Berry Song

A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. 

In Caldecott Medalist Goade's (We Are Water Protectors) solo debut, a Tlingit grandmother and her granddaughter celebrate the earth, foraging through the seasons "on an island at the edge of the wide, wild sea." Gently evocative, reiterative lines trace the grandmother teaching the child narrator to gather "slippery seaweed," catch "silvery salmon," and pick a wide variety of forest berries. When "the berries sing to us," the duo reciprocates in song ("Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry./ Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry"), so that "berry--and bear--know we are here." They also express their gratitude for the gift of life-sustaining food, sing for their ancestors and for the future, and seek to "take care of the land...// As the land takes care of us." Vivid, brilliant hues embolden lushly wrought, soft watercolor and mixed-media illustrations, painting a serene picture of nature and its many gifts in spreads that blur the lines between the landscape and the figures in it. Tapping into themes of people's connection to nature--and nature's to people--the volume crucially invites readers to recognize this intersection. An author's note contextualizes core Tlingit tenets discussed. Ages 4-8. Agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (July)

This book shares the foraging tradition of a young Tlingit girl and her grandmother living on an island off of the coast of Alaska. The grandmother teaches the young girl which berries to pick and how to say "Gunalchéesh," or give thanks. Told with rhythm to match the song, the duo sings as they pick berries ("Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry"). The author captures rich language to mirror the beauty of nature. A note cautions young foragers to research and use adult supervision, while the back matter includes a glossary of information on which berries are safe to gather. These additions make this picture book perfect for cross-disciplinary learning with science or social studies. VERDICT Goade calls upon her childhood memories and current home and shares important information about the beauty and utility of nature. Told in rhythm, song, and narrative, the language is rich and evocative—perfect for early elementary readers.—Tracey S. Hodges