Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow
By Nicholas DeShaw | Illustrated by Tara Audibert
A Native American boy’s cat surprises him at his first powwow—making for a very special dance indeed!
Loaf the cat loves to play with her boy, and when she’s particularly happy, she’ll make the purr sound for him. She also likes to keep tabs on him, so when he disappears one day, she decides to find him. She follows his smell to a place where there are drums and colors and lots of people—and then she’s excited to see her boy dancing fast, making the ribbons on his regalia twirl beautifully! When he takes a break, Loaf goes to greet him in her special way, making the powwow one her boy will never forget, and worthy of many purrs!
Age Range: 3-7 years
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Praise for Loaf the Cat:
“Loaf, a feline protagonist, follows her Ojibwe-cued caretaker, Charlie, to a powwow in this simply told picture book. Fond of rubber bands, paper bags, and ribbon, Loaf takes note when ‘my boy started putting all these ribbons on his clothes.’ . . . In an animated picture book debut, Anishinaabe author DeShaw walks readers through the powwow’s Grand Entry, told through the perspective of Loaf the cat. . . . Audibert (the Jo Jo Makoons series), of Wolastoqiyik and French heritage, aptly capture the energy of a cat at play and a boy taking part in the powwow—and the two displaying affection for each other.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The tale of a cat and her boy. . . . DeShaw (Bois Forte Ojibwe and Eagle Clan) uses repetition to captures a cat’s uniquely self-possessed perspective; feline lovers will smile with recognition as Loaf assures them that sometimes her boy ‘thinks it’s time for sleep, but I know it is really time for play.’ A purr-fect pet story and a vibrant celebration of cultural identity.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Get to Know Nicholas:
Nicholas DeShaw is an author from Minnesota and is an all around nerd for a good story especially if it’s one with magic and robots. He is Bois Forte Ojibwe and much of his inspiration comes from his traditional culture and contemporary Native America. Growing up in Michigan Nicholas made his way to Minnesota to pursue his education and traditional Ojibwe language. He always tries to bring some Ojibwe into his work but one day he hopes to have full stories written in the language.
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Author ✳︎ Educator ✳︎ father ✳︎ Community Leader ✳︎
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