This book should begin a discussion with young children about how a family’s love for its children is universal and something that all cultures share.Richard Van Camp (born September 8, 1971) is a Dogrib Tłı̨chǫ writer of the Dene nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. There are so few Native American books for children that don’t perpetuate ignorant stereotypes that it’s impossible to recommend a related book. There is a smoothness and softness to both the message and the rhythm of the text, to which little ones will respond.” – BOOKLIST, 2013 Connections Ultimately, it does not matter whether the listening toddler understands every word. “Both the language and artwork is sophisticated in this board book that welcomes a new child into the world and explains how important he or she is to their parents. Both collaborators are of aboriginal Canadian descent, and the book will have particular appeal for families looking for nonwhite representations of tender family moments.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, 2013 “Van Camp composes a lyrical ode to a newborn child, which is matched in its loveliness by Flett’s exquisite, collage-like images of a young one with his or her parents. The illustrations might appeal to children, but there are no dancing pigs, so it’s a risk. Small children would certainly enjoy the musical story, and tiny narcissists love hearing about how special they are. The beautiful dark-haired families are a refreshing change from a board book publishing industry that thinks everything should either be blonde or a farm animal.

The illustrations are truly beautiful, featuring Native American families in an artistic, patchwork collage, each drawing displaying how each family treasures the children.

There is nothing particular to the culture in the words of the story. The imagery is almost entirely based in nature, comparing the children to weather and stars. There is more than a little hyperbole (“You are the birth of everything new.”). The text is rhythmic and poetic, telling a story of how loved the children are.

This slightly saccharine picture book features Native American parents telling their children how much they love them.

Little you by richard van camp