Bee stings on the backside! That was just the beginning. Tim was about to enter a world of the past, with bullying boys, stones and Indian spirits of long ago. But they were real spirits, real stones, very real memories

In this powerful family saga, author Tim Tingle tells the story of his family's move from Oklahoma Choctaw country to Pasadena, TX. Spanning 50 years, Saltypie describes the problems encountered by his Choctaw grandmother from her orphan days at an Indian boarding school to hardships encountered in her new home on the Gulf Coast.

Tingle says, "Stories of modern Indian families rarely grace the printed page. Long before I began writing, I knew this story must be told." Seen through the innocent eyes of a young boy, Saltypie - a 2011 Skipping Stones honor book, WordCraft Circle 2012 Children's Literature Award-winner, and winner of the 2011 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in the category of Grades 4-6 - is the story of one family's efforts to honor the past while struggling to gain a foothold in modern America.

Tim Tingle, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is a sought-after storyteller for folklore festivals, library conferences, and schools across America. At the request of Choctaw Chief Pyle, Tim tells a story to the tribe every year before Pyle's State of the Nation Address at the Choctaw Labor Day Gathering. Tim's previous and often reprinted books from Cinco Puntos Press Walking the Choctaw Road and Crossing Bok Chitto received numerous awards, but what makes Tim the proudest is the recognition he receives from the American Indian communities.

Karen Clarkson, a Choctaw tribal member, is a self-taught artist who specializes in portraits of Native Americans. She did not start painting until after her children had left home; she has since been widely acclaimed as a Native American painter. She lives in San Leandro, California.

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the American Indian Youth Literature Award. It was recognised in the Adolescent Listeners category by the Storytelling World Award. It also was recognised by the Skipping Stones Honor Award. It was recognised in the Grades 4-6 category by the Paterson Award for Books for Young People. Also it was recognised by the Wordcraft Circle Award. It was recognised in the Notable Children's Books category by the Association Library Service to Children.

This book has been graded for interest at 7-12 years.

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2010 by Cinco Puntos Press, U. S. .

Choctaw storyteller Tim Tingle makes his living telling stories and teaching folklore at schools, universities and festivals nationally. The Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers selected Tim as "Contemporary Storyteller of the Year" for 2001. Tim Tingle lives in Canyon Lake, Texas, near San Antonio. Choctaw artist Karen Clarkson lives in San Leandro, California with her husband Bill and their two dogs. A trip to Paris when she was ten inspired her to study the old masters but she feels she came into her own as an artist when she started creating portraits of Native Americans. Tim Tingle and Doc Moore travel throughout the United States and Mexico collecting and telling stories for all ages and perform for children and young adults at countless schools and libraries. They adapted these tales from the popular collection Texas Ghost Stories (Texas Tech UP, 2004).