Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa

A really beautiful tale - I'm not sure the timeline jumping will make much sense to kids, but the story itself is compelling, and sweet, and I liked the way that there was a dual storytelling option for both younger and older kids.

When the Irish Potato Famine happened, people from all over the world tried to help. One such people were the Choctaw people, who had just survived the Trail of Tears not that long before. They saw the Irish plight, as similar to their plight. So while they didn’t have much money, they sent what they could.

Years later, a statue was raised to commemorate this friendship. And then when the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe suffered under Covid, the Irish gathered money to help them, as a return gesture.

Beautifully illustrated picture book about people who have suffered from Colonialism, understanding each other, and trying to help.

The author, who is a member of the Choctaw Nation, had heard of this story from people of the community, and wanted to write this story. When Covid-19 hit, she knew she had more of the story to add. And in 2022, the Irish started an annual scholarship to Choctaw students who wanted to go to Ireland to study.

Good simple story, to let children know what kindness is, and how it reverberates over the years.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 9th of July 2024.

As an Irish-American, I've always loved this connection between the Irish and Choctaw, and loved that this book told that story for the next generation. I think the historical context sections are a great addition to allow parents and teachers to explain things in a deeper way to any kids they might be reading to. I'll definitely be recommending this to my teacher friends for their classrooms.

This book tells the story of a little known event in history and chronicles the lasting impact it made. It is a tribute to the kindred spirit of two Nations who helped each other when their people were in imminent danger. It is also a celebration of random acts of kindness.

Touching and important.

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

A small amount of kindness that lasted seven generations to continue the cycles of kindness, what an impactful story this is. I honestly didn’t know about it before reading this but the description and cover alone made me want to read it and I’m glad I did as it was so impactful learning about this event in history that took place befteeen the Choctaw nation and the Irish.

I knew about the potato famine and the hardships and the struggles that they went through, I also knew about the natives and how they were so badly mistreated, but I knew nothing about how these two communities came together to form a life long bond and to help each other during the hardest hardships they’d have to face.

This was so fascinating to me, as a history lover, finding a piece of what I call hidden history is incredible. I love getting to learn and find out all about something that happened but unless you’re part of these communities it isn’t wildly known about. What these two communities did for each other in the 1800’s and up during 2020 was amazing and with such dedicated kindness and love. Honestly it’s so refreshing to read about something nice that happened to them each, that during horrific times something good still came out if it.

I really enjoyed reading about this, though it was incredibly sad, with the suffering, the death,the pain that they were all going through, the cruelty of many other humans around them, learning about how they were so selfless and so caring for others without a second thought was just beautiful. This was such a powerful read and I am so happy to have learnt something new.

Kindred Spirits is a beautiful story of peoples from different nations who support each other in times of need. It is a good reminder of even with a lot of difficulty in the world there is still kindness.

A beautiful tale of relationships between unexpected communities over several decades. This book illustrates a relationship that began in the late 19th century between the Irish people and the Choctaw people who came to their rescue with financial aid after the potato famine. We then skip to the American south where Hopi and Navajo populations are impacted by government land transfer and treaties that punished out the indigenous groups. These groups intertwine and reach out over decades to make lives for the other liveable.

The art in this book is breathtaking. There are several teaching points not only within American, Indigenous and Irish cultures but also worldwide. This book is an example of community and giving. I would love to add this book to my classroom collection or our school library.

Teaching points - timeline, historical events, farming, commemorative statues, tribes, fundraising, generations.

This is the inspiring true story of the real meaning of pay-it-forward! In this story we learn about the wonderful connection between several cultures and even over time and continents. In this story we learn about how in 1845 the people of Ireland were dealing with the famine. When the Choctaw people who had dealt with injustice of Trail of Tears understood and wanted to help. They donated money and in return the Irish put up a statue in remembrance. Fast forward to 2020 and the struggles and strife of COVID that hit the people of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe very hard. When the Irish discovered this they wanted to return the favor from 175 years ago and donated money to them. This story is so amazing. Packed with history and showing the true meaning of respecting others, understanding and caring for our neighbors, even if they are all the way around the world. I love the way the story is written and beautifully illustrated. It is a powerful message everyone needs to hear. Perfect to share in a classroom. The possibilities are endless

Beautiful story about people helping each other. When the Choctaw Natiuon heard how the Irish were
suffering during the potato famine, they remebered to hardships faced on the Trail of Tears and donated money
to help the Irish. In 2017 Ireland honors the Choctaw people by creating monument .
When Covid hits the Navaho and Hopi Nations in 2020, lack of medical care and supplies ended with many dying from Covid. When the Irish people were made aware of the situation, they donated funds in remembrance of the help their ancestors received from the Choctaw. Generosity and compassion are passed on.
#KindredSpiritsShilombishIttibachvffa #Charlesbridge #NetGalley

The continuation of kindness from one impoverished and abused people to another.
Despite the persistent lies and treaties broken by the government in their own land, the people of the Choctaw Nation have given more than they could to others far away, most notably in 1845 when they sent what money they could manage to the people of Ireland who were suffering under a great famine and more. In 1992 Irish activists and Choctaw retraced the Trail of tears to raise awareness of the plight of the Somali, and in 2017 the people of Ireland erected a beautiful monument of thanks to the Choctaw in thanks for help given in their time of need. In 2018 Irish scholarship program was established for Choctaw to study in Ireland, and in 2020 Irish citizens and Irish Americans gave money to Hopi and Navaho for Covid relief. Kindness shared reflects back to the giver.
The illustrations by Johnson Yazzie are crisp, clear, brilliantly colorful, and expressive.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Thank you!

. Kindred Spirits made me cry and it enlightened me to a relationship I never heard about before. Not too much after the Trail of Tears, the Choctaw Nation rallied to give aid to Irish during the Potato Famine. Many, many years later, a monument was erected honoring the friendship between the Irish and the Choctaw. During COVID, when reservations were suffering great losses, the Irish returned the kindness by raising money for the Navajo and Hopi Nations.

As soon as I finished reading Kindred Spirits I added it to my Amazon Wishlist. This is a wonderful story about how our actions impact the future in immeasurable ways. The story pulls at your heartstrings and gives you hope. I love that it's written lyrically as well as interspersed with the history behind the story. Great for pairing with 14 Cows for America.

Touched by stories of Irish suffering during the potato famine, and feeling a great kinship with the oppressed peoples, the Choctaw Nation took up a collection to help them in their time of need. The favor was returned when the Native American population was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Irish sent money for food and water. Though I was not a huge fan of the artwork with its dayglo colors and dark outlines, the story of human kindness shining through during times of strive is touching and informative.

I loved this book. It's about tragedy that beings multiple nations together. In it's time of need the Choctaw people helped people starving in Ireland and when the Navajo and Hopi nations were affected by COVID, Ireland helped them through their suffering. It's an event in history that I never knew about until now and it's so important for current and future generations to hear about how humanity can come together in time of need. The author also gives more information about the events at the end of the book if the reader is interested in knowing more.