The basic storyline is contemporary Ojibwe father teaching his bilingual son about the reason for dreamcatchers and eventually how to make one while showing a day in the life of a young Ojibwe. The best part for me is that there are QR codes for bilingual English and Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwa), complete with QR pronunciation guide both throughout and at the end.
The simple illustrations by Marcus Trujillo are brilliantly colored and fun.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of ANY age including ESL, and great for gifting to families, but especially to a school, or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary digital advance review copy on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer! | becker&mayer! kids via NetGalley. Thank you!

Book Review: Wisdom Weavers by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing "Wisdom Weavers" by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, "and it was absolutely fantastic.". This beautifully illustrated children's book takes us through a day in the life of a young Ojibwe child, immersing readers in the rich culture and language of the Ojibwe people, who are the largest Indigenous group in North America, primarily around the Great Lakes region.

The narrative introduces children to essential words and phrases in the Ojibwe language, all while following a charming storyline centered around the cultural significance of dream catchers. For those unfamiliar, dream catchers are fascinating creations that are believed to protect individuals—especially children—from bad dreams while allowing good ones to pass through. The book not only tells a story but also serves as an educational resource, showcasing 12 key phrases and words that are woven seamlessly into the narrative.

What I found particularly engaging were the visually stunning illustrations by Marcus Trujillo, a tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna. They perfectly complement the text, capturing the essence of Ojibwe culture and making it accessible for children aged 6 to 11. The inclusion of QR codes for pronunciation is a smart touch, allowing young readers (and their parents) to hear how the words are spoken, which adds a layer of interactivity. On top of all that, there's even a how-to guide for making your own dream catcher at the end of the book—what a fantastic way to engage kids further!

Overall, I highly recommend Wisdom Weavers. It's not just a story; it's a gateway into a vibrant traditional culture that fosters appreciation for Indigenous languages and customs. If you're looking for a wonderful educational resource for children, this book is definitely worth adding to your collection!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I enjoyed learning new words and the origin of Dream Catchers. Through the illustrations, the reader has the opportunity to learn more Ojibwe words then what is presented in the text. I think the end of the book was my favorite, as the process and each part of making a Dream Catcher is explained. The one scene at school felt a little out of sequence for the story, but it didn't take away from the story.

A nice quick read and enjoyable for a large age range.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

It's great to see books like these. Spreading knowledge of the vocabulary and traditions of the Ojibwe people to another generation worldwide. Beautiful to see.

I love that with technology we can now hear the words and attempt to pronounce them properly.

This picture book uses a lot of words in the ojibwe language, words like backpack and food. Things that are used in everyday language. And while these words are being introduced, we learn that the young boy, Jack is going to be helping to make a traditional dreamcatcher.

His father takes him out to get red willow branches, and shows him how to bend it, and get the strings set up. And while the create it, his father tells him how this connects him to his ancestors.

All of the words are explained on the page they appear on, plus there is a QR code that one can scan to get a link that plays how the word is pronounced.

Great book to introduce the concept of the dreamcatcher, as well as words of the Ojibwe people. Good for non-indigenous people as well, to learn about the people that were living here before them.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 3rd of September 2024

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading Wisdom Weavers by one of our great Ojibwe language teachers James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw. I love that it not only teaches about a wonderful cultural tradition, but also gives the Ojibwe translations for many common items and sayings, including QR codes to scan and learn the proper pronunciations. Fantastic illustration throughout.

Awesome, educational, and very unique book! I'll start this review by talking about the illustrations. They were very simple, but it worked nicely! All of the lines were clearly defined and the colors were bright and crisp, perfect for young readers. Bravo, illustrator!
As for the story, it was present and laid out really well. The story felt very short and a little disconnected at first but then, by the end of the book, the story came full-circle and it was apparent that there was actually an obvious plot. On top of that, the plot made a lot of sense, and the ending was satisfying. Lastly, I thought that it was such a smart idea for the author to include everyday words, write them in Ojibwe, and include the pronunciations. However, I think that there were a few too many of these on each page. I took time to read the pronunciation in my head and, due to the number of pronunciations on each page, it really took me out of the story. But, I would like to note that young readers might not take as much time with the pronunciations as I did, so that is something to consider. This is the one thing I subtracted a star for, but it doesn't take too much away from the story. I still learned a lot of stuff, and I know that young readers will, too.
Bravo!

A beautifully illustrated story and resource for children to learn about the Great Lakes-area Ojibwe indigenous people, their language, and their gorgeous dream catchers, which are designed for protection. There are even QR codes to scan for pronouncing the language, as well as a how to guide for making your own dream catcher. Highly recommended!

Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a really educational book that I enjoyed learning from even as an adult. I liked the pronunciations and translations throughout the book and thought the icon to hear the words being spoken was a great touch. It was also great to have 2 pages a the end with other words not yet covered in the book to further my learning. Overall, I loved the concept of explaining the cultural importance and reasons behind the dream catcher to the Ojibwe people but also included a how to make one at the end which to me felt like we could be included in dream catchers now that we know the importance without seeming like we’re just appropriating another culture.

Favourite Quote:
"It symbolises our spiritual connection with the Ojibwe people and all of our relatives, from now and in the past."

A brilliant book that teaches the Ojibwe language and the meaning behind dream catchers. This book gave a wonderful look at how and the meaning behind dream catchers and how they are made. It was brilliant how it also gave words and the meanings on the page which gave a brilliant learning experience for young people.

Thank you for the chance to read and review

This is a great children’s book for an educator looking to educate their kids in a respectful manner. This book has translations for the different indigenous languages, as well as a whole page to teach kids how to make their own dream catchers!

I think this is such a fantastic book to have in any home, school, or daycare collection. Great story, great pictures, and such interesting culture. I've always loved dreamcatchers, because they seem so wonderful and protective. The family in this story is also very positive. I love how many Ojibwe words there are and that you can scan the ones in the back to hear them.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I love a good bilingual book. Wisdom Weavers is a story about an Ojibwe child who learns how to make a dreamcatcher with his father. Through the shared project he learns about why they make them, the traditions, culture, and Ojibwe language. The book features Ojibwe words throughout the book with QR codes to hear the pronunciations -- a neat touch. The illustrations are colorful and make the story pop.

Thank you NetGalley for making this book available to read right away. I don’t know if I would’ve come across it any other way, and I am VERY glad I did!

I am a home educator, and when we do unit studies on Indigenous Peoples, I am always disappointed in the selection of books on the topic from my library that are both educational and interesting for kids to read. This book’s illustrations are fun to look at while the content is simple yet thorough. I especially enjoyed the addition of the QR codes for the Ojibwe word pronunciations.

A very solid addition to any child or student’s library!

Lovely book to introduce children to the Ojubwe language. Illustrations are eye catching and engaging. Love that the phonetic pronunciation of the words is included throughout the book. The list of words at the end with QR codes that link to the pronunication is a great bonus. I also really like the end with the meaning of the dream catcher and information on how to make one.

An innovative, accessible book that teaches Ojibway through a narrative.

Excellent for comparison of daily routines! I will definitely encourage my school librarian and Indigenous Teacher Consultant to add this to our school library catalogues.

QR codes for pronunciation is excellent!

A lovely book that teaches about the Ojibwe language and the meaning behind dream catchers. This is very informative and engaging and I loved the the addition of the list of words and phrases in the back