Shaped by Her Hands by Anna Harber Freeman, Barbara Gonzalez, and Aphelandra - ADVISABLE

Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzalez, illustrated by Aphelandra. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Albert Whitman, APRIL 2021. $17. 9780807575994 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Maria was born in the late 1880’s and already her people. The Tewa of New Mexico, were losing their pottery-making skills because they were buying factory-made tinware. But the young girl tracked down a teacher and was able to learn to make the pots and dishes her family and village needed. When an archaeologist came asking her about recreating a black-fired pot, Maria experimented and was able to recreate the black on black pottery, which also revived interest in pottery making. 

We have several ceramics classes at my school, so I am very excited to share this book with those teachers! It is a simple book, but a great jumping off point to talk about crafting as a way to keep historic skills, as a connection to culture. One of the authors and the illustrator are both connected to Native American tribes. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS