(1) K-3 Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere. Illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. A lyrical text written in Anishinaabemowin and English tells about the journey of a seed and of an ecosystem. "A seed is a story you can hold in your hand." The mnoomin seed travels first in the waterways, where it remembers Mayfly, who fed Pike, "who in turn nourished the earth below"; Eagle, who makes sure Muskrat does not eat "more than the field could bear"; and Moose, who "uproots crowding plants" by walking through the water. When the seeds sprout in the water, their leaves provide hiding places for small fish and protection for Duck and her ducklings on shore. Luby's reverent text then describes the traditional method of harvesting what grows. The winnowed grains are danced upon, washed, roasted, and eaten. Some are stored, and some sown for future harvest. Pawis-Steckley's vibrant color palette captures the hues of sunlight throughout the story as well as the lush flora and fauna and the warmth of the human interactions. Notes about the balance of the ecosystem and about the book's use of language are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. With Nancy K. Mays. One of the first Native women elected to Congress ("and the first lesbian representative from Kansas"), Davids tells her story in this affecting picture-book autobiography, which touches on generational trauma caused by the US government. Talking and listening (and a love for Bruce Lee and mixed martial arts!) help Davids in her quest to bring Native voices to Washington, DC. The stylized digital illustrations convey strength and pride in Davids's accomplishments and in Native identities. In addition to appended author and artist notes, a former president of the Ho-Chunk Nation writes powerfully about the Nation's perseverance and about its history from the 1800s to the present day.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Translated by Alan Corbiere. Illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. A child and their grownup experience the seasons together in this bilingual (Anishinaabemowin and English) picture book. The text follows a question-and-answer pattern. Each query rests on a double-page spread with loads of white space and a visual clue signaling the response to come. In the first spread, for example, a zoomed-in image of three blueberries rests on the verso page, while the following text appears on the recto: "Aaniish ezhi-gkendmaanh niibing? / How do I know summer is here?" The responses to each question include visceral, sensory-rich descriptions of how each season is experienced through the characters' observations and absorption into the natural world ("Pii pinion gaa-giizhiwaabidegin mgising / gzhaawngideg gewe negwiki." / "When blueberries drop readily, / and the sand is hot enough to sting"). Throughout, the gray-haired character is shown taking care of the child by preparing food, mending footwear, and more. The digital art, with its jewel tones and thick black outlines, at times resembles stained glass. Other spreads feature shadows and gradients beautifully depicting the aurora borealis, sunsets over water, and calming rays of winter sunshine streaming through a bedroom window. A warmhearted depiction of the seasons and intergenerational closeness.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021