Overview
Written and illustrated by members of the Tahltan and Cree nations, this sweet, simple story looks at a very special relationship. A young boy goes for a walk with his kohkom, or grandmother, listening, picking, praying, eating . . . just as she does. In doing so, he begins to learn the rich cultural traditions and values of his Cree heritage. Leona Neilson's thoughtful text and Caitlin Dale Nicholson’s acrylic-on-canvas illustrations blend beautifully to show both the deep bond between the boy and his grandmother and the beauty of their world. Poetic, resonant text makes this an ideal read-aloud for young ears.Synopsis
Written and illustrated by members of the Tahltan and Cree nations, this sweet, simple story looks at a very special relationship. A young boy goes for a walk with his kohkom, or grandmother, listening, picking, praying, eating . . . just as she does. In doing so, he begins to learn the rich cultural traditions and values of his Cree heritage. Leona Neilson's thoughtful text and Caitlin Dale Nicholson’s acrylic-on-canvas illustrations blend beautifully to show both the deep bond between the boy and his grandmother and the beauty of their world. Poetic, resonant text makes this an ideal read-aloud for young ears.
Children's Literature
Just twenty pages in length, this book has just one sentence in both Cree and English on each page and lush acrylic pictures that tell as much of the story as the words do. This simple, spare story tells (and shows) a grandmother (kokhom) and boy heading to the woods to pick rose hips. It is all in a contemporary context, but crosses over time because it actually tells the traditions of old (walking, picking, listening, eating, praying) and reminds readers how important it is for children to spend time learning the old ways, and spending time with their grandparents. This is a fall story, with the grandmother and child leaving the house in jackets, then shedding layers as the sun warms them and they enjoy the warmth. This charming and beautiful story ends with a little recipe for Rosehip Tea. The author-illustrator is a graduate of the First Nations Studies program at University of Northern British Columbia, and her co-author teaches about traditional medicinal plant uses and works hard to keep the Cree language in use. This would be a good book to read in addition to or in place of the stereotypical American Thanksgiving story, with its demeaning treatment of Indians (for a detailed discussion of issues surrounding Thanksgiving and Native Americans see Oyate.org). This title would also be a great basis for children K-5 to write their own stories relating some basic lessons imparted by grandparents, using the model of one sentence to a page. If there is an alternative language that can be added to a parallel created story, all the better! For more titles of merit that feature authentic respectful portrayals of Native Americans in children's books, readers are directed to the extensivecatalog www.oyate.org, the many pages of reviews and recommendations at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/and Debbie Reese's americanindiandsinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com. Readers who need a comprehensive resource for Native American titles can check out Through Indian Eyes and Broken Flute, both by Beverly Slapin and Doris Seale, titles which each contain hundreds of critical reviews and recommendations (both available through oyate.org). Reviewer: Gwynne Spencer
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Just twenty pages in length, this book has just one sentence in both Cree and English on each page and lush acrylic pictures that tell as much of the story as the words do. This simple, spare story tells (and shows) a grandmother (kokhom) and boy heading to the woods to pick rose hips. It is all in a contemporary context, but crosses over time because it actually tells the traditions of old (walking, picking, listening, eating, praying) and reminds readers how important it is for children to spend time learning the old ways, and spending time with their grandparents. This is a fall story, with the grandmother and child leaving the house in jackets, then shedding layers as the sun warms them and they enjoy the warmth. This charming and beautiful story ends with a little recipe for Rosehip Tea. The author-illustrator is a graduate of the First Nations Studies program at University of Northern British Columbia, and her co-author teaches about traditional medicinal plant uses and works hard to keep the Cree language in use. This would be a good book to read in addition to or in place of the stereotypical American Thanksgiving story, with its demeaning treatment of Indians (for a detailed discussion of issues surrounding Thanksgiving and Native Americans see Oyate.org). This title would also be a great basis for children K-5 to write their own stories relating some basic lessons imparted by grandparents, using the model of one sentence to a page. If there is an alternative language that can be added to a parallel created story, all the better! For more titles of merit that feature authentic respectful portrayals of Native Americans in children's books, readers are directed to the extensivecatalog www.oyate.org, the many pages of reviews and recommendations at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/and Debbie Reese's americanindiandsinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com. Readers who need a comprehensive resource for Native American titles can check out Through Indian Eyes and Broken Flute, both by Beverly Slapin and Doris Seale, titles which each contain hundreds of critical reviews and recommendations (both available through oyate.org). Reviewer: Gwynne SpencerSchool Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2- In this slice-of-life picture book, a contemporary Cree boy accompanies his grandmother on a trip to pick rosehips. The simple text, written in both Cree and English, shows the child mirroring his grandmother's every move ("Kôhkom walks. I walk") until the end when "Kôhkom sits" and the boy instead plays with his slingshot ("Not me!"). Unfortunately, the narrative is so understated that children may not know what is happening without adult assistance. Textured acrylic paintings, done in rich earth tones, give a sense of the bond between the two, and portray the sanctity of the natural environment. While not an essential purchase, this title does offer a sensitive, respectful portrayal of contemporary Native Americans. Unfortunately, there is no pronunciation guide for the Cree text. David Bouchard's poem, Nokum Is My Teacher (Red Deer, 2007) also features the relationship between a grandmother and grandchild and includes a Cree-English audio recording.-Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI