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Written by the award-winning, bestselling author of Jingle Dancer, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), and filled with tender illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Nipmuck), this unforgettable, warmhearted picture book is for family and the friends who become family. Piper feels grateful for visits with her relatives, especially for the time spent with her cousins in Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Nation during summer vacations, fishing on misty mornings and playing on firefly-filled evenings. Piper''s family lives a road trip away in Kansas City. So when a neighbor named Sumi moves in next door, Piper is excited to share her stories and seasons with a new friend. The two are inseparable--until Piper''s family moves to another city. Their bond overcomes distance, and with time, Piper dreams up a plan to reunite with the people she loves most of all.
About the author
Cynthia Leitich Smith has worked in law, public relations, and journalism. She is a mixed-blood member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Ms. Smith lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a gray tabby. This is her first book.
Kate Gardiner is a New England based illustrator. She is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians and a graduate of Maine College of Art & Design. Kate has illustrated several books including her debut picture book, Small Places, Close to Home by Deborah Hopkinson, and Sometimes we Fall by Randall de Sève. She can be found online at kategardinerillustration.com.
