SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://allmyrelationsarts.org/artists/nicholas-deshaw/
CITY: St. Paul
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; has children.
EDUCATION:University of Minnesota, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and educator. Elementary teacher in Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul, MN.
WRITINGS
Contributor to the websites, A Tribe Called Geek and Lacrosse All Stars.
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2024, review of Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow.
Publishers Weekly, March 4, 2024, review of Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow, p. 44.
WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, June 28, 2024, Kaitlin Srader, review of Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow, p. 1.
ONLINE
All My Relations Arts, https://allmyrelationsarts.org/ (December 16, 2024), author profile.
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts website, https://cla.umn.edu/ (December 16, 2024), author faculty profile.
Nicholas Bimibatoo Mishtadim DeShaw
He/Him/His
desh0045@umn.edu
American Indian Studies
19E Scott Hall
72 Pleasant St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Collegiate Affiliation
American Indian Studies
Educational Background & Specialties
Educational Background
Bachelor of Arts: Education, University of Minnesota
Specialties
Ojibwe Language
American Indian History
Physical Education
Community Outreach
Indigenous Games
Artists
Nicholas DeShaw
Pronouns:
He/Him
Tribal Affiliation:
Bois Forte Ojibwe
Biography
Nicholas DeShaw is an author from Minnesota who has written fiction for all ages from sci-fi to horror to picture books including an upcoming children’s book to be released through Nancy Paulsen Press. Nicholas DeShaw has been published on A Tribe Called Geek covering all things Indigenerd as well as Lacrosse All Stars where he has written several pieces on Indigenous lacrosse. He is greatly inspired by his Ojibwe culture from which he draws much of his source material.
DeShaw strives to be a Native voice in fiction and hopes to see many Native authors creating content for all ages. DeShaw is an active member of the community where he works as an elementary PE teacher and advocate for Indian Education in Inver Grove Heights and South St Paul. DeShaw helps to promote Native American games, especially traditional lacrosse. He is a proud husband and father, above all else, his first passion is his family.
DeShaw, Nicholas LOAF THE CAT GOES TO THE POWWOW Nancy Paulsen Books (Children's None) $18.99 5, 28 ISBN: 9780593461853
The tale of a cat and her boy.
Loaf--so named because she resembles a loaf of bread when curled up--loves hiding, napping in the sun, and chasing rubber bands thrown by her boy, a young Indigenous child. Loaf adores the boy, who shows off his grass-dancing moves, with his long, braided hair and the ribbons on his regalia spinning as he twirls. One day, the boy and his family leave. Loaf knows something's going on, so she escapes through a window ("Because I am a genius, it was not hard") and follows the boy's scent to a powwow. She hides, watching the jingle dress and fancy shawl dancers--until she sees her boy. After he finishes his performance, she leaps out, surprising him. 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." Audibert, who's of Wolastoqiyik and French heritage, directs readers' attention to dancers in the powwow scenes; in her heavily stylized, thick-lined illustrations, the performers stand out with pops of color and swirls of movement. Delicate floral Ojibwe details are incorporated throughout.
Both a purr-fect pet story and a vibrant celebration of cultural identity. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"DeShaw, Nicholas: LOAF THE CAT GOES TO THE POWWOW." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793536982/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1a4ee02e. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow
Nicholas DeShaw, illus. by Tara Audibert. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-59-346185-3
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." After the boy quickly hand-stitches the complex regalia, he tells the cat, "I'm going to be a grass dancer at the powwow." When Loaf awakens to an empty house and ventures outside, she follows Charlie's scent to a place filled with crowds and drums. In an animated picture book debut, Anishinaabe author DeShaw walks readers through the powwow's Grand Enrry, told through the perspective of Loaf the cat. Though the feline is more observer than actor in this straightforward work, digital illustrations from 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. Ages 3-7. (May)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 9, 4 Mar. 2024, p. 44. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A786742154/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce80d487. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
DESHAW, Nicholas. Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow. illus. by Tara Audibert. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. May 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593461853.
Gr 1–3—From the perspective of Loaf the cat, her relationship with her boy, Charlie, knows no bounds. Her desire to be around him takes her to new grounds—the powwow grounds. Here, the bond between Charlie and Loaf strengthens just like the beat of the drum circle. The mesmerizing ribbons swaying from regalia and cheers from the crowd encapsulate the powerful connection of culture and loved ones in spaces like a powwow. Smooth colors with a traditional touch in the artwork, demonstrated in the flora and geometrical designs, portray a vivacious livelihood. Even through the eyes of a feline friend, the joyous energy surrounding powwow time is accurately portrayed for a young Native boy entering as his first time (grass) dancing. Powwows are a great time for connection for anyone, including a furry friend. Loaf's playfulness and Charlie's endearment of her is an adorable companionship in this digestible story for many readers. One can never be too old for a grand story of powwows.
VERDICT: The insight into the joys of powwows, that they are not just for humans, makes this lively picture book a great addition for all collections.—Kaitlin Srader
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Srader, Kaitlin. "Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 70, no. 6, 28 June 2024, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A800598555/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8eb552dd. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.