Description
Andrea L. Rogers is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Rebecca Lee Kunz is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family's traditions — begrudgingly! — in this picture book written by Walter Award-winner Andrea L. Rogers and featuring gorgeous collage illustrations from debut artist Rebecca Lee Kunz.
Sissy’s younger brother, Chooch, isn’t a baby anymore. They just celebrated his second birthday, after all. But no matter what Chooch does — even if he’s messing something up! Which is basically all the time! — their parents say he’s just “helping.” Sissy feels that Chooch can get away with anything!
When Elisi paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Edutsi makes grape dumplings, Chooch helps. When Oginalii gigs for crawdads, Chooch helps. When Sissy tries to make a clay pot, Chooch helps . . .
“Hesdi!” Sissy yells. Quit it! And Chooch bursts into tears. What follows is a tender family moment that will resonate with anyone who has welcomed a new little one to the fold. Chooch Helped is a universal story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, told with grace by Andrea L. Rogers and stunning art from Rebecca Lee Kunz showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions. Audience: Ages 4-8.
2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children.
Rebecca Lee Kunz is the winner of the 2025 Caldecott Medal for Chooch Helped, written by Andrea L. Rogers, published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido. Her acceptance speech was delivered at the annual conference of the American Library Association in Philadelphia on June 29, 2025.