On the surface, Diné author Daniel Vandever’s picture books might appear to be straightforward stories, but the messages about the power of imagination and adventure in his books are imbued with layers of meaning. In his book Fall in Line, Holden!, a little boy breaks free from the constraints of rules and discipline by using his imagination. On a deeper level, the book speaks to the history of Indian Boarding Schools in pushing cultural assimilation. Likewise, in his wordless picture book Herizon, a girl goes on a magic scarf ride to find her lost sheep. This book is imbued with symbolism about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic, as well as cultural references to the Navajo Nation. Herizon was nominated to represent New Mexico at the 2024 National Book Festival. Mentioned in this Episode: <a href= "https://salinabookshelf.com/products/fall-in-line-holden">Fall in Line, Holden!</a> by Daniel Vandever <a href= "https://www.southofsunrisecreative.com/herizon">Herizon</a> by Daniel Vandever <a href= "https://www.southofsunrisecreative.com/we-weave">We Weave</a> by Daniel Vandever <a href="https://salinabookshelf.com/">Salina Bookshelf</a> New Mexico representation at the <a href= "https://nmstatelibrary.org/books-selected-to-represent-new-mexico-at-the-2024-national-book-festival/"> 2024 National Book Festival</a> <a href= "https://www.crowcanyon.org/EducationProducts/peoples_mesa_verde/historic_long_walk.php"> The Long Walk</a> <a href= "https://project1492.org/navajo-livestock-relocation/">Livestock Reduction Act</a> <a href= "https://elpalacio.org/2025/03/a-brief-history-of-navajo-churro-sheep/"> “A Brief History of Navaj- Churro Sheep”</a> in the Spring 2025 issue of El Palacio <a href= "https://www.neh.gov/article/code-talkers-were-americas-secret-weapon-world-war-ii"> Navajo Code Talkers</a> Deb Haaland’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report: <a href= "chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/dup/inline-files/bsi_investigative_report_may_2022_508.pdf"> Volume I</a> and <a href= "chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/doi_federal_indian_boarding_school_initiative_investigative_report_vii_final_508_compliant.pdf"> Volume II</a> <a href= "https://catalog.santafelibrary.org/GroupedWork/30824919-3801-4f5d-32a6-24a76d6b5122-eng/Home?searchId=16384478&recordIndex=1&page=1&searchSource=local&referred=resultIndex"> The Foot Book</a> by Dr. Seuss <a href= "https://catalog.santafelibrary.org/Record/28531?searchId=16384492&recordIndex=1&page=1&referred=resultIndex"> Roadrunner’s Dance</a> by Rudolfo Anaya <a href= "https://catalog.santafelibrary.org/GroupedWork/f88b1262-b69f-e308-c5e5-732480d39ef9-eng/Home?searchId=16384503&recordIndex=1&page=1&searchSource=local&referred=resultIndex"> Blueberries for Sal</a> by Robert McCloskey <a href= "https://catalog.santafelibrary.org/GroupedWork/e1e63c94-0389-41a4-19ce-431ef3c707a9-eng/Home?searchId=16384512&recordIndex=1&page=1&searchSource=local&referred=resultIndex"> Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</a> by Bill Martin We’d love to hear from you! Let us know what you loved about the episode, share a personal story it made you think of, or ask us a question at <a href= "mailto:elpalacio@dca.nm.gov">elpalacio@dca.nm.gov</a>. You can write a regular email or record a short voice memo and attach it for us to listen to.  Visit<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecnmculture"> newmexicoculture.org</a> for info about our museums, historic sites, virtual tours, and more.  Our favorite way to fully experience everything they have to offer is with the<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecnmculturepass"> New Mexico CulturePass</a>. Reserve yours online!   If you love New Mexico, you’ll love El Palacio Magazine!<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecsubelpal"> Subscribe to El Palacio today. </a> Encounter Culture, a production of the<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecnmculture"> New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs</a>, is produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at<a href="http://www.thecreativeimpostor.com/"> The Creative Impostor Studios.</a>  Hosted by Emily Withnall, editor at<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecelpalacio"> El Palacio Magazine</a>Executive Producer: Daniel Zillmann Technical Director & Post-Production Audio:<a href= "https://www.edwinrruiz.com/"> Edwin R. Ruiz</a>Recording Engineer: Collin Ungerleider and Kabby at<a href="http://www.kabbysound.com/"> Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe</a>Editor & Production Manager:<a href= "https://alexandrariegler.com/"> Alex Riegler</a>Associate Producer & Editor: Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Lakota) Theme Music:<a href= "https://dsantinava.wixsite.com/elbrujo"> D’Santi Nava</a> Instagram:<a href= "https://bit.ly/ecnmcultureig"> @newmexicanculture</a> and<a href="https://bit.ly/ecelpalig"> @elpalaciomagazine</a>

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