Berry Song

Starred review from April 11, 2022
In Caldecott Medalist Goade’s (We Are Water Protectors) solo debut, a Tlingit grandmother and her granddaughter celebrate the earth, foraging through the seasons “on an island at the edge of the wide, wild sea.” Gently evocative, reiterative lines trace the grandmother teaching the child narrator to gather “slippery seaweed,” catch “silvery salmon,” and pick a wide variety of forest berries. When “the berries sing to us,” the duo reciprocates in song (“Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry./ Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry,
Crowberry”), so that “berry—and bear—know we are here.” They also express their gratitude for the gift of life-sustaining food, sing for their ancestors and for the future, and seek to “take care of the land...// As the land takes care of us.” Vivid, brilliant hues embolden lushly wrought, soft watercolor and mixed-media illustrations, painting a serene picture of nature and its many gifts in spreads that blur the lines between the landscape and the figures in it. Tapping into themes of people’s connection to nature—and nature’s to people—the volume crucially invites readers to recognize this intersection. An author’s note contextualizes core Tlingit tenets discussed. Ages 4–8. Agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions.

Starred review from July 1, 2022

PreS-Gr 1-This book shares the foraging tradition of a young Tlingit girl and her grandmother living on an island off of the coast of Alaska. The grandmother teaches the young girl which berries to pick and how to say "Gunalch�esh," or give thanks. Told with rhythm to match the song, the duo sings as they pick berries ("Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry"). The author captures rich language to mirror the beauty of nature. A note cautions young foragers to research and use adult supervision, while the back matter includes a glossary of information on which berries are safe to gather. These additions make this picture book perfect for cross-disciplinary learning with science or social studies. VERDICT Goade calls upon her childhood memories and current home and shares important information about the beauty and utility of nature. Told in rhythm, song, and narrative, the language is rich and evocative-perfect for early elementary readers.-Tracey S. Hodges

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2022
A magical intergenerational story of gifts and cultural rituals shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter. A Tlingit grandmother takes her young granddaughter to a nearby island for a berry-picking adventure in the forest. To alert the forest bear and the various types of berries that glow "like little jewels" of their presence, the pair sing a harvest song: "Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry." Grandma teaches the girl that "we speak to the land...as the land speaks to us," and "we sing too, so the land knows we are grateful." As they gather berries in the misty rain, they listen to the sounds of insect wings, inhale the sweet scent of cedar, and feel the soft moss on tree branches. Back at home, "the kitchen glows like a summer sky" as the girl, her grandmother, her father, and her younger sister make syrup, marmalade, jelly, jam, pie, and scones to share. When winter comes, the forest is described as "dreaming, waiting for berry song." Seasons change, marking the passage of time and leading to a bittersweet, full-circle ending. This beautifully written story by Caldecott medalist/debut author Goade features breathtaking, atmospheric artwork inspired by the wild landscape of her hometown, Sheet'k�, Alaska, and incorporates rich symbolism and imagery from Tlingit culture. A closing author's note elucidates sacred Tlingit principles mentioned in the story, and dazzling endpapers identify different berry varieties. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from May 15, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* A young Tlingit girl and her grandmother say thank you--Gunalch�esh!--as they forage the forest for wild berries on their island at the edge of a wide, wild sea in Alaska. Poetic text accompanies their berry song as they catalog the many berries, from the recognizable cranberry, blueberry, and raspberry to the less widely known chalkberry, salmonberry, and thimbleberry. The berries, glowing like little jewels, sing back to them. "We speak to the land as the land speaks to us." The poetic, alliterative text reinforces the melody as they practice their tradition of living off the land. Lustrous deep-toned illustrations in watercolor and mixed media paint the beauty of the wilderness, populated with animals on land and sea. This symphony of song expresses the Tlingits' spiritual connection and deep kinship with the land. Photographs and more information at the book's end stress the importance of preserving and protecting our environment. The glowing pictures and supportive text encourage our stewardship of Mother Earth as Caldecott Medal winner Goade presents another important contribution to both environmental and cultural literature. Aided by endpapers written in both Tlingit and English, try challenging children to repeat the names of all those luscious and juicy fruits.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
In Goade's (Caldecott Medalist for We Are Water Protectors, rev. 7/20) latest picture book, set "on an island at the edge of a wide, wild, sea," a Tlingit grandmother teaches her granddaughter "how to live on the land." First, they gather what they need from the water. Then they enter the forest to pick berries; the berries' names serve as an evolving refrain, and the land is also frequently and reverently referenced. As they pick, they sing to the flora, the fauna, and the ancestors: "We take care of the land...As the land takes care of us." Once they have collected what they need, they head home. After their subsequent feast, they say "Gunalcheesh," giving thanks for the food. The story ends with the girl passing on the song and her grandmother's knowledge to her younger sister. Goade's lush, brightly colored art vividly portrays the landscape. In many of the images, the child and her grandmother are shown intertwined with the forest, with which they are deeply connected. In one scene, the grandmother and granddaughter are the same green as the forest, and their hair and faces are covered by leaves. In another image, we see a totem pole faintly outlined within a tree. An author's note tells more about Goade's childhood; her life in Sheet'ka, or Sitka, Alaska; and the song in the book. Endpapers name the berries in both English and Tlingit. Nicholl Denice Montgomery

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Goade, who was awarded the 2021 Caldecott Medal for We Are Water Protectors, received a 2023 Caldecott Honor for Berry Song-the audio follows almost a year later, synergistically narrated by Tripp who shares Goade's native Alaskan Tlingit heritage. Tripp opens with a rhythmic bilingual Tlingit/English recitation of various berries, followed by Goade's "Note to the Forager," offering sage advice to avoid toxic look-alikes. "On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, Grandma shows me how to live on the land," Tripp softly speaks over a soothing string-and-keyboard soundtrack. She maintains a tender tone, creating a blanketing welcome into a symbiotic world: "We take care of the land/ As the land takes care of us." Just as Goade is "spellbound by the magic and joy of berry song," so, too, will audiences be enthralled. VERDICT Once again, Goade's stupendous art is a must-see; parallel listening and reading is highly recommended.

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2022
In Goade's (Caldecott Medalist for We Are Water Protectors, rev. 7/20) latest picture book, set "on an island at the edge of a wide, wild, sea," a Tlingit grandmother teaches her granddaughter "how to live on the land." First, they gather what they need from the water. Then they enter the forest to pick berries; the berries' names serve as an evolving refrain, and the land is also frequently and reverently referenced. As they pick, they sing to the flora, the fauna, and the ancestors: "We take care of the land... As the land takes care of us." Once they have collected what they need, they head home. After their subsequent feast, they say "Gunalcheesh," giving thanks for the food. The story ends with the girl passing on the song and her grandmother's knowledge to her younger sister. Goade's lush, brightly colored art vividly portrays the landscape. In many of the images, the child and her grandmother are shown intertwined with the forest, with which they are deeply connected. In one scene, the grandmother and granddaughter are the same green as the forest, and their hair and faces are covered by leaves. In another image, we see a totem pole faintly outlined within a tree. An author's note tells more about Goade's childhood; her life in Sheet'ka, or Sitka, Alaska; and the song in the book. Endpapers name the berries in both English and Tlingit.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)