anna_pereira24's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the illustrations more than the prose. Sometimes I didn't feel the prose flowed smoothly... but that might just be me.
becandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Note: I was provided a copy of the audiobook for review, which I read without access to the physical book.
I would have loved to have had access to the physical copy of this children's story. It is not surprising that I missed a large portion of the storytelling aspect with this publication originally being a picture book. However, even without the visual experience, I was able to easily grasp the beautiful way in which this important message was presented.
A story about the Indigenous history of protecting the environment and presenting this cause as something that should be undertaken by all, it is told in a moving way. The parallels between First Nation story-telling and the reality of oil pipelines (or the "black snake") were stark - difficult to ignore for older readers but easy to grasp for younger readers alike.
The inclusion of author narrative about the picture book's story and an interactive water protector pledge, makes the audiobook a great addition to what I have no doubt is a gorgeous physical book.
I would have loved to have had access to the physical copy of this children's story. It is not surprising that I missed a large portion of the storytelling aspect with this publication originally being a picture book. However, even without the visual experience, I was able to easily grasp the beautiful way in which this important message was presented.
A story about the Indigenous history of protecting the environment and presenting this cause as something that should be undertaken by all, it is told in a moving way. The parallels between First Nation story-telling and the reality of oil pipelines (or the "black snake") were stark - difficult to ignore for older readers but easy to grasp for younger readers alike.
The inclusion of author narrative about the picture book's story and an interactive water protector pledge, makes the audiobook a great addition to what I have no doubt is a gorgeous physical book.
Note: Review copy (audiobook) received from Libro.FM. This does not impact opinions within this review.
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Happy reading! ❤
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
Lindstrom (Anishinaabe/Metis descent) and Goade (Tlingit descent) collaborate here to tell a powerful story of Native American conservation and resilience. With a child as the main protagonist, she recounts a prophecy of the 'black snake' who would come to destroy all in its path; much like the American oil pipelines on Native land (a link here to the 2016 Standing Rock protest).
Lindstrom's call is poetic in form and placed powerfully throughout with a fine editorial hand in making sure phrases and moments act as a strong call-to-arms whilst Goade's double-page spread illustrations lend a sense of water-colour manipulated in photoshop - taking you closer to the main character and inviting the reader to stand by her side.
Rich in symbolism and language, it calls for young people to become stewards of the land, binding us all through water, the life-giver, and the Earth: it is a story for us all led by the people who have always been 'stewards of the Earth'. A passionate call to action for us all with a useful author's & illustrator's note and glossary.
Lindstrom's call is poetic in form and placed powerfully throughout with a fine editorial hand in making sure phrases and moments act as a strong call-to-arms whilst Goade's double-page spread illustrations lend a sense of water-colour manipulated in photoshop - taking you closer to the main character and inviting the reader to stand by her side.
Rich in symbolism and language, it calls for young people to become stewards of the land, binding us all through water, the life-giver, and the Earth: it is a story for us all led by the people who have always been 'stewards of the Earth'. A passionate call to action for us all with a useful author's & illustrator's note and glossary.
laleha's review against another edition
5.0
I'm supposed to be focusing on why I think this book won the Caldecott Award, but the story tugs at my heart almost as much as the stunning artwork.
This is one of the most visually stunning books I have ever experienced. At the library, after slipping the book from the shelf with no knowledge about it except that it won the 2021 Caldecott and that its title sounded Native, I opened to the second illustration spread. Waters in shades of blue-green flow into a deepening blue, dappled with stars. Over this is a red and purple waning crescent moon containing floral motifs based on Ojibwe patterns. Inside the moon's empty space is a spherical halo in the deepest shades of blues, awash in stars. Within moon's horns is an illustration of an expectant mother, mostly in silhouette, her long hair and the developing child within her illuminating white against the dark sky. From the moon's lower horn, cradling the pregnant woman's swollen abdomen, grow more floral patterns.
The accompanying text reads, "We come from water. It nourished us inside our mother's body. As it nourishes us here on Mother Earth. Water is sacred..."
