An Anishinaabe Christmas

On the winter solstice, Mommy announces that the family is going home to the Rez to celebrate an Anishinaabe Christmas. On the long drive up to Mooshom and Kookom’s home, Baby asks many questions and talks about family stories. Tenderly, their parents promise that Santa will know where to look for them, how folks at the Rez protect bears so they can be with their own families, and that they have presents under the tree because Anishinaabe people love to give. Throughout the conversation, Baby learns new Anishinaabe words and phrases. When they finally arrive at Mooshom and Kookom’s house, Baby takes time to pass on what they learned along the way to the Rez as the family celebrate their traditional Christmas together.

Wab Kinew has crafted a lovely story about a family celebrating Christmas in their traditional Anisinaabe way. Hill’s digitally painted illustrations are bright and colourful and help to tell the story with pictures of family and the changing landscape that they are travelling through. The book is accessible and can be enjoyed by all who believe in the magic of Christmas.