Swift Fox All Along

When Swift Fox’s father takes her on a journey to meet her Indigenous relatives, he promises that she’ll learn how to be Mi’kmaq and that being Mi’kmaq is already “what’s inside you.” She’s never met her aunties, uncles, and cousins, and she’s scared that she won’t belong. As the day passes, the butterflies in her stomach grow larger and her fears are realized (“I can’t believe she didn’t know how to smudge,” a cousin says). McKibbin (who is Ojibwe, Yoeme, and Irish) offers saturated illustrations that clearly convey the main character’s trepidation through facial expressions. Spotting the animals on every page, especially Swift Fox’s butterflies, adds another layer to the reader’s experience. Poet Thomas (registered with Lennox Island First Nation) leaves much unexplained, including why Swift Fox’s father hasn’t previously introduced her to his family. Dedicating her book to “every Indigenous kid and adult who had to seek out where they came from” and revealing the book’s provenance in an author’s note, she shows the real anxiety of not belonging, and many children will find a welcome reflection of real feelings in Swift Fox’s worries. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)

Correction: This review has been updated for factual accuracy.