Chooch Helped (2025)

Winner of the 2025 Caldecott Medal! A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family's traditions begrudgingly! In a heartfelt picture book full of 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 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 Walter Award-winner Andrea L. Rogers and stunning art from Rebecca Lee Kunz, and showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions.