The Song That Called Them Home

Inspired by Indigenous Turtle Island communities’ stories of the memekwesewak (“one of two humanoid races on Mother Earth,” per an author’s note), Cree author Robertson (On the Trapline) tells of two children’s harrowing adventure with the mischievous beings. Heading on a summertime “trip to the land with their moshom,” siblings Lauren and James, portrayed with brown skin, become hungry and seek to catch a fish when Moshom naps after their arrival. But the canoe drifts from the shore due to Lauren’s inexperience, and memekwesewak soon overturn the vessel, spiriting James through a waterfall and to their hidden world. Lauren courageously follows, finding the land of the memekwesewak and joining James in an entrancing fireside song and dance that goes “faster and faster/ for minutes that turned into/ hours that turned into days”—until another song reminiscent of distant thunder thumps in the children’s hearts, calling them home. Tinged with mystery and peril, Robertson’s adventure underlines a family bond and anchoring traditions, while digitally crafted, kinetic art from McKibbon (Swift Fox All Along), who is Ojibwe, Yoeme, and Irish, visualizes the memekwesewak as ghostly underwater creatures surrounded by saturated natural landscapes. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)