Reviewed by Jean Mendoza
Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature
Book Author: Nancy Cooper
This is a short-and-sweet review of a cool picture book from the shelves of one of my favorite local places, the Urbana Free Library in Urbana, Ilinois. It’s a pleasure to know they offer some of the most current books by and about Indigenous people.
Here’s what the publisher, Owl Kids, says about Biindigen!:
It’s a special day for Amik the beaver and her little sister, Nishiime. Their cousins are coming to visit! Amik is excited, but Nishiime feels nervous about meeting new people, and when the cousins finally arrive, Nishiime disappears.
Lively, immersive illustrations show Amik and her cousins as they search the woods for Nishiime. Each creature they encounter, introduced to readers using their Anishinaabe names, reveals how beavers help the forest community. A fish thanks them for digging canals in the mud that they swim through. A deer thanks the beavers for cutting down trees so they can reach the tastiest leaves. None of the creatures have seen Nishiime, but keen-eyed kids will have spotted her hiding in the background throughout the story . . . . With the perfect blend of fact and fun, this salute to the industrious beaver is also an energetic celebration of Indigenous perspectives, languages, and diversity.
Reason #1 to recommend this book: the illustrations. AICL has reviewed several books illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, including Sharice’s Big Voice. Readers will notice differences in how Pawis-Steckley approaches the subjects in each of the books. In Biindigen!, the animals’ bodies have some of the stylized lines and forms seen in Boozhoo! Hello!, but they have a somewhat different “feel.” They are plump, sleek, and lively-looking. And it’s fun looking for Nishiime after she vanishes from her sister’s sight. Continue reading on American Indians in Children’s Literature.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our American Indians booklist.
Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome by Nancy Cooper
Published by Owlkids Books Incorporated on November 23, 2024
Genres: American Indians First Nations Metis Inuit
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9781771475150
Review Source: American Indians in Children's Literature
Publisher's Synopsis:
Busy beavers have a family reunion in this story that celebrates Indigenous perspectives.
It's a special day for Amik the beaver and her little sister, Nishiime. Their cousins are coming to visit! Amik is excited, but Nishiime feels nervous about meeting new people, and when the cousins finally arrive, Nishiime disappears.
Lively, immersive illustrations show Amik and her cousins as they search the woods for Nishiime. Each creature they encounter, introduced to readers using their Anishinaabe names, reveals how beavers help the forest community. A fish thanks them for digging canals in the mud that they swim through. A deer thanks the beavers for cutting down trees so they can reach the tastiest leaves. None of the creatures have seen Nishiime, but keen-eyed kids will have spotted her hiding in the background throughout the story.
Eventually, Nishiime returns to the group, having overcome her shyness by learning an important lesson: despite being from different places, the beavers are all united by the ways they support the forest ecosystem. With the perfect blend of fact and fun, this salute to the industrious beaver is also an energetic celebration of Indigenous perspectives, languages, and diversity.
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