We Are Grateful/Otsaliheliga

Reach for this book when you want to ground your child in a practice of gratitude that extends beyond personal belongings to include community, ancestry, and the natural world. It is an ideal choice for families looking to introduce indigenous perspectives through a lens of joy and continuity rather than just historical hardship. The story follows the four seasons of a year in the life of the contemporary Cherokee Nation, introducing the concept of Otsaliheliga (gratitude) through poetic text and bilingual Cherokee vocabulary. It is a gentle yet powerful tool for building cultural awareness and emotional resilience in children ages 3 to 8. You might choose this book to help a child process change or to provide a beautiful, inclusive model of how a community supports one another through life's celebrations and challenges.