"Who am I?" a young girl asks her mom as she snuggles close. "You are the fire that burns and the eagle that soars. You are the oak tree and the wild rose," says momma. Written from an Indigenous perspective, Who Am I? tells the story of how we are all connected to our ancestors, our past and future, and the Earth--and how it is everyone's duty to fend off darkness, connect to the past, offer safety and shelter, and color the world with beauty. An Own Voices, Own Stories Grand Prize winner.

Julie Buchholtz is a proud member of the Bay Mills Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She is a former educator who currently works for Lake Superior State University Charter Schools. Julie lives with her husband, Larry, and their canine companions in Brimley, Michigan. In her spare time, she enjoys walking the shores of Lake Superior, making jewelry from items found along the beach, reading, writing, and practicing yoga.

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Aliya Ghare graduated from OCAD University, where she majored in illustration and minored in English, with the hope of combining the two disciplines to write and illustrate children’s picture books and graphic novels. She enjoys creating visually rich and poetic imagery, and exploring social and political issues, as well as human interest subjects, in her work. In addition to illustrating picture books, her illustrative works range from editorial to advertising, surface design and more. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration and Adobe, and has been awarded by and published in the Applied Arts and 3x3 magazines. Aliya lives in Toronto.

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This is an affirmational picture book, promoting pride in one’s heritage and the importance of stewardship for the Earth...Libraries looking to expand offerings by native authors will want to add this book.

Youth Services Book Review