THE GIFT OF THE GREAT BUFFALO, by Carole Lindstrom and Aly McKnight, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Feb. 25, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
Members of an Indigenous community come together for a buffalo hunt in The Gift of the Great Buffalo, by Carole Lindstrom and Aly McKnight.
Rose is a young Métis-Ojibwe girl who has traveled far with her family for the biannual buffalo hunt made up of hundreds of other Métis families. The ritual of the hunt has been practiced for generations, and each hunt must see the community through the next six months. But in recent years, the buffalo population has dwindled, and after days on the hunt, there are no buffalo to be found. Can Rose help her family find the herd that will enable them to survive the long winter? —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
The Gift of the Great Buffalo is author Carole Lindstrom’s lyrical response to the Little House on the Prairie books. As a child, Lindstrom felt a kinship to Laura Ingalls but was hurt by the portrayal of Native people as “savages.” Lindstrom’s exploration of family and tradition is authentic and engaging.
The Gift of the Great Buffalo is a one of the loveliest picture books I’ve seen this year. This beautiful story unfolds through warm text and gorgeous watercolor and graphite illustrations. Children and adults alike will love it.
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