Away to school: 'Ólta'góó

A young Navajo boy narrates his first days at a boarding school far from the home he knows so well. He describes the long bus ride, the new dormitory, and the routine of waking, washing, and dressing in a setting that feels both foreign and exciting. Through simple sentences he shares his meals—cereal, eggs, fruit, and orange juice—and the small pleasures of brushing his teeth and playing outside. The story captures his feelings of curiosity and the quiet pride of learning to read and speak in a new language while still holding onto the rhythms of his own culture.

Presented in clear, beginner‑level English alongside the original Navajo, the book offers a gentle bridge between two worlds. It introduces everyday school life, friendships with teachers and the nurse, and the sense of growing independence that comes with each lesson. Designed for adolescents who are just beginning to read English, the text invites listeners to experience the everyday wonder of a child stepping into a new world while keeping his cultural roots close at hand.