Red Sled
by Lita Judge, author and illustrator
Atheneum Books, 2011
In this almost wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child’s sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects.
This book blends a joyful tale with art bouncing with life. Judge has the rare ability to capture the essence of real animals and fill them with humor, expression and fanciful actions. Her animals reach into our hearts as did Beatrix Potter with Peter Rabbit.
Lita Judge’s words are begging to be shared out loud, “Scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch …” We hear the story while we watch it happening. Little children will enjoy the book by themselves, but, best of all, is the delight it will bring to all ages when they share the book and enjoy the fabulous story of a shared red sled!
Still This Love Goes On
by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett
Greystone Kids, 2022
From Cree-Métis artist Julie Flett and Academy Award-winning icon Buffy Sainte-Marie comes a celebration of Indigenous community, and the enduring love we hold for the people and places we are far away from.
Based on Sainte-Marie’s song of the same name, Still This Love Goes On combines Flett’s breathtaking art with vivid lyrics to craft a stunning portrait of a Cree worldview.
At the heart of this picture book is a gentle message about missing our loved ones, and the promise of seeing each other again.
This gem of a picture book features:
- Sheet music of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s beloved song
- Notes from Sainte-Marie and Flett about their inspiration for the song and illustrations brimming with love for community and the land. “
Buffy Sainte-Marie is a world-renowned and Academy Award-winning Cree singer–songwriter, activist, educator, and visual artist. Her other books for kids include Hey Little Rockabye, illustrated by Ben Hodson, and Tâpwê and the Magic Hat.
Submitted by Karen Kosko
