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Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman Hardcover – Picture Book, June 1 2021
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This acclaimed picture book autobiography tells the triumphant story of Sharice Davids, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, and the first LGBTQ congressperson to represent Kansas.
When Sharice Davids was young, she never thought she’d be in Congress. And she never thought she’d be one of the first Native American women in Congress. During her campaign, she heard from a lot of doubters. They said she couldn’t win because of how she looked, who she loved, and where she came from.
But everyone’s path looks different and everyone’s path has obstacles. And this is the remarkable story of Sharice Davids’ path to Congress.
Beautifully illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, an Ojibwe Woodland artist, this powerful autobiographical picture book teaches readers to use their big voice and that everyone deserves to be seen—and heard!
The back matter includes information about the Ho-Chunk written by former Ho-Chunk President Jon Greendeer, an artist note, and an inspiring letter to children from Sharice Davids.
"Rich, vivid illustrations by Ojibwe Woodland artist Pawis-Steckley are delivered in a graphic style that honors Indigenous people. The bold artwork adds impact to the compelling text." (Kirkus starred review)
"The prose is reminiscent of an inspirational speech (“Everyone’s path looks different”), with a message of service that includes fun biographical facts, such as her love of Bruce Lee. Pawis-Steckley (who is Ojibwe Woodland) contributes boldly lined and colored digital illustrations, inflected with Native symbols and bold colors. A hopeful and accessible picture book profile." (Publishers Weekly)
"Affecting picture-book autobiography." (The Horn Book)
Acclaim includes:
- A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2022 - Outstanding Merit in biography and memoir
- On Here Wee Read's 2021 Ultimate List of Diverse Children's Books
- 2022 ALSC Notable Children’s Books in the middle readers category
- 2022 Booklist from Rise: A Feminist Book Project—Early Readers Nonfiction
- Nominee for 2022 Reading the West book award
- Selected as CCBC Choices 2022—biography, autobiography and memoir
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Dimensions28.45 x 1.27 x 23.11 cm
- PublisherHarperCollins
- Publication dateJune 1 2021
- ISBN-100062979663
- ISBN-13978-0062979667
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Review
Demonstrates that everyone’s voice matters and needs to be heard. Powerful stuff! — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The prose is reminiscent of an inspirational speech (“Everyone’s path looks different”), with a message of service that includes fun biographical facts, such as her love of Bruce Lee. Pawis-Steckley (who is Ojibwe Woodland) contributes boldly lined and colored digital illustrations, inflected with Native symbols and bold colors. A hopeful and accessible picture book profile." — Publishers Weekly
"... a welcome addition to picture-book biography shelves." — Booklist
"affecting picture-book autobiography" — The Horn Book
About the Author
Sharice Davids was inspired to public service by her single mom, an army drill sergeant. Raised on military bases, Sharice worked her way through Johnson County Community College in Kansas City, before eventually earning a law degree from Cornell Law School. As a first-generation college student who had to work for everything including martial arts lessons, Representative Davids is focused on increasing opportunity by supporting public education and affordable healthcare. Davids was a White House Fellow under President Barack Obama. When she was sworn into the 116th Congress, Representative Davids became one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. She is a resident of Roeland Park, Kansas.
Nancy K. Mays has published short stories in Ploughshares, the Colorado Review, Mid-American Review, and other publications. Nancy is an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Kansas. She is a resident of Mission Woods, Kansas.
Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is an Ojibwe Woodland artist from Barrie, Ontario, and a member of Wasauksing, First Nation. He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Skwachay's Lodge in Vancouver, British Columbia, practicing his acrylic painting and illustration techniques. His fine art focuses on promoting and reclaiming Ojibwe stories and teachings, in a modern interpretation of the Woodland tradition. In 2019 Joshua did a Google Doodle of Jingle Dancers which was displayed on the Google search page. Sharice’s Big Voice is Joshua’s second picture book. Visit him online at www.joshuamangeshig.com.
Product details
- Publisher : HarperCollins (June 1 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062979663
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062979667
- Item weight : 454 g
- Dimensions : 28.45 x 1.27 x 23.11 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #295,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is an Ojibwe woodland artist from Barrie, ON. He is a member of Wasauksing, FN and is currently living in Victoria, BC. He was previously an Artist-in-Residence at Skwachays Lodge in downtown Vancouver from Sept 2017- Sept 2020. His work aims to promote and reclaim traditional Ojibwe stories and teachings, while modernizing the woodland style and bringing it into mainstream focus through a variety of mediums.
He is an experienced screen-printer and has graduated from the Graphic Design program at the Nova Scotia Community College. He has had several solo exhibitions with his latest being "Oshkimaadiziig" which was held at The Art Gallery of Sudbury from Sept-Nov 2019. He recently did a Google Doodle which was displayed on the google search page on July 15th 2019 and was the selected artist for the 2019-2020 Vancouver Public Library banner project which showcases 6 large banners in the downtown Vancouver Library.
Sharice Davids made history in 2018 when she became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress -- and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent Kansas in Washington. A former mixed martial artist and first-generation college student, Sharice worked her way through Johnson County Community College in the district she now represents, before eventually earning a law degree from Cornell Law School. She went on to work in economic and community development on tribal reservations, including Pine Ridge. Sharice was later selected to the prestigious White House Fellowship program under President Barack Obama.
Sharice was inspired to public service by her single mom, who served as an Army drill sergeant. Sharice is a resident of Roeland Park, Kansas.
Nancy K. Mays is a Kansas-based writer whose short fiction has appeared in such prestigious literary journals as Ploughshares, Colorado Review, the Mid-American Review, Eclectica and more. She teaches at the University of Kansas' William Allen White School of Journalism. This is her first children's book.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries

Also, having raised the world's pickiest eaters, I'm grateful to know that hating onions on their pizza will not hold them back from achieving their biggest dreams! So far, I've purchased copies for my granddaughters, a neighborhood Kindergartner who may have already found her big voice and my daughter's best friend's baby due in July! I will definitely need more...


Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 4, 2021
Also, having raised the world's pickiest eaters, I'm grateful to know that hating onions on their pizza will not hold them back from achieving their biggest dreams! So far, I've purchased copies for my granddaughters, a neighborhood Kindergartner who may have already found her big voice and my daughter's best friend's baby due in July! I will definitely need more...




