Book Resume
for Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck and Jonathan Nelson
Professional book information and credentials for Forever Cousins.
2 Professional Reviews
4 Book Awards
Selected for 3 State/Province Lists
See full Book Resume
on TeachingBooks
- Booklist:
- K - Grade 3
- Kirkus:
- Ages 4 - 7
- TeachingBooks:*
- Grades PK-2
- Lexile Level:
- 610L
- Cultural Experience:
- American Indian
- Genre:
- Picture Book
- Year Published:
- 2022
10 Subject Headings
The following 10 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (Forever Cousins).
2 Full Professional Reviews
The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.
Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).
From Booklist
September 15, 2022
Grades K-3 Cousins Amanda and Kara do everything together. They share secrets, dance in the powwow, and play with the dolls Mag�u (Grandmother) made for them. But everything changes when Kara's family decides to move out of the city and back to the Rez. The girls miss one another terribly even though they talk on the phone and write each other postcards. Neither can wait for that summer's family reunion on the Rez, but when the cousins see each other at long last, Amanda and Kara feel shy and hesitant. Happily, their reticence is short lived, and, after confessing how much they've missed each other, they spend the rest of the reunion playing, dancing, and sharing stories. Nelson's digital cartoon illustrations nicely capture cultural details, subtly incorporating varying skin tones and fashion choices within the family and signaling differences between life in the city and on the Reservation. An informative author's note discusses the author's upbringing within an intertribal Native American family as well as the Indian Relocation Act of 1956.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From Kirkus
August 15, 2022
Two Native American cousins find their friendship tested when one moves from the city to the Rez. Amanda loves purple, while Kara's favorite is pink, but "they agree that sunflowers are beautiful, powwow dancing is fun, and chokecherry jam on toast is the best." When the time comes for Kara's family to leave, both girls' parents assure them that the family will be together again next summer at the reunion. A year passes, and the cousins miss each other very much but keep in touch by phone and through letters. When it's time for the reunion on the reservation, the families make preparations: Amanda's family packs and gets the GPS set for the two-day drive; Kara's family makes welcoming signs, and her dad hangs a picture of the family tree. But the girls are nervous: Will they still be friends? In an author's note, Goodluck explains that in the past, many Native families have faced separations; she cites the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 as one cause. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that they still maintain close relationships due to shared family and tribal values. This matter-of-fact yet poignant story brings that bond to vivid life as the girls realize that no matter what, they are "forever cousins." The illustrations rely on a muted palette and feature appealing characters with large heads. Cultural references are scattered throughout, like the dolls made by the girls' mag�u (grandmother), powwow dancing, and a Hidatsa naming ceremony. Children facing separations of their own will find this reassuring. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet story of friendship, family, and community. (Picture book. 4-7)
COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
4 Book Awards & Distinctions
Forever Cousins was recognized by committees of professional librarians and educators for the following book awards and distinctions.
3 Selections for State & Provincial Recommended Reading Lists
Forever Cousins was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.
United States Lists (3)
2 Primary Source Statements on Creating Forever Cousins
Jonathan Nelson on creating Forever Cousins:
This primary source recording with Laurel Goodluck was created to provide readers insights directly from the book's creator into the backstory and making of this book.
Listen to this recording on TeachingBooks
Citation: Nelson, Jonathan. "Meet-the-Author Recording | Forever Cousins." TeachingBooks, https://library.teachingbooks.net/bookResume/t/83262. Accessed 30 January, 2025.
Laurel Goodluck on creating Forever Cousins:
This primary source recording with Laurel Goodluck was created to provide readers insights directly from the book's creator into the backstory and making of this book.
Listen to this recording on TeachingBooks
Citation: Goodluck, Laurel. "Meet-the-Author Recording | Forever Cousins." TeachingBooks, https://library.teachingbooks.net/bookResume/t/83262. Accessed 30 January, 2025.
Preview Digital Book
Explore Forever Cousins on Marketplace. Access requires OverDrive Marketplace login.
This Book Resume for Forever Cousins is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.
*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.
Retrieved from TeachingBooks on January 30, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.