This Land Is a Lullaby

August 15, 2024
An Indigenous child falls asleep to the sacred sounds heard across the land. "This land is a lullaby your heart already knows. / You carry the song from a lifetime ago," begins this gentle story, narrated by a Native parent. Accompanied by Dumont's (Onion Lake Cree Nation) richly textured, pointillist images, Simpson's (Pasqua First Nation) simple rhymes offer an ode to the youngster's ancestral homeland, the prairie and plains. As the child drifts off to sleep each night, the animals, plants, rain, and spirits--all as much a part of the land as the Indigenous family itself-- create a tender symphony of care and connection. Laced with references, from the swirling grasses to the falling rain to the loon swimming beneath Grandmother Moon, the land's lullaby reminds the slumbering child that "you are a sacred wonder" who should always listen for "the song your ancestors sing just for you." These elements of the story are powerfully conveyed by Dumont's vivid illustrations, which depict, with luminous intensity, lightning striking, galloping horses, shimmering lakes, and the nighttime sky. The book's lexical simplicity and visual dynamism will engage even the youngest readers, providing a beautiful glimpse into the unbreakable bond between Indigenous people, their lands, and their ancestors who are still a part of them. Like a stirring song, this tale will move readers with its tranquil, reverent tone.(Picture book. 3-6)

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Starred review from September 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* An Indigenous child is lulled to sleep by the sights and sounds of a summer evening on the Plains. In warm, soothing language, a mother speaks to her infant, poetically describing their ancestral surroundings and reflecting on traditional Cree knowledge: "This land is a lullaby your heart already knows. / You carry the song from a lifetime ago. / It flows in your blood and echoes in your soul." Simpson's (Pasqua First Nation) lyrical text sings with resonance and meaning. During the "twilight serenade," owls hoot, coyotes howl, and thunder drums. As the "midnight melody" progresses, spirits dance in the night sky and watch over the slumbering child. Luxuriantly alive with glowing colors and textured patterns, Dumont's (Onion Lake Cree Nation) exquisite pointillist illustrations resemble three-dimensional beadwork. There's movement, connection, and reciprocity in the intricate nature scenes, such as the tranquil nighttime image of a loon swimming on a shimmering lake, looking up to the sky, "trading holy secrets with Grandmother Moon." This eloquent and insightful picture book, also available as a bilingual title with Plains Cree translation, honors the enduring relationship between a child, their ancestors, and the land.

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