Children's Fiction Native Canadian
Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One
- Publisher
- Arsenal Pulp Press
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2022
- Category
- Native Canadian, General, Girls & Women
- Recommended Age
- 3 to 8
- Recommended Grade
- p to 3
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781551528892
- Publish Date
- Oct 2022
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
In this beautifully illustrated book, a determined young Anishnaabe girl in search of adventure goes on a transformative journey into a forest on her traditional territory. She is joined by a chorus of her ancestors in red dresses, who tell her they remember what it was like to be carefree and wild, too. Soon, though, the girl is challenged by a monster named Hate, who envelops her in a cloud of darkness. She climbs a mountain to evade the monster, and, with the help of her matriarchs and the power of Thunderbird, the monster is held at bay. Together the young girl and her ancestors beat their drums in song and support, giving the girl the confidence she needs to become a changemaker in the future, capable of fending off any monster in her way.
Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One is a moving and powerful book about Indigenous resistance and ancestral connection.
About the authors
Willie Poll is a proud Metis author from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who who has spent the last ten years working in Indigenous education. She is very passionate about supporting Indigenous youth to reach their dreams and reclaim their power. Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One is her first book.
Chief Lady Bird is an Anishinaabe artist/illustrator from Rama First Nation. She graduated from OCADU in 2015 with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Indigenous Visual Culture. She is the illustrator of Nibi's Water Song by Sunshine Tenesco and has illustrated for Audible, Vice, and Twitter, among others.
Awards
- Short-listed, Indigenous Voices Award
Editorial Reviews
In this empowering picture book, themes of family and transformation are enhanced by Chief Lady Bird's beautiful illustrations. -Quill and Quire
From the lovely florals to the thunderbird and ribbon skirts, [Chief Lady Bird's] stunning artwork speaks to Anishnaabe culture throughout ... This is a wonderful read for children and their families that demonstrates the power of ancestral connection, strength, resistance, and resilience. -Quill and Quire (STARRED REVIEW)
