Raven's Ribbons

"Raven's Ribbons" is a tender and uplifting story about a young Indigenous boy named Raven who is captivated by the vibrant ribbon skirts worn at Round Dances. He longs to wear one himself, a desire that challenges his grandmother's traditional views. The book beautifully explores themes of gender self-expression, cultural identity, and the powerful bond between generations as Raven's grandmother comes to embrace his unique spirit. Inspired by books like "Julián is a Mermaid," it offers a gentle narrative for children aged 4-11, showing how love and acceptance can create space for beautiful reinvention within cherished traditions.

From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and debut Native American illustrator Daniel Ramirez comes a joyous intergenerational celebration of gender self-expression and acceptance through an Indigenous lens. Raven loves Round Dances. The drums sing to the people. The people dance to the music. Raven's favorite part is to watch the ribbon skirts, swirling like a rainbow. He wishes he could have a ribbon skirt of his own, but his grandmother has never seen a boy wearing one. Until the next round dance, when it turns out that even someone who has lived a long time can see wonderful things that they've never seen before. In the spirit of celebrated books like Julián is a Mermaid, here is a moving intergenerational story celebrating identity, self-expression, and the realization that even within our traditions, there is room for beautiful reinvention.