NONFICTION

The Cherokee Syllabary/An Illustrated Key to the Cherokee Language

by Brad Wagnon (text) & illus. by Beth Anderson
7th ­Generation. Jun. 2024. 40p. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781570674228.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 4–Inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, the author and illustrator teamed up to create a unique tool to assist in educating children on the Cherokee syllabary, and it’s likely that many adults will learn a lot, too. In the English alphabet, each symbol represents a sound. In Cherokee, each symbol represents a complete syllable. Each page of the syllabary showcases an illustration of a word that includes the syllable, a pronunciation, and the word in English in addition to a row of the syllable characters and their sounds. Wagnon’s choice of Cherokee words synthesizes beautifully with Anderson’s eye-catching illustrations. Each chosen word is molded into a visual embodiment of the syllable.
VERDICT An impressive assemblage of the building blocks of the language, this work is especially recommended for linguists and families of the Cherokee and other Indigenous groups.
Reviewed by Brittany Morgan , May 01, 2024

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