★ 04/11/2022

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)

* "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."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Goade’s lush, brightly colored art vividly portrays the landscape."—Horn Book, starred review

“Berry Song may strike young readers as not quite like any picture book they've seen before."—Shelf Awareness

"Told in rhythm, song, and narrative, the language is rich and evocative—perfect for early elementary readers."—School Library Journal, starred review

★ 07/01/2022

PreS-Gr 1—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

This ode to the berry-rich land by Tlingit author and Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade finds its ideal narrator in Erin Tripp, who is Lingít Deisheetaan. Tripp's skill with the Tlingit language is matched by her feeling for the ebb and flow of Goade's English text. The audiobook opens with a recitation of the many different berries of Sitka, Alaska, in both Lingít and English and closes with Tripp's reading of the author's note, which describes the importance of berries and the land they grow on to her culture. In between, a child and grandmother go berrying, Tripp's voice cradling each word. The English names of the berries become a quietly prayerful refrain, punctuating the lyrical account and emphasizing both the land's profound bounty and the characters' respect for it. Sumptuous. V.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

★ 2022-01-25
A magical intergenerational story of gifts and cultural rituals shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter.

A Tlingit grandmother takes her young granddaughter to a nearby island for a berry-picking adventure in the forest. To alert the forest bear and the various types of berries that glow “like little jewels” of their presence, the pair sing a harvest song: “Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.” Grandma teaches the girl that “we speak to the land…as the land speaks to us,” and “we sing too, so the land knows we are grateful.” As they gather berries in the misty rain, they listen to the sounds of insect wings, inhale the sweet scent of cedar, and feel the soft moss on tree branches. Back at home, “the kitchen glows like a summer sky” as the girl, her grandmother, her father, and her younger sister make syrup, marmalade, jelly, jam, pie, and scones to share. When winter comes, the forest is described as “dreaming, waiting for berry song.” Seasons change, marking the passage of time and leading to a bittersweet, full-circle ending. This beautifully written story by Caldecott medalist/debut author Goade features breathtaking, atmospheric artwork inspired by the wild landscape of her hometown, Sheet’ká, Alaska, and incorporates rich symbolism and imagery from Tlingit culture. A closing author’s note elucidates sacred Tlingit principles mentioned in the story, and dazzling endpapers identify different berry varieties. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. (Picture book. 4-8)