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missyp's review
4.0
A delightful picture book explaining through the voice of a child an important annual observance of the Sts’alies People. The story takes place 1,000 years ago in NW United States/SW Canada (”near the Harrison River”) where Sts’alies People live today. The story is fairly matter-of-fact explanation of life in the Sts’alies community a millennium ago, bookended by a contemporary boy wondering about going back in time. The highlight for me is the cartoon-like illustration; the drawings are slightly naive, but also detailed; friendly, but not silly or demeaning. Another asset is that this non-fiction picture book is not too dense for use as a read-aloud. One immediate question I have when reading a book representing the history of previously (and/or currently) marginalized people is whether the depiction is authentic and respectful. While author/illustrator doesn't indicate that he is part of this community, the book concludes with a letter from Chief William Charlie of the Sts’alies People, stating that the books is “based on careful research” and is “respectfully executed.”
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