“Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story”
By Kevin Noble Maillard, Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Roaring Brook Press, New York, 2019, 48 pages, K-3.
The history of Native American tribes and the United States Government is fraught with violence and warfare. Continuously, during the expansion of the United States westward from the Atlantic Ocean, Native people were deprived of their land and sometimes violently attacked.
Though the Native cultures influenced American culture and the English language, too often governmental policies belittled and robbed Native tribes.
However, throughout this depressing history certain Native traditions endured. Kevin Maillard, a member of the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma, tells readers about one of the delightful traditions found in most Native tribes. This is the story of Fry Bread, one of the tasty delicacies eaten in many Native gatherings.
The book begins with Native children bringing all the Fry Bread ingredients to their aunt. She holds the family recipe and directs the process of blending the flour, salt, water, cornmeal, baking powder, milk, and hopefully, sugar. The children place all the ingredients into a big ceramic bowl and begin to joyfully mix the dough. The aunt uses her strong arms to mix the dough. The children then begin to form the Fry Bread into many shapes. Sometimes they create fry breads that look like tortillas. Other times, they make the dough into the shapes of balls. The important thing is that everyone is helping everyone else and the cooking process is filled with joy.
Soon, the dough is made and the youngsters hold their shaped fry breads and hand them to the father for frying. As the sizzling grease pops, he drops the dough into the skillet. The children watch with eager anticipation and their mouths begin watering at the thought of the hot, freshly cooked fry bread. The children are not disappointed. Out of the skillet comes the tasty fry bread. It is now in many shapes and colors depending on the construction of the dough. The aunt brings the little ones together and they share a communal joy eating the newly cooked fry bread. Smiles and happiness abound. But there is much more to the story of fry bread. What else does the author tell us?
How does fry bread continue to bring people together? What do the baskets holding the fry bread and the ceramic mixing bowls tell us about the traditions of various Native tribes. Have you ever eaten fry bread? If not, this book may tell you how. To find out more about the history of fry bread and its continuing use in Native culture, go to the library and check out “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by Kevin Maillard.
“Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” won the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal for 2020. While Maillard does not shy away from addressing the painful parts of history related to Native Americans, this book is anything but a downer. The pictures are joyful and you will want to join in the fun of making the fry bread. The children have a great time making the fry bread and all the adults act with responsibility and care. The mixing, kneading and frying of the bread is a happy family moment. The pictures are absolutely endearing. I hope you get a chance to read this award winning book. It is an uplifting story. Enjoy!
