Afloat
In this poetic tale, weaving serves as a metaphor for the way elders pass on cultural knowledge to younger generations and represents connectedness amid a changing environment. According to PW’s starred review, “This work by two Australian creators, Saunders—of Gunai heritage—and Blackwood, delves into themes of creating a future of balance and community with the natural world.”
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Brave
Alvitre, a Tongva/Scots-Gaelic comic book artist, has illustrated children’s books by Indigenous authors Traci Sorrell and Dan SaSuWeh Jones. In Alvitre’s first outing as author as well as artist, a boy is teased at school for his long braid and finds strength and support from his parents. His father shares stories about their ancestors, who persevered despite being forbidden from practicing their traditions, and assures the boy: “You are strong. You are brave. You are loved.”
Firefly Season
Seven-year-old Piper enjoys spending time with her elders and cousins in the Cherokee and Muscogee Nations—fishing, listening to stories, playing under the stars. She misses them when she returns home to Kansas City, and finds friendship with a new neighbor, four-year-old Sumi, whose family immigrated from India. Muscogee author and Heartdrum curator Smith teams up with Nipmuck illustrator Gardiner for a story of family, chosen and of origin.
My Friend May
Cree-Métis author-illustrator Flett’s warmhearted tale portrays two important relationships in young Margeaux’s life: with her cat, May, and with her nitôsis (auntie). When May goes missing as nitôsis is preparing to move to the city, the family searches everywhere for the minôs (cat), who turns up in a surprising place. A glossary details relevant Cree words.
Our Ancestors’ Kitchen
As Grandma teaches her grandchild how to prepare some of their family’s favorite dishes, each step evokes visions of traditional practices—hunting moose, gathering minoomin (wild rice), harvesting ashkibwaa (sunchokes). Poll, a registered member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, and David, an Indigenous artist from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, depict the way food nourishes and connects generations.
A.J. Eversole, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, contributed to the forthcoming story collection Legendary Frybread Drive-In (Heartdrum, Aug.).
