Forever Our Home / kâkikê kîkinaw

by Tonya Simpson, Carla Joseph (Illustrator), JEAN OKIMÂSIS (Translator)

★ “This solemn and serene volume should be considered a first purchase. Essential for most collections, and with its wildlife-centric art, it’s also a perfect read-aloud for Earth Day.”― School Library Journal , starred review A lullaby of reconciliation and reclamation, celebrating the ancestral relationship between Indigenous children and the land that is forever their home. Under glowing morning sun and silvery winter moon, from speckled frogs croaking in spring to summer fields painted with fireweed, this meditative lullaby introduces little ones to the plants and animals of the Prairies and the Plains. Written in both Plains Cree and English and featuring stunning artwork by celebrated artist Carla Joseph, Forever Our Home / kâkikê kîkinaw is a beautiful and gentle song about our spiritual connection to the land.

Genres: Picture Books, Indigenous, Nature, Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying in the children’s section of the library, YOU are

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really loving the influx of children's books that are including Native language [as well as imagery and customs and culture]; seeing the Cree language in print is very cool, and an experience for a non-Native that, while cool, is also educational. I only wish that I knew how to pronounce the words!!

This is a gorgeously illustrated book [the pictures practically leap off the page and the colors are amazing] about what is in our home [and what we consider home] and how we belong [and need to take care of all that we see as home]; perfect for littles who love a soothing story [this was originally a lullaby that the author made for her child] and perfect for bedtime. It is also the perfect book for introducing your little to a different culture and language [which is so important].

Well done!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tonya Simpson, Carla Joseph - Illustrator, Jean Okimasis - Translator, and Orca Book Publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ryan Laferney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gentle picture-book lullaby written by Tonya Simpson. It's a celebration of the plants and animals of the Prairies. Having spent time in the praries out West this book reminded me of their beauty. This book is also a meditation on the sacred, ancestral connections between Indigenous children and their Traditional Territories. And it calls all us non-indigenous individuals to remember to respect the land and one another. The text is tender and sweet, the way a lullaby should be and the arcylic paintings by Carla Joseph expresses the natural beauty of the Prairies in a stunning fashion. Both the author and illustator share Cree ancestry.

[Mia Martinez]

This book was so pretty and easy to read. The illustrations look painted onto the pages. Also the sentences rhyme and are small to they're easy to read and understand. I love how this books sends a message about appreciating nature and your surroundings and also being proud of it as well. Tonya Simpson is of Scottish and Cree ancestry and it apart of Pasqua First Nation. Her message through this book is very clear and targets all children first grade and older. This book would be great to use within a social studies lesson or a lesson diving into nature. I love how this book has many levels to the story and look of the book.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where the morning sun glows and the tiger lily grows. Where the young bucks still roam, this, my baby, is your home." So begins a beautiful lullaby of the author (a Native American from the Cree tribe) sung to her child. The illustrations are soft and lovely and pair wonderfully with the text. The illustrator is also Cree.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief summary: This is a beautiful and touching lullaby honoring the prairie plants and animals while connecting them to the sacred spirit of the land to where the child and mother belong.

Comments: Illustrations are with acrylics and truly capture the Ingenious children enjoying the nature around them.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a celebration of home. The cover art describes the tone of the story well as the book is about being raised in nature. I enjoyed this and think it would be a great, gentle book for young readers/listeners

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this book about the land we call home


I read a digital advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher

[Bevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork and the translation of the story really played off each other well and made for a lovely story.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really sweet and a good gentle read-aloud about nature, conservation, and indigenous peoples.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the most wonderful illustrations <3

[Tera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book teaching the importance of the natural world. Great for storytime!

[Y.Poston]

delightful exploration of the earth
and its inhabitants

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful pictures, shows seasons and wildlife.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely picture book with gorgeous illustrations and lyrical words.

As a history/social studies nerd, I do wish, though, that there was some back matter about the Cree.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the exploration of home and prairie flora and fauna. I enjoyed the images of multiple generational families living on the land and with each other.

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little hippy, a little eco-is more important.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning artwork capturing the spirit of love in this warm lullaby book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating their ancestral home, a young mother takes her children walking over land, telling them of all the wonders of their world. Written in poetry, and both English and Cree, she tells of the foxes, eagles, fireweed, and more, plus that it is the place for their spirits to "feel" their ancestors as they pass by. Rendered in gorgeous paintings by Carla Joseph, reading aloud and "walking" along with this family is a special pleasure, and will be most wonderful to introduce the history of the Cree's original native lands of the prairies and the plains. This is Tonya Simpson's first picture book and she says it was originally written as a lullaby for her son. The text is presented and translated into Cree by Jean Okimasis. All three women live in Canada where the book was published. I'm grateful that my library had a copy!

[Kristofer Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever Our Home is a wonderful picture book with vivid and evocative artwork. This is the story of an indigenous mother showing her daughter their native land or Traditional Territories. The book features illustrations of sweeping landscapes and nature. The mother is highlighting the importance of being connected to one’s land, it is a wonderful message. A line from the book is illustrative of this, as the mother points to a beautiful tree and says, “this is where your spirit can feel your ancestors as they pass by” (Simpson, 2023).

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like taking in a breath of fresh air. I was really having a horrible day before reading this book and now I feel that my heart has healed, and things aren't so bad. I can close my eyes and imagine the fireweed, eagles, and wind of my childhood and feel at ease. Thank you to the author and illustrator for this beautiful gift.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to see books like this! This wonderful story of what home really means is written in both Plains Cree and English. As an American I think it is my responsibility to support indigenous people in any way I can: so much was unfairly taken from their ancestors. Books like this give me hope that indigenous children will learn more about their rich culture.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher

[OjoAusana · Rating 5 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Great book! love that there are more and more of these books on netgalley!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful in words and illustrations. I love the addition of the Cree words, but longed for help with pronunciation. I'll have to look online to see if a resource is out there.

[Steph]

Turn/Level: B/2.5

Home, Nature, Native American Author

A poem written to a child describing their native homeland. Both creators are Native American.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially gorgeous art, and the message is meaningful and wonderful too

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple but the Cree language gives it that something extra.

[Ms. Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish more books were published in multiple languages. This is a sweet book that describes home with so much love.