SWIFT FOX ALL ALONG by Rebecca Thomas, illustrated by Maya McKibbin, and published by Annick Press: A very genuine story about a Mi'kmaq girl reconnecting with all the different parts of herself.

Swift Fox is being introduced to some of her Mi'kmaq family for the first time. But immediately she finds herself anxious--about identity, traditions, and fitting in. When her family goes to smudge, she panics, unsure of what to do and how to push through feeling distant. Eventually, Swift Fox conquers those feelings and finds pride and connection.

Part of what makes this book so heart-filled is the author's story about growing up off-reserve and wanting to connect with her culture, and the mixed feelings that come with that. As a white woman, this is so far from my experience. I am grateful for the author's reflection to teach me about that struggle to reclaim parts of herself.

The family that Maya McKibbin has illustrated has so much character - there are so many fun facial expressions in there, and when I saw Swift Fox's bandaid on the first page, I actually thought "Duh! Kids always have scrapes.. why are they not illustrated with bandaids more often?"

Recommended ages 4-7. A really thoughtful, new(ish) book published by Annick Press. I borrowed this book from the public library.

Themes: family, Mi'kmaq culture, tradition, confidence in yourself, growth mindset, fear

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