A deeply moving exploration of community and human-animal connection.
The heroic tale of how an Ojibwe community protected a horse species on the brink of extinction.
One chilly night, two children at Lac La Croix First Nation—located in northwestern Ontario—struggle to sleep. The “buzz of aunties and uncles and cousins” fills the house; everyone is awake with anticipation. To soothe her grandchildren, Nookomis tells a story. Years ago, Ojibwe people and horses shared the land and forged a unique relationship. But the Canadian government considered wild ponies “a nuisance and a health hazard,” and by 1977, their numbers were reduced to a mere four. “We had to save them,” says Nookomis. “But how?” The community decided to capture the four horses and transport them across the frozen lake to Minnesota. Eventually, the herd’s numbers grew. The narrative comes full circle as we find out why the family is so excited; they’re starting a herd of their own and have been awaiting the arrival of six new horses. Whitecrow (Ojibwe/Dakota) and O’Connor have crafted a quiet yet enthusiastic tale that glides along beautifully. Their prose is simple yet enchanting, each well-chosen word imbued with emotion, building anticipation and drawing readers in. Using vibrant colors and pockets of light, Donovan (Métis) makes the night feel cozy. Illuminating details emphasize the community’s strength in its fight against the harmful government policies, as well as the younger generation’s care for the Ojibwe horse.
A deeply moving exploration of community and human-animal connection. (afterword) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781536229455
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
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