ...read more

  • Grade Levels:*
  • Grades PK-4
  • Word Count:
  • 708
  • Lexile Level:
  • 650L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 3.7
  • Cultural Experience:
  • American Indian
  • Genre:
  • Holiday
  • Picture Book
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Sports
  • Year Published:
  • 2000

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Jenna wants to jingle dance at the next powwow, but she doesn’t have any jingles for her dress. Resourceful and determined, Jenna visits her great-aunt, an older cousin, and a family friend. She asks each woman if she can borrow a row of jingles. Each provides Jenna with a row, and a request, “Will you dance for me?” For the fourth and final row she needs, Jenna asks her Grandma Wolfe, whose dancing inspired Jenna to begin with. 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. An author’s note provides additional facts about Jenna’s heritage and jingle dancing. (Ages 5-8)

CCBC Choices 2001 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2001. Used with permission.

Jingle Dancer was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (4)

Minnesota

Wisconsin

  • 2013-2014 Read On Wisconsin Book Club, Grades K-2
  • 2013-2014 Read On Wisconsin Book Club, Grades PK-12

This Book Resume for Jingle Dancer is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

Retrieved from TeachingBooks on February 01, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.