A poem by acclaimed Ojibway author Richard Wagamese is reimagined as a stunning picture book in the skilled hands of Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Thoughtful, healing and hopeful, Canada is a testament to the transformative power of enduring identity and belonging.
"Listen. Can you hear the voices of the Old Ones speaking to you in a language you've forgotten?"
An Indigenous child struggles with a school assignment that asks, "What makes you proud to be Canadian?" To find the answer, they call on the strength of their ancestors. The ancestors' warm presence reminds them that we are in this together and we always have been — "every soul that has fallen head over heels in love with the spell of this country."
This powerful and timeless poem written by Richard Wagamese is seen through the eyes of an Indigenous child in the captivating illustrations by Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. As the poem speaks to a new generation of Indigenous children, it welcomes everyone to honor the past, find belonging here and now, and look toward the future in this place now called Canada.
Wonderful story overall and great for gifting
"I have read Wagamese's adult fiction, so I was intrigued to see how he would handle a story about Canada for children. And he does it well in a way that, for me, was not just poetic but a form of oral history. The repetition of the ""command"" listen actually made it feel more like a secret or a song. But ultimately, the illustration is what got me the most about this book. I loved the artwork and spent more of my time looking at the illustration than reading the story. I do think this would make a lovely gift for a new parent or to add to a child's collection. It's also perfect for a bedtime story or read aloud story time, and it gives enough fodder for discussing what it means to be Canadian and Indigenous in Canada. A lovely story. A beautiful book. Definitely recommend."
