Dragonfly Kites

Two young Cree brothers, Joe and Cody, spend their summers in a remote northern Manitoba community far from cars, stores, and television. They pass their days catching dragonflies near their family's cabin, tying strings to the insects and flying them like kites through the wilderness. During their dragonfly adventures, the boys discover they can communicate with their winged companions and enter a world where imagination meets reality. At night, the brothers' connections to the dragonflies continue as they enter a dream realm filled with possibilities. The story moves between the physical world of northern wilderness and the spiritual world of Cree culture, exploring childhood freedom and the bonds between siblings. Through simple yet layered storytelling, the narrative speaks to themes of imagination, connection to nature, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of Indigenous children's summer activities in northern Manitoba, with many noting the book captures genuine childhood experiences of playing with dragonflies. Parents and educators highlight the educational value of the bilingual English-Cree text. The watercolor illustrations by Brian Deines receive frequent mentions for bringing the landscape and dragonfly scenes to life. Multiple reviews cite the book's effectiveness in teaching children about nature connection and Indigenous culture. Some readers mention the text feels sparse and the story progression minimal. A few note the $16.95 price point seems high for the length. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (26 ratings) Amazon.ca: 5/5 (2 ratings) 49thShelf: 4/5 (8 ratings) Sample review: "Beautiful artwork complements this simple story of two brothers playing in nature. The Cree translations add cultural depth." - Goodreads reader

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🌟 Author Tomson Highway is a member of the Cree First Nation and writes his children's books in both English and Cree, helping preserve indigenous language and culture 🦋 The story takes place in northern Manitoba, where the author spent his own childhood in a remote area accessible only by float plane ✨ The dragonflies in the story are called "Oho-ho" in Cree, and children traditionally played with them by tying strings to their tails 🎨 The book's illustrations by Julie Flett have won multiple awards and feature the distinctive landscapes of northern Canada's wilderness 🎭 This book is part of a trilogy called "Songs of the North Wind," alongside "Caribou Song" and "Fox on the Ice," all celebrating Cree childhood experiences