What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland’s Historic Inauguration

A community event encompasses a celebration of tradition in this conversational picture book by Bunten, who is Aleut/Yup’ik. At the Native American Center where Pia does homework after school, “today is special”—the organization is throwing a party to celebrate the swearing-in ceremony of Deb Haaland (b. 1960) as secretary of the interior, the first Indigenous person to serve in this capacity. Community members, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, soon show up with dried buffalo, fry bread, and smoked salmon, as anticipatory prose describes food that “smells so good, it’s hard for Pia to wait.” Following the meal, the party’s attendees next craft regalia to honor Auntie Deb—notably ribbon skirts like the one Haaland wore to the ceremony. As kids and elders discuss ribbon shirts and skirts (“When you wear your regalia, you shine with all the strength of our mothers and grandmothers since time immemorial”), the back-and-forth answers Pia’s questions and results in a welcoming gift to a newcomer. Digital images from Diné illustrator Neidhardt weave portraiture and pattern. Back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (July)