Status
Available
Publication
Roaring Brook Press (2020), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages
Library's review
"In this tribute to Native resilience, Indigenous author-and-illustrator team Lindstrom and Goade invite readers to stand up for environmental justice.
“Water is the first medicine,” a young, unnamed protagonist reflects as she wades into a river with her grandmother. “We come from water.”
An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected planet. (author’s note, glossary, illustrator’s note, Water Protector pledge) (Picture book. 5-12)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com
“Water is the first medicine,” a young, unnamed protagonist reflects as she wades into a river with her grandmother. “We come from water.”
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Stunning illustrations, rich in symbolism from the creators’ respective Ojibwe and Tlingit/Haida lineages, bring the dark-haired, brown-skinned child’s narrative to life as she recounts an Anishinaabe prophecy: One day, a “black snake” will terrorize her community and threaten water, animals, and land. “Now the black snake is here,” the narrator proclaims, connecting the legend to the present-day threat of oil pipelines being built on Native lands. Though its image is fearsome, younger audiences aren’t likely to be frightened due to Goade’s vibrant, uplifting focus on collective power. Awash in brilliant colors and atmospheric studies of light, the girl emphasizes the importance of protecting “those who cannot fight for themselves” and understanding that on Earth, “we are all related.” Themes of ancestry, community responsibility, and shared inheritance run throughout. Where the brave protagonist is depicted alongside her community, the illustrations feature people of all ages, skin tones, and clothing styles. Lindstrom’s powerful message includes non-Native and Native readers alike: “We are stewards of the Earth. We are water protectors.”An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected planet. (author’s note, glossary, illustrator’s note, Water Protector pledge) (Picture book. 5-12)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com
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Awards
Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner — 2021)
Kirkus Prize (Finalist — Young Readers' Literature — 2020)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Elementary — 2022)
Great Lakes Great Books Award (Nominee — 2022)
Mitten Award (Top Ten — 2021)
Jane Addams Children's Book Award (Finalist — 2021)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2021)
IBBY Honour Book (2022)
The White Ravens (2021)
Azia Books Diversity Award (Listed — 2022)
Three Stars Book Award (Nominee — Young Readers — 2021)
American Indians in Children's Literature Best Books (Picture Books — 2020)
Ladybug Picture Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Charlotte Huck Award (Honor — 2021)
Friends of American Writers Award (Juvenile Book — 2021)
Green Earth Book Award (Recommended Reading — Picture Book — 2021)
NPR: Books We Love (2020)
CCBC Choices (2021)
Notable Children's Book (2021)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2021)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — Picture Books — 2020)
Picture This Recommendation List (Fiction — 2021)
El día de los niños / El día de los libros (K-2 — 2020)
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids (Picture Books — 2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Picture Books — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020
ISBN
1250203554 / 9781250203557