On the Trapline was a wonderful story celebrating Indigenous traditions. The story follows a young boy and his Moshom on their visit to the trapline from his youth and reminiscing on the days his family would fish and trap there many years ago.

It brought a smile to my face to read the story that was inspired by the author’s own experience visiting the trapline of his father’s youth. The story captured the feeling of nostalgia for the places you remember most from your childhood. The places where you can recall every detail when you close your eyes. It gives me chills and a longing for that place residing within my own self.

The illustrations were very simple and beautiful. I especially loved that the pictures reflect the same landscapes between the past and present since this story is about honouring connections with the land and with one’s ancestors & their descendants. I loved the inclusion of the Cree words used throughout the story and the pronunciations at the end of the book.

Thank you for another must read book from author David A. Robertson & illustrator Julie Flett. I would highly recommend this picture book along with When We Were Alone.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Canada / Tundra Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books / Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~

This is such a beautiful picture book. Although the illustrations are slightly duller than those typically aimed at children (although I personally appreciate the aesthetic as it is), each picture has enough life in it to be enchanting. I loved how intimate the story was while still being told in an accessible way. Each page ended with Cree words and their definitions which I thought was a wonderful addition, especially since there is a phonetic guide at the end of the book - great for reading out loud to any future little ones I should have. "On the Trapline" is special in that it discusses Cree culture in a way that both children and adults can enjoy, and I will definitely be recommending this to my friends.

Oh how I have been waiting for this book as soon as I heard David A. Robertson and Julie Flett were teaming up for another picture book. We ADORE When We Were Alone and just knew On The Trapline would be equally as beautiful. Thrillingly it is a moving story about a grandfather and grandson who go on a trip to visit Moshom’s (grandfather) trapline where he grew up and learned as a child. On their way they explore all the sights and sounds of the community. We also learn about how things were back with Moshom was a boy. How things on the trapline and in the community are so different from the city where Moshom and his grandson now live.

The story is perfectly measured. The ebb and flow of each section of the story, each recalled childhood memory by Moshom, ends with the Swampy Cree word associated with the memory: words like kīwēw (he goes home) and minwasin (beautiful). I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the back as I know some authors like to include them while others don’t. I love how publishers are recognizing the value of including these languages in stories written by Indigenous Peoples. I appreciate being able to share the true and accurate pronunciations of the words if I’m reading at home to my family or with students at school. Swampy Cree is such a beautiful language I would hate to muddle up the pronunciations. It’s a story of joy and of going home. An inter generational story of much significance. It is just as important for children to have books written about the beauty of life, the importance of Elders and learning about connections as it is to ensure they are informed of the trauma of the past.

Julie Flett’s illustrations are impactful yet simple and soothing. She is not trying to make giant, colourful, noisy splashes of colour. Her muted tones and light features bring a dreamy quality to the story and a serenity and slowness reminiscent of rural living. Readers will be enthralled and you will barely be able to hear a pin drop as you share this story.

For the grownups, I have had the pleasure to listen to David A. Robertson speak on many different occasions thanks to the miracle of virtual literary festivals (one of the good things to come out of the pandemic) and I know this story was inspired by his trip to his father’s trapline back in 2018. He also speaks of it in his author notes at the end of the book as well. You should definitely read Black Water: family, legacy and blood memory, David A. Robertson’s memoir about his relationship with his father and his relationship to his Cree identity. If you do On The Trapline will take on a whole other meaning for you.

Kudos to Tundra Books for bringing together these two incredible Cree creators to gift us another beautiful story to celebrate Indigenous life past and present. To preserve language, to remind young Cree people about their history and to show everyone the importance of having these stories in the hands of young readers today.

This book would be best in the region based in the book. It explains the indigenous people living off the land, the olden times, native language. The reader can understand what it was like for them. It would be good for compare and contrast to where the children live now.

Full disclosure: I'm very much a fan of Robertson's work.

I adore how he has taken the trip that is at the heart of his memoir Black Water and adapted it for children. There is so much love and learning in this book. And Julie Flett's illustrations are, as always, beautiful.

This book should be in every classroom, just like When We Were Alone.

Really enjoyed this picture book from the same team that brought us Governor General Award Wining When We Were Alone. This is a story of reconnecting with the land, and of reconciliation that will pair very well with their earlier work, but also be excellent on its own. The book is the story of a boy who travels with his grandfather to the trapline Moshom used when he was much younger. For the different generations, it is either a discovery of the different pace and spaces that his ancestors used or a rediscovery of a past way of life. Most readers will experience the former and also learn some Cree and about some traditional methods.
The illustrations work really well with the story in setting a serene mood and also the lines pleasantly guide the eyes to different aspects of the story. Both the illustrator and the author share a little about the meaning of this book to them in a note that comes after the story.
This book arrives in stores in May and will be a must add to my school library.

