It all adds up to a gorgeous and empowering picture book with an urgent environmental plea. She weaves symbols from Ojibwe culture into the vibrant scenes, which blend images of people, animals and nature together into a striking and precious tapestry of interdependent life. Goade, who is an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, employs deep blues, purples and aquamarines to create enchanting waterscapes that envelope human figures whose skin she represents in a variety of hues. We are still here.” Her prose is powerful, timely and mesmerizing in its lyricism. Throughout the book, Lindstrom, who is Anishinabe/Metis and tribally enrolled with the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, employs a powerful refrain that asserts the continued presence and ongoing commitment of indigenous peoples: “We stand with our songs and our drums. Water is the first medicine.It affects and connects us. Together, the communities confront the snake, fighting it on behalf of all the lives that depend on the water. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade. The girl strikes powerful poses and holds hands with others to stand against the snake.

Illustrator Goade depicts the snake with a series of angular turns that call to mind the oil pipelines which have been the subject of protests in recent years the snake’s forked red tongue and red eyes are a menacing touch. The commanding language of advocacy is softened by the soft, flowing images and the blue, earthy colors. The girl’s community believes in a prophecy about a black snake that will threaten the water. Carole Lindstrom, 'We Are Water Protectors' Politics and Prose 199K subscribers Subscribe 329 Share Save 30K views 2 years ago Carole Lindstrom reads from her book 'We Are Water. We Are Water Protectors reminds all communities that 'we are stewards of the Earth,' calling us to stand strong and protect it. The unnamed girl’s grandmother teaches her that water is sacred, “the first medicine” that nourishes human life both in the womb and on Mother Earth. When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource.A young indigenous girl learns the importance of water from her elders, then unites with her community and its supporters to defend it in Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade’s inspiring new picture book, We Are Water Protectors. When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource.

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption - a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

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