Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know
Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin'igning / A Book about the Seasons
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An Anishinaabe child and her grandmother explore the natural wonders of each season in this lyrical, bilingual story-poem.
In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings.
We accompany them through warm summer days full of wildflowers, bees and blueberries, then fall, when bears feast before hibernation and forest mushrooms are ripe for harvest. Winter mornings begin in darkness as deer, mice and other animals search for food, while spring brings green shoots poking through melting snow and the chirping of peepers.
Brittany Luby and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley have created a book inspired by childhood memories of time spent with Knowledge Keepers, observing and living in relationship with the natural world in the place they call home - the northern reaches of Anishinaabewaking, around the Great Lakes.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
About this Author
Brittany Luby, of Anishinaabe descent, was raised on Treaty #3 lands in what is now known as northwestern Ontario. She is an assistant professor of history at the University of Guelph and an award-winning researcher who seeks to stimulate public discussion of Indigenous issues through her work. Her debut picture book, Encounter, illustrated by Michaela Goade, received wide acclaim. Brittany currently lives on Dish with One Spoon Territory.
Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is an Ojibwe Woodland artist and a member of Wasauksing First Nation. His work aims to reclaim and promote traditional Ojibwe stories and teachings in a contemporary Woodland style. He works mainly in acrylics, digital illustration and screen-printing and has had several solo art exhibitions across Turtle Island. This is his first picture book. Joshua spends his time living between Vancouver and Wasauksing First Nation.
Reviews
Inviting readers into a beloved locale, this book is recommended for all picture book collections, especially those seeking more titles highlighting Indigenous people, their languages, and their artwork. STARRED REVIEW
Luby subtly shows that asking how a child knows a season has changed ... creates a more personalized, meaningful learning experience. STARRED REVIEW
A warmhearted depiction of the seasons and intergenerational closeness.
Highly recommended for home, school and public libraries as a lovely story, but also as an introduction to Indigenous worldview and the Anishinaabemowin language.
Brittany Luby's (Anishinaabe) exceptional text is perfectly complemented by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley's (Ojibwe) gorgeous art.
In this lyrical, bilingual story, a grandmother's knowledge reveals wonders.
[A] triumph of art, literal and graphic.
[H]ighly recommended for being a simple and charming tool to teach and learn about various forms of Indigenous knowledge: language, artwork, and traditional ways of learning and knowing.
A powerful story that models how to build love and respect for the land and environment.
[B]oth a celebration of the seasons and a close look at the natural world.
The story reveals the love they have for nature and for each other.
[D]istinct, clean lines and appealing use of colour.
Aimed at younger readers but a pleasant read for anyone.
If the product is in stock at the store nearest you, we suggest you call ahead to have it set aside for you, or you may place an order online and choose in-store pickup.
