by David A. Robertson; illustrated by Julie Flett
About the Book
A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As the girl asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.
Type of text: Inspired by true events and experiences; Narrative; Picturebook
About the Creators
David A. Robertson (he/him) is a Swampy Cree writer for children and adults, a podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. An educator and a member of Norway House Cree Nation, he currently lives in Winnipeg and is the author of more than 25 books for young readers.
Julie Flett is a Cree–Métis author, illustrator, and artist who has received numerous awards for her work in children’s literature centered around the life and cultures of Indigenous people living in Canada. She is also known for her advocacy work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighborhood with Indigenous youth and other community members, and is actively involved in efforts to preserve and share Indigenous languages among English-speaking populations. Many of her books are bilingual, and written in a combination of English, Michif, and Cree, and serve as an introduction to Michif and Cree for English-speaking readers.
Note: These descriptions include self-identifiers provided directly by the author, illustrator, and/or publisher via email; they also contain information made publicly available (e.g., through professional websites, interviews, etc)
