You Hold Me Up

You Hold Me Up is a picture book for young children written by Nicola I. Campbell and illustrated by Julie Flett. The text and artwork feature Indigenous families and community members engaged in daily activities together. Each page contains simple, repetitive phrases about ways people support and care for one another. The illustrations show children and adults cooking, playing, listening, and sharing with each other. The book celebrates reciprocal relationships and mutual care within Indigenous communities while introducing these concepts to all young readers. Its themes of interconnectedness, respect, and responsibility reflect traditional Indigenous values and ways of being.

Parents and educators appreciate this book's message of empathy, community support, and Indigenous values. Readers note it works well for teaching young children about kindness and connection through simple, repetitive text and inclusive illustrations. Specific praise focuses on: - Illustrations showing diverse Indigenous families and communities - Age-appropriate introduction to reconciliation concepts - Effective use in classrooms for social-emotional learning - Bilingual English/Plains Cree text Some readers found: - Text too basic and repetitive for older children - Limited story development beyond the core message - Illustrations could be more detailed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (281 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (89 ratings) BookShop.org: 5/5 (12 ratings) A teacher reviewer noted: "Perfect for building classroom community and discussing ways we support each other." Several Indigenous parents highlighted how the book reflects their family values and helps children see themselves represented.

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🌟 Author Monique Gray Smith wrote this gentle text originally in English, which was then translated into Cree by various translators from different Cree communities 🎨 Illustrator Danielle Daniel created the artwork using vibrant colors and simple shapes, drawing inspiration from her own Algonquin ancestry 📚 The book promotes the Indigenous principle of "reciprocal relationships" - the idea that communities grow stronger when people support and care for one another 🌿 The story reflects the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action regarding Indigenous education and cultural understanding 🤝 The text is bilingual (English and Plains Cree), making it a valuable resource for language preservation and cross-cultural learning in Canadian schools