A family tree

When Francis's family plants Gaawaandagoonce ("little spruce" in Ojibwemowin) in her grandmother's garden located alongside Gichigamiing (Lake Superior), the tree and baby Francis are almost the same height. The two grow together: "While Francis learned to walk on two little feet, the spruce tree walked in her own way -- stretching her roots out into the ground, where they talked to roots of other trees." Grandma knows that "trees, like people, are stronger together," which is why Gaawaandagoonce was planted near older spruces. Drouillard's inviting text naturally weaves information about trees' root systems and species' interconnectedness into a story about adjusting to change. When Francis's grandparents eventually need to move from their Grand Portage home, the family brings the little spruce to Francis's aunt's house. They carefully and lovingly transplant the tree, but acclimating is tough. Slowly, she connects with the other spruces and begins to feel at home again. Children who have had to move to a new place will relate to Francis and Little Spruce. The gouache and colored-pencil drawings' limited palette is a good match for the text's contemplative tone. An author's note explains that the story is based on a real spruce tree, and Drouillard discusses the importance of land and the significance of its loss for the Ojibwe people. Two Anishinaabe uses for white spruce and a glossary of the Ojibwemowin words included in the story are also appended. Nicholl Denice MontgomeryJuly/August 2024 p.97 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When an Ojibwe family moves, they bring a beloved spruce sapling with them. As Francis grows up, so does Gaawaandagoonce (an Ojibwemowin word meaning "little spruce tree"). The sapling--gendered female in the text--is planted in the center of Grandma's garden when Francis is just a baby. Both tree and child put down roots on the shore of Gichigamiing, or Lake Superior, building their connection to each other and to the land. Francis' grandparents are slowing down in their old age, and it's now time for Grandma, Grandpa, and Francis to leave their beloved home. They decide to bring Gaawaandagoonce with them. Grandpa and Francis gently dig up the tree, disentangle her roots from those of the trees surrounding her, and wrap the well-watered transplant in a blanket. Together, the family and Gaawaandagoonce replant in a new place. "At first, change is hard on trees--and on people too." Drouillard, a Grand Portage band of Ojibwe descendant, and Gardiner, a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians, expertly weave together Francis and Gawaandagoonce's grief and growth, conveying the heartbreak and resilience that often accompany transition while honoring Ojibwe values and language. Rendered in gouache and colored pencil images, Gardiner's artwork relies on a subdued palette and spare compositions, evoking feelings of tenderness and emphasizing the importance of connection and having space to adapt. A poignant illustration of how our roots keep us grounded amid change. (author's note, information on white spruce trees, Ojibwemowin glossary) (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.