Still This Love Goes on

"Sat beside a beaver dam and watched the winter grow/ Ice was hard with little tracks appearing on the snow." Taking as narrative lines the lyrics of the titular song by Cree activist and musician Buffy Sainte-Marie (Tâpwê and the Magic Hat), this ode to Indigenous culture and the deeply rooted experience of reservation life speaks to the experience of holding a place dear throughout life's seasons. Pastel, pencil, and digitally finished images by Cree-Métis artist Flett (We All Play) employ organic blocks of earth tones, depicting human figures as diminutive against changing natural landscapes: a child runs across a field of flowers, and a page-turn later, surveys a snow-covered expanse on snowshoes. Soon, word and image turn to another constant--"In every dream I can smell the sweetgrass burning/ And in my heart always hear the drum" attends visuals of jingle dancers and sweetgrass smoke--hinting at a love for and connection to home that "goes on and on." Back matter includes sheet music and an author's note that encourages readers to "think about the people and places you love most in your own life." Ages 3-7. (Sept.)

"Perfect for bedtime reading... [An] excellent option... for parents looking for something to read with their young children, and especially those looking for books by Indigenous authors."

—Quill & Quire

"Highly recommended. If Still This Love Goes On is not on your must-buy list yet, put it there right now. Better yet, order it, right now! ...A magnificent gift to us all.
—American Indians in Children's Literature

Praise for We All Play written and illustrated by Julie Flett

The Cree-Métis Flett pairs rhythmic alliterative verse about animals at play with repeating silhouettes of frolicking children to celebrate our interconnectedness.
—The New York Times

"Lively and beautifully illustrated."
—Horn Book STARRED REVIEW

"Cree-Métis artist Flett starts with quiet, elegant portraits of animals....In spare compositions, [she] aptly underlines [the kinship between animals and people] by showing animals and humans embracing play in similar ways."
—Publishers Weekly STARRED Review

"Everyone loves to play! Award-winning author/illustrator Flett shares the joyful antics of young animals as they romp in much the same way as human children. Simple text and bold, graphic illustrations celebrate our interconnection with the creatures who share our world."
—Kirkus STARRED Review

Praise for Birdsong written and illustrated by Julie Flett

AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE HONOR TITLE

"Flett's simple story explores the difficulties of moving but also shows young readers how new friends can sometimes ease them; that this friendship is an intergenerational one between fellow artists is an especially sweet touch ... Emotionally stunning."
—Kirkus STARRED Review

Simple and profound, this tender story is a reminder that finding a new friend can make a new place feel like home. Highly recommended for purchase.
—School Library Journal STARRED Review

Flett's subtle, sensitive story delicately traces filaments of growth and loss through intergenerational friendship, art making, and changing moons and seasons. Cree-Métis words (defined in a small glossary) add an intimate layer of identity to the child's lustrous narration, which shines against the spare beauty of rich illustrations by Flett (who is Cree-Métis)
—Publishers Weekly STARRED Review