Bud Finds Her Gift

Noticing that “everyone always had something important” going on, young Bud tells Nokomis that she, too, wants to do something “big and important.” But her grandmother’s invitation to head outside at sunrise, where Nokomis gives thanks for the day’s many gifts, yields confusion: “Will we do the important thing soon?” Bud asks. “Nokomis laughed. This is the important thing, taking time for noticing and saying ‘thank you’ for all the gifts of the earth.” A day later, Bud goes outside solo to work on perceiving “with your eyes and ears and fingers” and heart, an effort that leads to deeper noticing: of birdsong, a robin, moss, and the robin’s droppings, each of which narrates a four-line paragraph (“Even bird poop is a gift for the berries”). And beyond offering thanks, Bud learns to consider what gifts she can offer as well. Gently conversational text from Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass), making her picture book debut, leans accessibly into themes of abundance, attentiveness, personal gifts, and reciprocity. Softly textured illustrations from Stoop (Mommy Love), which incorporate numerous species of fauna and flora, aptly capture Bud’s warm relationship with her grandmother and with the natural world. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note and further resources conclude. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Sarah Levitt, Aevitas Creative Management. Illustrator’s agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Sept.)