A story of one family’s seasonal migration and gratitude for the reciprocity and care of the animals.
“I knew you would come back for Zoo Sap,” the eaA story of one family’s seasonal migration and gratitude for the reciprocity and care of the animals.
“I knew you would come back for Zoo Sap,” the eagle said. Joo Tum looked down and saw his son, safely sleeping in a great pile of warm animals.
Joo Tum thanked the animals one by one. Then he took Zoo Sap in his strong arms and went back to the family.
The authors note is very informative on language use and history. I could see reading this alongside Louise Erdrich’s The Birchbark House to further illustrate seasonal migration and collective care.
Listen below to hear author Allen Sockabasin tell the story in Passamaquoddy:
A beautiful story expanding our understanding of kinship and family. Little Francis has grown connected to a tree and the land the little spruce livesA beautiful story expanding our understanding of kinship and family. Little Francis has grown connected to a tree and the land the little spruce lives in. When Francis’ human relatives need to move, he pleads that they uproot the young tree and bring it with them to their new home. Like a beloved pet, Francis can not bear to be parted from his “gaawaandagoonce.”
The book features several words from Ojibwemowin, showing a familiarity and connection to plants and animals. The specifics are balanced well by the subtle intimacy of the collage and simple line drawings.
I plan to use this book to illustrate kinship and relationally across all living beings (plants, animals, humans, soil)
The book also serves as a strong mentor text for figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, etc.)
This is beautiful picture book about the spirits that dance in the stars and how we can connect with our ancestors through attending to the forever skThis is beautiful picture book about the spirits that dance in the stars and how we can connect with our ancestors through attending to the forever sky. This book also deals with death, grieving, and celebration of a loved grandmother, Nooko,
“I will tell you the stories so you know where she has gone,” uncle began.
“Do you see the path of stars across the sky? That is the Path of Souls, the Milky Way. That is the path that Nooko followed to the spirit world”
“She is a star She is the northern lights. At night she dances.”
I enjoyed the two person POV of this book, alternating chapters between Sacajawea and William Clark. The story was presented as a series of conversatiI enjoyed the two person POV of this book, alternating chapters between Sacajawea and William Clark. The story was presented as a series of conversations or letters to the young Pomp, Sacajawea’s son.
Clark’s chapters would start out with excerpts from Lewis and Clark journals. Sacajawea’s chapters would start out with a legend illustrating key active perspectives.
This book provides a brief overview of the seven grandfather teachings, geared for a young audience. As the children walk the Mashkiki road, looking fThis book provides a brief overview of the seven grandfather teachings, geared for a young audience. As the children walk the Mashkiki road, looking for medicines, they encounter 7 spirit creatures, each with something to teach them. There is also a scene where the children honor the plants before harvesting them. This reminded me a bit of what Kimmerer describes as the honorable harvest.
Buffalo – RESPECT Eagle - LOVE Bear - COURAGE Sawbear/Bigfoot – HONESTY Beaver - WISDOM, Wolf - HUMILITY Turtle - TRUTH
I learned of this book from exploring the Wisconsin First Nations website, an excellent source of teaching resources:
A young girl finds a seed in the "nothing green or growing" country of her birth. With hope and determination, she decides to plant it.
Despite the maA young girl finds a seed in the "nothing green or growing" country of her birth. With hope and determination, she decides to plant it.
Despite the many adults who tell her it won’t work, she cares for the seed and shelters its fledgling sprouts. The seed grows into a tree and eventually a full, fruit-bearing forest that nurtures and protects the same community that doubted it could happen.
"They said I couldn't change the world; it wasn't worth the fight. But in my head, a small voice said ... maybe you might.
"They said that seeds don't grow here, that plants don't sprout at all. But by the long dead riverbed I dug a little hole.
I wonder what I would have thought of this book had I read it as a middle grades student. I LOVED Julie of the Wolves as a girl. It was the first bookI wonder what I would have thought of this book had I read it as a middle grades student. I LOVED Julie of the Wolves as a girl. It was the first book that made me cry. I also loved Hatchet by Gary Paulsen as a young reader. Not sure if this would have resonated in the same way for me.
There are some parts I did like as an adult such as Sam’s descriptions of the land and animals in the sparseness of winter. Yet I’m not so sure they would be of interest to children
There are some moments of Interconnectedness yet land seems to be presented primarily as resource to “live off” rather than living entity with its own needs.
I might reread this book someday looking specifically at how the naming of plants, animals, and other humans is used for relational purposes.
Beautiful artwork by illustrator Michaela Goade (Water Protectors, Berry Song) depicts story of young boy who throws away an old piece of salmon and iBeautiful artwork by illustrator Michaela Goade (Water Protectors, Berry Song) depicts story of young boy who throws away an old piece of salmon and is hence pulled into a water journey among the salmon creatures
The salmon creatures share their knowledge with the boy similar to that of a spirit animal.
Kinship: all living creatures as sentient beings with ancestral, living systems knowledge to share.
This English/Dine bilingual picture book illustrates "kindness" in concrete, emotion-rich examples.
"I am kind when I take my dog for an extra long waThis English/Dine bilingual picture book illustrates "kindness" in concrete, emotion-rich examples.
"I am kind when I take my dog for an extra long walk." "I am kind when I bring food to my Elders." "I am kind when I only take from the earth what I need." "I feel grateful when the earth is kind to me."
I am very drawn to the larger message of kindness not only to other people but also to animals, ourselves, and the earth. This kindness fuels thinking beyond our skin boundaries of self to a larger interconnectedness with all living things.
Young girl and her grandmother walk through the land, water, forest, and seasons, noting how they know the seasons. It reminds me of Kimmerer's claim Young girl and her grandmother walk through the land, water, forest, and seasons, noting how they know the seasons. It reminds me of Kimmerer's claim that to build relations with the natural world we must begin to name who and what we know.
"How do I know winter is here? ... When I wait for the sun's bright light and watch brown Deer strip cedar. ... When I whistle to Blue Jay, too-wheedle too-wheedle, and lay seeds for red-capped Woodpecker ... This is how I know winter."
Helpful book for illustrating relational connections to the land, other living beings and the changing seasons.
In many ways this book reads like a prayer, a poetic practice of gratitude for the land, plants, and living creatures that collectively sustain all ofIn many ways this book reads like a prayer, a poetic practice of gratitude for the land, plants, and living creatures that collectively sustain all of life. Similar to Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know: Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin’igning / A Book about the Seasons, this book travels through different ecologies of the land and seasons of transformation, noting the smallest changes and stating gratitue.
I especially like the refrain:
"I needed to visit our sacred tmixw, temexw, tmxulaxw. (land/earth, land/earth, land/earth)"
It suggests that the land/earth is a living spirit force with multiple dimensions that can be approached for physical and spiritual restoration and anchoring. I can tell just from this first read of this book that my worldview and knowledge of the land/earth is limited and thus I can only access so much. I have much to learn from this book and look forward to returning to it for future readings.