Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes

by Wab Kinew, Joe Morse (Illustrator)

"We are a people who matter." Inspired by President Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing, Go Show the World is a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, featuring important figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington.

Celebrating the stories of Indigenous people throughout time, Wab Kinew has created a powerful rap song, the lyrics of which are the basis for the text in this beautiful picture book, illustrated by the acclaimed Joe Morse. Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not- so-widely recognized. Individually, their stories, though briefly touched on, are inspiring; collectively, they empower the reader with this message: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."

Genres: Picture Books, Indigenous, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Native American

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Wab Kinew was named by Postmedia News as one of “9 Aboriginal movers and shakers you should know.” He is the leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party and the 25th premier of Manitoba. Before that, he was the Associate Vice-President for Indigenous Relations at The University of Winnipeg and a correspondent with Al-Jazeera America.

After successfully defending Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda on CBC’s Canada Reads literary competition, he was named the 2015 host. In 2012, he also hosted the acclaimed CBC-TV documentary series 8th Fire. His hip-hop music and journalism projects have won numerous awards. He is a member of the Midewiwin, the Anishinaabe society of healers and spiritual leaders. Wab was also an Honourary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

He lives in Winnipeg with his family.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wab Kinew sings about some incredible indigenous people, and the illustrations beautifully support the people and the recurring refrain of "You are people who matter, Yes, it's true."

[Sondra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be good at the end of a unit to review some important figures. Maybe at the beginning to help decide who to research further. Beautiful artwork. I wanted more detail.

[Leslie Basky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book sharing a message of hope and empowerment to all Indigenous people.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book honours remarkable indigenous people from Canada and the United States. This sampling includes both historical as well as modern individuals.
The rhyming text didn’t quite work for me, but I love the refrain, “You’re a person who matters. Yes, it’s true. Now go show the world what a person who matters can do.”
The backmatter includes a note by the author as well as short biographies of the highlighted hero’s.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and showcase of First Nations figures that doesn't sound like a stern lecture but rather feels more flowing and natural in narrative pacing and wording.

[HadiDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to talk/book launch at the TPL with Wab Kinew and Joe Morse ... and bought two copies of this: one for my niece and one for myself. It's gorgeous book, great illustrations and a wonderful refrain. There's short bios of every person in the back and nice to see that both indigenous women and men are fairly represented.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. Very powerful words and imagery. I didn't think I would have been moved by this, but the message was so full of pride and heart that I felt I could weep. All walks of life have Indigenous heroes been in our history in Canada and it was showcased well. Each person even has a write up in the back of their history and roles.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the positive message, and the illustrations are interesting and unique, but the text is kind of awkward and just barely skates over each person it mentions without giving many details.

[Gail Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love the text, but the info and pictures were great. There's a neat section in the back to give more bio info on the people mentioned in the book.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wab's natural ability for prose shines brightly in this celebration of Indigenous achievements. He includes role models, from the historical to the contemporary, from the well known to the should-be-well-known. Sacajawea, Tecumseh, Jim Thorpe, Carey Price. And a huge shout out for including Beatrice Mosionier, the author of In Search of April Raintree. Wab wraps his short stanzas with the concept that all of us in North America have been and continue to be influenced by the lives of Indigenous people. Five glowing stars for this motivational children's book.

[Laura]

Inspiring and relevant to modern times, yet easily weaves in historical figures. Spans across nations and cultures without collapsing difference. The art is fantastic and importantly portrays each person differently. The rhymes will keep the attention of children.
Recommended for children 4 - 9.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Showcasing Indigenous heroes from Canada and the United States is an informational book for children, grades 3-5. Songwriter, Wab Kinew has created a rap song and the lyrics from that popular song are the text for this book. There are well known heroes like: Crazy Horse, astronaut John Herrington, NHL goalie Carey Price as well as lesser known individuals. The illustrations by Joe Morse are so realistic that you believe that they are almost photographs! At the end of the book, more detailed information is given about each of the heroes. This book was on the USBBY Outstanding International Book list for 2019.

[Anna Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this for my niece and nephew- lovely illustrations by Joe Morse and the poem is one of hope and rememberance of some notable Indigenous people. Love the biographies at the end that go into more detail about each person named in the poem

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, excellent intro to Native Americans some children might not have heard of before, beautiful illustrations

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important and wonderful book. Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes is a beautiful, colourful, illustrated look into some Indigenous heroes from both past and present.
Spanning history, sports, culture and science, the book introduces us to Indigenous people who have paved the way/made a difference. Not only wonderful for Indigenous children to see their own people reflected in a positive light, but informative for everyone.

The illustrations are drawn with colour and strong lines, and match the rhythmic prose.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to expand my world by seeking out nonfiction titles from publishers outside of the U.S. Came across this title because it made the 2019 Outstanding International Books list for USBBY.

The author, Wab Kinew, is member of the indigenous group Midewin, an activist and politician, and lives in Canada. He is also musician (rap/hip hop) and you can watch him sing versions of this song on YouTube.

The book references indigenous people who are "heroes" (past and present) for all communities. Some of the figures will be recognized by children (Sacagawea & Jim Thorpe), but many will not be. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce students to unfamiliar, heroic figures and ask the question that Kinew asks in his book, "You're a person who matters. So what will you do?"

