Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow

by Sita MacMillan, Azby Whitecalf (Illustrator)

Overview

A vibrant debut early chapter book series celebrating Cree culture and being true to yourself.

Look for Book 2, Muskwa’s Tipi Talks, coming in Winter 2025!

Sarah Ponakey has moved to the city from her home community with her mom and it’s the pits! She misses her Kôhkom, her best friend Eden, and the forests around her community. She’s had a hard time making new friends at school but at least she keeps in touch with Eden through meticulously written letters with very big words. After a particularly tough day where she nearly loses her favorite stuffed animal, Âhâsiw, and is brushed off by her mom, Sarah finds herself transported to a magical forest powwow . . .

Accompanied by a life-sized Âhâsiw in his beautiful regalia, Sarah watches in excitement as a chipmunk emcees, and bears play the host drum at her first ever powwow. The more she sees, the more her confidence grows. As she joins in the celebration, Sarah discovers that she can connect to her Cree culture no matter where she is. Her Kôhkom’s going to love this story! Âhâsiw’s Forest Powwow, the first book from debut children’s author Sita MacMillan, features Cree words throughout the story and a note to the reader. Azby Whitecalf’s dynamic illustrations bring life to this warm, charming, and funny introduction to Sarah Ponakey, the storycatcher.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773218892
Publisher:	Annick Press, Limited
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Series:	Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher , #1
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

SITA MACMILLAN is a registered member of Zagime Anishinabek and is of mixed Cree and Scottish background. She has an Indigenous education degree and a masters in language and literacy education. She has taught in the K–12 classroom as well as a writing instructor at the college level prior to becoming a mother to three daughters. It was during early motherhood Sita struggled to find children’s books based on urban Indigenous living. This became the inspiration for her debut children's book series, Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher. She lives with her family in Prince Edward Island.

AZBY WHITECALF is a Plains Cree illustrator and character designer. Whitecalf is a graduate of AUArts, majoring in illustration with a bachelor’s degree in design and is the illustrator of Buffalo Wild! They have fondness for fantasy stories, whimsical tales, and vibrant characters. They live in Saskatchewan.

Editorial Reviews

This story lovingly depicts Cree culture and depicts the common challenges of being the new kid, and how to stay connected to old friends while making new ones.”  —School Library Journal, 07/19/2024

“A fantastic addition to any children’s library, providing both an exciting plot and an introduction to Cree culture.”  —Booklist, 09/15/24

From the Publisher

07/19/2024

Gr 2–4—Young Cree girl Sarah recently moved to the city and has been feeling lonely. While she stays in touch with her friend Eden through letters and video chats with her grandmother Kôhkom, Sarah finds it challenging to adjust to her new life. At school, a student named Joy is assigned to help her, but they haven't clicked as friends. With her mom busy with work, Sarah feels ignored and alone. One day she meets a girl named Arya, who found Sarah's stuffed animal Âhâsiw that she accidentally dropped. After a tough day, Sarah falls asleep and dreams of a human-sized Âhâsiw and other animals having a powwow in the forest. Sarah feels too embarrassed to dance, even in her dream. Her forest friends encourage her to try, and she wakes up revitalized. With newfound confidence, Sarah is excited to share her shawl at show-and-tell. Arya reveals her own feelings of loneliness in the city; Sarah finally feels understood and is excited to have a new friend. This story lovingly depicts Cree culture and depicts the common challenges of being the new kid, and how to stay connected to old friends while making new ones. While the dream sequence plays a vital role in Sarah gaining confidence, it feels slightly out of place in an otherwise realistic story about a child's experience of moving to a new place. Whitecalf's cartoon-style, grayscale illustrations complement the text through spot art and partial spreads. VERDICT This series debut centering an Indigenous girl adjusting to big changes is a recommended purchase for most libraries.—Shana Shea

School Library Journal