Overview
Joyful and warmhearted, this delightful book honors the blessings of every auntie in a child's life, by distinguished author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) and illustrator Aphelandra (Oneida). ""Hesci! Here come the aunties!"" Aunts by kinship as well as family friends, neighbors, and community members all step up to fill the important role of ""auntie."" They are there for life's joys, sorrows, and celebrations, bringing their own special love. A wonderful gift from or for a treasured auntie!
Full Product Details
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith ,
Aphelandra
Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books
Imprint: Bound to Stay Bound Books
ISBN: 9798260503041
Pages: 32
Publication Date: 10 February 2026
Recommended Age: From 4 to 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
""Thoughtful and heartwarming, this encourages readers to reflect on the people who nurture and shape their own lives. Together, the story and art convey a deep sense of belonging and cultural pride, reminding readers that families are strengthened by shared care and tradition...great for reading aloud."" - Booklist ""A rapturous reflection on community worth holding close to one's heart. Each auntie is so vibrantly imagined that it feels like you might know her yourself."" - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Author Information
Cynthia Leitich Smith is a bestselling, acclaimed author of books for all ages, including Here Come the Aunties!, Firefly Season, Jingle Dancer, Indian Shoes, On a Wing and a Tear, Sisters of the Neversea, Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem (with Kekla Magoon), Rain Is Not My Indian Name, Harvest House, and Hearts Unbroken, which won the American Indian Youth Literature Award. Cynthia is also the anthologist of Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids, and Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, which won the Michael L. Printz Award and the American Indian Youth Literature Award. She has been honored with the American Library Association's Children's Literature Lecture Award and has been named the NSK Neustadt Laureate. She is the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperCollins Children's Books, and served as the Katherine Paterson Endowed Chair on the faculty of the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Cynthia is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and lives in Denton, Texas. Aphelandra is an award-winning designer and illustrator. As a descendent of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Aphelandra enjoys working on stories that elevate Indigenous voices and reach children of all backgrounds. Her illustrated children's books include Here Come the Aunties!, The Heartbeat Drum, Shaped by Her Hands, and The First Woman Cherokee Chief. Find her at aphelandraw.com.
