Chooch Helped

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Chooch Helped is a 2024 picture book written by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz, both citizens of Cherokee Nation. It depicts a brother and sister in Cherokee society who struggle to get along, and was awarded the 2025 Caldecott Medal.[1][2]

About

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Set in Oklahoma, the story depicts an older sister and her annoying younger brother called Chooch — a common nickname based on the Cherokee word for boy.[1] Chooch for making messes and ruining her projects, such as ripping the plants out of her garden.[1] Though the older sister is annoyed, her parents remind her, "Chooch learns by watching. You’re one of his most important teachers."[3] One night, Chooch joins Oginalii one night to go hunting for crawdads, an activity known as gigging, and Chooch helps by catching the crawdads in his hands.[1]

Andrea L. Rogers wrote the book while she was a PhD candidate in English at the University of Arkansas.[4] She previously published the children's books Mary and the Trail of Tears (2020) and Man Made Monsters (2024).[4] Among the picture books that have influenced her are childhood favorites like Harry the Dirty Dog, Where the Wild Things Are, The Snowy Day and Make Way for Ducklings, as well as newer books that her children enjoy, like This Is Not My Hat. She said, "I love anything by Jerry Pinkney or Carole Boston Weatherford."[4]


Chooch Helped was the first children's book illustrated by the artist Rebecca Lee Kunz, who worked in fine art for 20 years.[3] When the book won the 2025 Caldecott Medal, Kunz expressed awe, and said that winning the award was "wild and incredibly unusual and atypical".[1] Kunz and Rogers originally met at an event for the Cherokee National Holiday in 2022. Kunz used a warm color palette and earth tones to evoke Oklahoma, where both she and Rogers grew up. She created layered illustrations with collaging, painting, and line work.[1][5]

The publisher of Chooch Helped is Levine Querido, which was founded in 2019.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Balaban, Samantha (2025-04-26). "'Chooch Helped' this author and illustrator win the 2025 Caldecott Medal". NPR. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  2. ^ CHOOCH HELPED | Kirkus Reviews.
  3. ^ a b Montgomery, Nicholl Denice. "Review of Chooch Helped". The Horn Book. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  4. ^ a b c "Andrea Rogers' Children's Book 'Chooch Helped' Wins Caldecott Medal for 2025". University of Arkansas News. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  5. ^ Yorio, Kara. "First Time Book Illustrator Wins Caldecott for". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-06.