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Children's Fiction Native Canadian

Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Maskwa's Tipi Tales

by (author) Sita MacMillan

illustrated by Azby Whitecalf

Publisher
Annick Press
Initial publish date
Mar 2025
Category
Native Canadian, Bedtime & Dreams, Chapter Books, Friendship
Recommended Age
6 to 9
Recommended Grade
1 to 3
Recommended Reading age
6 to 9
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781773219509
    Publish Date
    Mar 2025
    List Price
    $10.99
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781773219493
    Publish Date
    Mar 2025
    List Price
    $24.99

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Description

Continue to celebrate Cree culture and being true to yourself in the second book in this vibrant new early chapter book series!

Sarah has spent the best summer visiting Kohkom and her best friend Eden in her home community, but it’s almost time to return to the city and back to school. Eden has been acting odd and distant the past few days, and Sarah can’t quite figure out why: when she finds a tipi surprise in Kohkom’s backyard that Eden has been keeping a secret, Sarah figures that must be the reason!

But as the girls prepare for one last sleepover of the summer, Sarah continues to feel butterflies growing in her tummy when she hears Eden speaking Cree. Eden knows so much more about the language and their culture than Sarah; could that be what’s creating distance between them? As the night goes on, a magical visit from Maskwa reminds the girls that their differences and their culture is what makes their friendship so special.

Sita MacMillan continues to explore topsy-turvy feelings of growing up as a young Indigenous person living away from their community, with magical illustrations from Azby Whitecalf that transport the reader into the forest once again with Sarah Ponakey.

Watch for Book 3, coming in Fall 2025!

About the authors

SITA MACMILLAN is a registered member of Zagime Anishinabek and is of mixed Cree and Scottish background. She has an Indigenous education degree and a masters in language and literacy education. She has taught in the K–12 classroom as well as a writing instructor at the college level prior to becoming a mother to three daughters. It was during early motherhood Sita struggled to find children’s books based on urban Indigenous living. This became the inspiration for her debut children's book series, Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher. She lives with her family in Prince Edward Island.

Sita MacMillan's profile page

Azby Whitecalf (they/them/theirs) is a Plains Cree character designer and illustrator based out of North Battleford, Saskatchewan in Treaty 6 Territory. A graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts, they hold a Bachelor Degree in Visual Communication (Character Design). Their artistic practice focuses on fun and exciting stories with memorable and unique characters, and they enjoy working with bright colours, strong contrast, and fun shapes. Azby is passionate about creating accurate and positive representation of Indigenous Peoples and cultures, as well as exploring how to portray Indigenous Peoples in a way that celebrates multidimensional identities.

Azby Whitecalf's profile page

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