The Gift of the Great Buffalo

In a time after “the arrival of the settlers and their iron horses... eliminated most of the buffalo,” Rose’s family gathers with hundreds of other Métis families for a biannual buffalo hunt. Her father, for the first time a captain of the event, has helped to plan it to ensure order and fairness. After a week of hunting, though, Pa sounds discouraged about the lack of buffalo, and Rose—despite her father’s instructions to remain with Ma—leaves camp to scout, donning Pa’s spare wolf skin. Sensate text from Anishinaabe/Métis author Lindstrom (Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior) describes the effort: “As Rose tracked the buffalo, she began to think of herself as the wolf. She sniffed the dirt and the grasses as she prowled, sensing mashkode-bizhiki were near.” The child’s efforts result in a good hunting day, and hope of her involvement in hunts to come. Watercolor and graphite illustrations from McKnight (Why We Dance), an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, incorporates glowing landscapes throughout this engaging account of prairie life. Back matter includes an author’s note and a history of the buffalo hunt. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. (Feb.)