Reycraft Books Spotlights Key Native American Figures in Voices of the People
Poems, illustrations, and photographs celebrate ancient and modern-day indigenous leaders.
New Rochelle, NY, Dec. 21, 2022—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is proud to team up with acclaimed Native American writer Joseph Bruchac and a host of talented, tribally enrolled artists for the new book Voices of the People, published in hardcover on December 21, 2022. The book has already received critical praise and several prestigious honors.
Voices of the Peoplefeatures biographical poems written by Bruchac that introduce readers to famous indigenous leaders from pre-colonization to recent times—from The Peacemaker in 1000 A.D. to modern-day dancer Maria Tallchief and Cherokee chief Wilma Mankiller. Each poem captures the essence of the person’s life and features a striking illustration or photograph.
“When I was a child, there really were no books about Native Americans that were available. There was just nothing,” Bruchac said. “There were historical books and books that talked about culture in anthropological terms. But as far as something that really reflected Native reality, I couldn’t find anything. Maybe it was that lack of those books that spurred me on to write the books I would later write.”
While attending Cornell University, Bruchac began to write poems that dealt with his Native ancestry. “People kind of looked at me strangely,” he said. “There was no Native studies department at Cornell or virtually anywhere in the country at that time.
And even though there were people in reservation communities not far away, they were totally unknown to the university campus.” Voices of the People is being published at a time when, as Bruchac notes, “Native populations are increasing. In fact, there’s a great growing awareness of our traditional cultures and our languages. Even though many are vanishing or in danger, people are attempting to restore and hold onto them.”
Ahead of its publication, Voices of the People was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and School Library Journal recognized it as one of the Best Poetry Books of 2022. School Library Journal said in its review, “Visually stunning artwork combined with character sketches reveal the depth of Native American history in an intriguing way. A good first purchase for libraries.” In its starred review, Kirkus described Voices of the People as “a brilliant integration of Indigenous American art and history.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joseph Bruchac is a tribally enrolled citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki nation. His poems, stories, and essays often reflect his deep interest in Native history and culture. Bruchac’s work has appeared in hundreds of publications, from Junior Scholastic and Parabola to The Paris Review and National Geographic, and he has published more than 170 books.
ILLUSTRATORS INCLUDE:
Norman Aker, Sonny Assu, Greg Ballenger, Jordon Ann Craig, Gregg Deal, Andy Everson, Jeffrey Gibson, Shan Goshorn, Tom Harjo, Jodie Herrera, Frank Buffalo Hyde, Alex Jacobs, Steven Paul Judd, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Bobby C. Martin, Tony Tiger, and Rory Wakemup
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.