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Tingle, Tim. (2010) Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light. Illustrated by Karen Clarkson. Cinco Puntos Press.
For more information about this book and curriculum connections, locate
the October 2010 issue of Library Sparks for the "In the
Spotlight" column featuring Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light. Column written by Sharron L. McElmeel.
The
Tingle family used the term "Saltypie" to refer to any adversity
that they faced in life. The phrase originated when Tim's father,
as a two-year-old mistook the blood running down his mother's face for
cherry pie filling. When his small fingers brushed the liquid, he
licked his fingers and realized it was not his favorite cherry pie but
something unpleasant to his taste. He called it "saltypie" and so
saltypie pie became the phrase used to describe the many adversities
the family faced from many sources including the racism the family
endured.
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I was curious as
to what other cultures and families used to describe the situations
that the Tingle family referred to as "saltypie." An informal
survey revealed some interesting idioms.
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British
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"spanner in the works" (note: spanner is a wrench)
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Midwest USA
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"wrench in the works"
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"bump in the road"
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"rough patch"
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Texas
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"burr in the saddle"
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"drawing a black bean" -- based on a
legend from the Mexican - Texas war for independence. Read
all about it from the Texas Handbook Online - Black Bean Episode page (Texas State Historical Association).
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Middle Tennessee
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"throw a clod in the churn"
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Literary/Biblical reference from The Red Tent by Anita Diamante
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"standing upon the bricks"
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Interview
adults that you know and see what idioms they use to express an
adversity in their lives. Do they use any of the terms above?
Where did the idiom originate? Make a list and compare your list
with those gathered by classmates. If you have more idioms that should be listed here please send them to McBookwords .
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More About Native American Indians in OUR Culture
For more information about Native Americans in Children's and Young
Adult Literature visit Cynthia Leitich Smith's Native Themes page on
her site at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/native_am/NativeThemes_intro.html
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| American Indians in Children's Literature |
Debbie Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature -- Top Ten books...
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For the Elementary School
For the Middle School
For the High School
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