We are featuring a new author and illustrator in an Inspirations kit, Virginia A. Stroud. Stop by the Children’s Services Desk and pick up a bag while supplies last!
Virginia Stroud is an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. She is known for her paintings and fine art prints. Many of them are in a style similar to her illustrations in the picture books shown above. She has even painted furniture in a similar style!
Do you like beauty pageants? A bit of trivia about Ms. Stroud is that she was Miss Cherokee Tribal Princess (1969), Miss National Congress of American Indians (1970) and Miss Indian America XVII (1971). A special dress called a tear dress was designed for her to wear in the competitions.
Your kit will include:
- Materials and instructions for making a tear dress collage and an article about the tear dress
- Tempera paint in primary colors and an activity to go with it
- Paint and sponges for making a stamp pad and suggestions for exploring printmaking
Want to explore more?
- Take a peek inside Virginia Stroud’s first book, Doesn’t Fall Off His Horse, at Debbie Reese’s blog, American Indians In Children’s Literature.
- If you liked The Story Of the Milky Way, visit the “Cynsational Notes” at the bottom of this interview for more Cherokee stories available as picture books.
- If you liked A Walk To the Great Mystery, find more recommended books about grandparents at cynthialeitichsmith.com.
- You can read about a more recent Miss Cherokee, her turkey feather cape and a Stroud family connection here.