Wagnon set to release fourth children’s syllabary book | People
TAHLEQUAH – Cherokee Nation citizen Brad Wagnon, a children’s book author, is set to release his fourth Cherokee syllabary book, “Baby’s First Cherokee Numbers,” in February 2026.
The book, illustrated by CN citizen and artist Beth Anderson, is a board book with colorful illustrations that demonstrate the Cherokee language for numbers one through 10.
Cherokee Nation citizen and artist Beth Anderson holds the first book she illustrated for author Brad Wagnon, “The Cherokee Syllabary: An Illustrated Key to the Cherokee Language.” She recently illustrated Wagnon’s newest syllabary book, “Baby’s First Cherokee Numbers.”
“The numbers will be the next book that comes out, just looking at it from an educator standpoint and a language learner standpoint,” Wagnon said. “I’m a language learner. I didn’t grow up speaking Cherokee, but I started taking the online classes and incorporating as much language as I can into my daily life. From that viewpoint, I saw a need for resources.”
In the book, the illustrations reflect the number that is being taught in Cherokee.
“So, we have cultural items, like number one is a bandolier bag and that’s illustrated in there … and the word for ‘one,’” Wagnon said.
As the illustrator, Anderson took Wagnon’s concept to utilize an illuminated manuscript style, which is where the text is embellished with flourishes and ornate lettering. For the syllabary book, each number is decorated to reflect Cherokee culture.
Cherokee Nation citizen Brad Wagnon is set to release his fourth Cherokee syllabary book, “Baby’s First Cherokee Numbers,” in February 2026. The book, illustrated by CN citizen and artist Beth Anderson, is a board book with colorful illustrations that demonstrate the Cherokee language for numbers one through 10.
“I absolutely loved the concept that (Wagnon) had for the first one, the Cherokee syllabary book,” Anderson said. “It was illuminated manuscript and that’s something I love as well in art. And so, combining that with culture, I was just really excited for the project. It was my first illustration project, and I fell in love with it.”
Other works Wagnon has written include children’s books “How the World Was Made: A Cherokee Story,” “The Land of the Great Turtles” and “The First Fire: A Cherokee Story.” These books are based on traditional Cherokee stories.
His syllabary books include “The Cherokee Syllabary: An Illustrated Guide to the Cherokee Language” and “Baby’s First Cherokee.”
As a former educator, Wagnon said he was inspired by his wife and a friend to create Cherokee story books that could also double as resource books for young children about Cherokee culture and language.
“I just took some stories and told them in my way and made them so that they were kid friendly, and kids would be able to read them,” Wagnon said. “I don’t feel like I ever really set out to be an author. I just wanted to tell stories, and I wanted to make sure that those stories were still available for kids generations from now. That was really the motivation behind it.”
The book can be pre-ordered at bookpubco.com/nv-authors/2024/8/23/brad-wagnon, on Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s websites. It will be available for in-person purchasing wherever books are sold. For more information email bradwagnoncco@gmail.com.
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