Mii Maanda Ezhi-Gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know

PreS-Gr 1--In this bilingual story, a girl and her grandmother observe their natural surroundings to determine the changing of the seasons. Written in Anishinaabemowin (the language of the Ojibwe) and English, Luby has crafted a story that highlights the natural stars of each season in the Great Lakes region. From loons, blueberries, and the buzzing insects of summer, to cattails, mushrooms, and migrating blackbirds in fall, from the snow, deer, and northern lights of winter to the thawing lake and nesting birds of spring, the seasons are known not by calendar dates but by the way nature responds to the changes in temperature and daylight. Each double page spread is first written in Anishinaabemowin and followed by Pawis-Steckley's illustrations in the Ojibwe Woodland style with heavy black lines and colorful images. The illustrations mimic the text, hiding animals and plants within the landscape, building a sense of wonder and fascination with the natural world. VERDICT Inviting readers into a beloved locale, this book is recommended for all picture book collections, especially those seeking more titles highlighting Indigenous people, their languages, and their artwork.--Lia Carruthers, Gill St. Bernard's Sch., Gladstone, NJ