Our best books coverage continues with picture book author Patricia Morris Buckley.

On this episode of Fully Booked, Patricia Morris Buckley joins us to discuss To Walk the Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Heartdrum, January 28), one of Kirkus’ Best Books of 2025. “Buckley and Lewis pay tribute to the courage and perseverance of Iroquois steelworkers,” Kirkus writes in a starred review of this “awe-inspiring” informational picture book.

Buckley is a member of the Mohawk Nation and the author of the early-reader biography The First Woman Cherokee Chief: Wilma Pearl Mankiller. She is a regional advisor tothe Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a writing teacher. For many years, she worked as a journalist and children’s librarian. She lives in San Diego.

Here’s a bit more from our starred review of To Walk the Sky: “Known as ‘skywalkers’ for their ability to fearlessly balance on the beams of bridges under construction, the first of these laborers were Mohawks from the Caughnawaga reserve in eastern Canada. In the face of staggering economic oppression, skywalkers earned wages that enabled them to feed their families. Their achievements brought honor as well as heartbreak to their communities: first in 1907, when 33 Mohawk skywalkers were killed during the construction of a bridge across the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.…Today, Indigenous skywalkers—including women—continue this proud tradition of sky-high steel work.…By turns solemnly reverent and enthusiastic, Buckley’s elegant text will leave young people keenly aware of the historical and present-day significance of these groundbreaking workers, as well as their strength and resilience.”

Buckley tells listeners about her personal connection to the story of the 1907 Quebec Bridge disaster. She and I talk about the strength of the skywalkers and the historical significance of their contributions to projects across the continent, throughout time. We discuss E.B. Lewis’ gorgeous illustrations, the joys of working with an imprint that centers Native creators, and much more.

Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar joins us to discuss the making of this year’s best picture books list.

MAHNAZ’S PICKS:

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Cátia Chien (Clarion/HarperCollins)

Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz (Kokila)

Everybelly by Thao Lam (Groundwood)

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter/Holiday House)

Recess by Lane Smith (Abrams)

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer (Atheneum)

Jim!: Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors (Dial Books)

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila)

How Sweet the Sound by Kwame Alexander, illus. by Charly Palmer (Little, Brown)

Anything by Rebecca Stead, illus. by Gracey Zhang (Chronicle Books)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The History of Lightning by Anthony Dwanye Webb

Into the Gray Scale by Oge Mobuogwu

Maybe I’m Not God by Stefania Gander, trans. by Chiara Gastaldi

The Judgy Bunny by Gramma Sir

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.