Once again, Julie Flett's illustrations pair perfectly with David A Robertson's prose. ON THE TRAPLINE is the picture book version of Robertson's journey with his father to the family trapline, detailed in his memoir, BLACK WATER. ON THE TRAPLINE is beautifully written for young readers to develop a sense of awe, wonder, and respect at the Northern nature and way of life, both in the past and present. Robertson and Flett have created another (sure-to-be) award winning picture book.

I highly recommend this stunning picture book (for all ages) and I look forward to purchasing it for my libraries.

This book is incredible. Both the text and the illustrations are exquisite. I believe the story is one that students from all backgrounds can make connections to, while exploring other cultures. I love the infusion of pertinent Swampy Cree words throughout the text with the pronunciation guide at the end. I cannot wait to use it in my social studies lessons. There are so many poignant moments in this book that give entry points for discussion around family, history, culture, residential schools, and the connections we can make to our own experiences.

Getting to visit the places of his grandfather's childhood, the boy in this story learns about his grandfather's past and his Cree heritage. I loved the poignancy of this book as well as the fact that it will teach children about a new culture.

I loved this beautiful picture book based on the author's real visit to his father's trapline after several decades. The story is told in a way that reminds me very much of When We Were Alone where Moshom is relaying the information about his childhood to his grandchild in a gentle but matter of fact way. We see what life was like on the trapline, including the chores, food they ate, and where they slept. There is a sharing of information and history which clearly affects both individuals, and the beautiful illustrations by Julie Flett at simple yet powerful. I will definitely be adding this book to my collection in the spring.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed the pronunciation guide and the words we learned throughout the narrative. The way the author connected us to his past reminds us of the past we all share with those that came before us. I can’t wait to get this book into the hands of my customers.

A beautifully illustrated book about a boy and his dad returning to where his father grew up. Throughout stories, traditions, and words are shared of their indigenous culture and make for a wonderful story about relationships.

A poignant story about a grandfather sharing the traditions of their people. Peaceful and calm illustrations accompany text that teaches readers words in Cree while sharing a universal theme of family tradition. This book is sure to spark conversation in the classroom and at home about the children's own family traditions.

This is a great book to diversify the picture book collections in our library and build a true narrative of the Native tribes in America. I appreciate the author and illustrator's voice and perspective and sharing their stories with new generations outside of their tribe and nation.

This was a beautiful book about a boy learning traditional hunting and gathering techniques and values from his grandfather. I loved David's note from the author, it made me sad and happy all at the same time. I am glad that David was able to have this learning experience and bonding time with his father. A lot of Canadian Natives were denied this opportunity because of Residential Schools.

Thank you NetGalley for the DRC.

On the Trapline - by David A. Robertson is a story about a boy who visits his grandfather's special hunting ground (which he frequented as a child). It's a great addition to readings about the First Nations, with Cree words and definitions.

On the Trapline marks several milestones for me: my first picture book in over a decade (and my first advance copy of one), and my first time reading the words of David Alexander Robertson, an Indigenous graphic novelist and writer from Winnipeg and of Swampy Cree heritage. (Also: my first time being exposed to the work of Julie Flett, a Cree-Métis author and illustrator from Toronto!)

The story within these pages is moving and incredibly beautiful. Coupled with the gorgeous illustrations by Flett, I had goosebumps as I read.

In one instance, Moshom—the narrator’s grandfather—shows his grandson the building that housed the residential school he attended as a child. The illustration for this scene captures three uniform-clad Cree kids in a forest of young trees. Then you flip to the next page, and it’s the exact same spot, only many years later: the trees have grown and broadened, and Moshom and his friend are now white-haired, sitting alongside Moshom’s grandson.

On each page, the book presents a different Cree word that relates to the scene and the story. This book was only 40 pages, and I savoured every single one. By the end, I was suffused with an unshakable sense of serenity and wonder.

This is the sort of book that I know will be staple in my future kid’s library. I highly, highly recommend On the Trapline—to children and youth, but also adults, too.

That was an amazing story! I think brings up some points kids could maybe investigate: Indian schools, Cree culture, living off the land, through foraging a, huntin, and fishing. I also liked the younger and older generation sharing time together. It's importnt for children to pend time with elders. The illustrations were nice; not to complicated.

A lovely picture book that teaches children about a native area of Canada, where families lived and hunted on their trapline. The illustrations are fun and creative. Each page gives the reader a new word to think about from the Swampy Cree language.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest opinion.

Beautiful picture book that follows a young Cree boy on a trip with his grandfather to his trapline and childhood home. The story weaves Cree words with English narrative and can serve as an introduction to discussions about traditional ways of life, increasing urbanism, and cultural values.

This is a sweet book, a bit akin to "When we were alone" one of the other pictures books by this author that explores memories and culture. In the Cree tradition, you went out and hunted in the summer on the trapline. The trapline is far from where the boy and his Moshom (his grandfather) now live. The grandfather has not been back for many years, but he still remembers how to get to that special place.

Through this simple journey, we learn Cree words, and we see the world that his grandfather left behind.

Slow and sweet, and poignant. Sad, and happy at the same time. A taste of what life was like, amongst the Swampy Cree.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.