Why can't humanity heed the cautionary tale about protecting our Mother?
This is one of the most visually stunning books I have ever experienced. At the library, after slipping the book from the shelf with no knowledge about it except that it won the 2021 Caldecott and that its title sounded Native, I opened to the second illustration spread. Waters in shades of blue-green flow into a deepening blue, dappled with stars. Over this is a red and purple waning crescent moon containing floral motifs based on Ojibwe patterns. Inside the moon's empty space is a spherical halo in the deepest shades of blues, awash in stars. Within moon's horns is an illustration of an expectant mother, mostly in silhouette, her long hair and the developing child within her illuminating white against the dark sky. From the moon's lower horn, cradling the pregnant woman's swollen abdomen, grow more floral patterns.
The accompanying text reads, "We come from water. It nourished us inside our mother's body. As it nourishes us here on Mother Earth. Water is sacred..."
Why can't humanity heed the cautionary tale about protecting our Mother?
officialgrittynhl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jecoats's review against another edition
4.0
I discovered this picturebook while searching for winners of the Caldecott Medal (which this book was awarded in 2021) on Goodreads. I checked out a physical copy from my local library.
This is a tale about the importance of water, and how it is necessary that all of us help protect this sacred resource. Set against the backdrop of indigenous views about nature and the interconnectedness of all living things, We Are Water Protectors is a story of protecting Mother Earth and turning humanity away from the forces that threaten all life on the planet.
While this may at first seem like a didactic text, I have grown to appreciate Carole Lindstrom’s direct and unapologetic take on water pollution and environmentalism. Although much of the language of the book uses indigenous lore to tell the story, Lindstrom is not mincing her words. Her stance is that oil pollution is extremely harmful and we must fight for the survival of the planet.
Michaela Goade’s artwork in We Are The Water Protectors is absolutely gorgeous. She uses bold lines to give every object shape and weight on the page. The saturated colors make every image vibrant and eye-catching. There is also a superb level of detail in each illustration, from the tiny floral print on a character's dress to the feathers of a hummingbird, that captures the wonder and beauty of the natural world.
While there are certainly some aspects of We Are Water Protectors that can act as both a mirror and a window, such as the indigenous beliefs depicted in the narrative, this aspect is not as pronounced as it has been in other picture books I have read. However, I feel that this is still an important title in that regard because the book seems to lovingly and accurately portray various aspects of indigenous beliefs. Since books written by and about indigenous people compose such a small percentage of children's books, titles such as this can really help our indigenous students feel seen and welcomed in our classrooms.
This is a tale about the importance of water, and how it is necessary that all of us help protect this sacred resource. Set against the backdrop of indigenous views about nature and the interconnectedness of all living things, We Are Water Protectors is a story of protecting Mother Earth and turning humanity away from the forces that threaten all life on the planet.
While this may at first seem like a didactic text, I have grown to appreciate Carole Lindstrom’s direct and unapologetic take on water pollution and environmentalism. Although much of the language of the book uses indigenous lore to tell the story, Lindstrom is not mincing her words. Her stance is that oil pollution is extremely harmful and we must fight for the survival of the planet.
Michaela Goade’s artwork in We Are The Water Protectors is absolutely gorgeous. She uses bold lines to give every object shape and weight on the page. The saturated colors make every image vibrant and eye-catching. There is also a superb level of detail in each illustration, from the tiny floral print on a character's dress to the feathers of a hummingbird, that captures the wonder and beauty of the natural world.
While there are certainly some aspects of We Are Water Protectors that can act as both a mirror and a window, such as the indigenous beliefs depicted in the narrative, this aspect is not as pronounced as it has been in other picture books I have read. However, I feel that this is still an important title in that regard because the book seems to lovingly and accurately portray various aspects of indigenous beliefs. Since books written by and about indigenous people compose such a small percentage of children's books, titles such as this can really help our indigenous students feel seen and welcomed in our classrooms.