The Hawk Shadow, written by Jan Bourdeau Waboose and illustrated by Karlene Harvey. Kids Can Press, 2024, $21.99 ages

"I gaze at the wide turquoise sky and feel 

the warmth of Father Sun. 
The trees' shadows slowly shift with time. 
It feels quiet, serene like in serenity. I hear 
nothing but silence now. Not even the water 
song caresses my ears."

This story is the tale of a siblings and their Anishinaabe culture. Serenity is the narrator; Big Ed is her brother. Morning dawns, and the two are off through the bush to do some fishing. Serenity (whose name does not always match her boisterous personality) calls out to her brother to wait for her. He stops, pivots, and asks her to be much quieter. He wants silence as they travel his fishing path to the river. 

Big Ed has a new rod, while Serenity is using one her father has fashioned for her with a spruce branch and some moose sinew. She loves it just the same. When a raven calls out from up above, Serenity does the same, Big Ed is annoyed once more and wants her to go back home. She will not. The path to the river allows them to enjoy the wonders of their environment: chokecherries, a gray fox, and the beauty of nature. 

Hawk River is named for the Hawks who are the Keepers of the river and Protectors to their people. When Big Ed moves on at a pace, Serenity must hurry to keep up. Along the way, she stops for a cedar branch. 

"I hear Big Ed say, "Don't take too much. 
It's our medicine tree, and it's a good sign 
that I'll catch a big fish."" 

While fishing, a Hawk screams down at Serenity and then flies upriver. Big Ed is nowhere to be seen.  What is the Hawk trying to tell her? She follows it, and finds her brother is in trouble at the river's edge. Both are scared by the time Serenity discovers him. The Hawk shows Serenity how she might help, and it works! 

Using storytelling traditions that feature Ojibwe words and honors the Indigenous culture, Ms. Waboose has penned a tale sure to entertain and inform young readers. Karlene Harvey's digital artwork offers a close look at nature in the bush. It's a beautiful world for the two as they share a day of fishing.