Some suggestions for an interactive read aloud:
*find a video of Kinew singing a version of this to introduce students to the author and his music (watch in advance because there are some versions that are more appropriate than others)
*read the book aloud for the joy of it
*if you can, project it and ask students to read along with you; it's poetic and best read aloud
*define "hero" for the students in kid-friendly terms so they can use this definition to explain and elaborate on their understanding of the text
*read aloud, stopping to ask questions like--
-Why do you think Kinew chose this figure to include? What in the text makes you think so? What can you infer (using your prior knowledge about what it means to be a hero)?
-How do Morse's illustrations support the idea that this person is heroic?
-What are questions you have about this figure?
-What is the role of the title "go show the world" in this book? How is this connected to Kinew's introduction to these historic figures?

A lot of potential. Would be a great book for small groups to lean in and read together and discuss. Lots of room for written responses as well.

Don't skip the author's note at the end. Reveals themes that are woven into text and illustrations. There are also short bios about each of the figures - worthy of reading aloud to students.

This would also be a good mentor text or launch for writers in a workshop setting. What are other historic figures we can add to this book? How would you reveal their heroism in just a few lines of poetry with an illustration? PLUS Kinew, himself, is a hero--why might we think of him as a hero? How could we add him to this song?

[Vickie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the people he includes but i did not care for the rhymes.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won an advance review copy of this book from LibraryThing.

This book is a fantastic example of children's nonfiction. Highly recommended! The text and artwork complement each other beautifully. I especially like that there's a mix of indigenous role models from various time periods and across North America. Often works like this focus on glorious days of ol' but not much of the recent history. It can leave kids feeling like there's nothing great about indigenous cultures now, which is unfortunate. No problem with that here. The back of the book contains short biographies if you, like me, needed a refresher or didn't know who all the people mentioned were/are.

The book includes:
* Sacagawea
* Jim Thorpe
* Sue LaFlesche Picotte
* Beatrice Mosionier
* Francis Pegahmagabow
* Te-Wau-Zee
* Evan Adams
* John Herrington
* Carey Price
* Waneek Horn-Miller
* Tecumseh
* Crazy Horse
* Net-no-kwa
* the many unnamed people fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline

"We are people who matter.
Yes, it's true.
Now let's show the world what people who matter can do."

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lyrics of Wab Kinew’s rap song form the text of this book, illustrated by Joe Morse, that celebrates inspiring Indigenous people past and present, both Canadian and American. I’m sure you’ve heard of NHL goalie Carey Price, but have you ever heard of Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte? Or Francis Pegahmagabow? Or Waneek Horn-Miller? Despite being stabbed by a soldier’s bayonet during the Oka crisis, this Mohawk woman won a gold medal for Canada at the 1999 Pan Am games. Pegahmagabow was the most highly decorated First Nations soldier in Canadian military history, being the most effective sniper of the First World War. Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte (1865-1915), an Omaha woman, was one of the first Indigenous physicians at a time when few women were doctors. I knew nothing about these three individuals, and others, before reading Kinew’s book. Highly recommended.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, Wab Kinew writes of native figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington. He's done it in a rap song, with this message used as a refrain as each person takes his or her place in the book: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do." The illustrated paintings by Joe Morse also celebrate these people page by wonderful page. It includes figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not-so-widely recognized. The brief bios inspire and additional information and portraits are included in the back.

[Abbiesworldofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of Go Show the World by Wab Kinew in exchange for a honest review.

I’m so happy I was given a chance to review this book! The illustrations are beautiful and each page is filled with the stories of so many different Indigenous Heroes. From Sacagawea who healed Lowis and Clark when they were almost dead; to Dr. Evan Adams who lives his life as the chief medical officer for his hospital while also being an actor. I can’t wait to have my teaching degree so I can share it with all my future students!

[Chels Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted very much to like this book, but like Obama’s children book I flung the proses very choppy and an after thought to the refrain (which I very much loved.) it’s just a little off beat when reading it you almost have to read back. It losses if you are meant to be like those noted or a history lesson on them. The illustrations are amazing! So much detail, watch the shadows they are inspired! I feel it could have been better with an edit or two.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story in rhyme about indiginous heroes and heroines. My only beef is some of my heroes are missing: E. Pauline Johnson, Chief Dan George, Shetland Watt-Cloutier, Graham Greene, Richard Wagamese. I could go on, but I guess a picture book doesn't allow for an in depth review.
Recommended.

[Barbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring look at heroes from the Indigenous People. Thirteen short but poignant biographies along with bold illustrations bring to life each unique and important historical story. A wonderful book for young readers from every walk of life to contemplate what makes a hero.

[Wayne Inkster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, as it is a children's picture book. Kinew did a great job to identify and celebrating Indigenous leaders, heroes and role models. Set in poetic form, this book guides the reader into brief glimpses of amazing Indigenous individuals, past and present. Beautifully illustrated as well.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like a catalog of successful or influential indigenous people. None of them individually are presented in enough depth to stand out from the others, and there's an odd transition to the future that seems misplaced in the flow. But still, great concept and enjoyable illustrations.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful premise but who is this book for - where are great indigenous Canadians like Tom Longboat or Buffy Sainte-Marie? Cindy Blackstock?

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is drawn so creepy. Why.