The First Blade of Sweetgrass

We rated this book:

$18.95


Musqon’s excitement elevates as she approaches the salt marsh. It’ll be her first time to pick sweetgrass with her grandmother or “Uhkomi.” She’s eager to participate in a tradition that’s spanned decades. Uhkomi teaches her how to differentiate between the blades of sweetgrass and those of the other marsh grasses. She learns its stem has a purple hue, and its tassel and blades are a satiny green. When she begins her search, she becomes distraught by how much they all look the same to her. However, with more guidance and effort, she succeeds in collecting some of the sacred treasures for which she desires.

The First Blade of Sweetgrass is laced with the rich cultural history of “the People of First Light,” the Wabanaki Confederacy. It’s a Native American tale about a young child and her grandmother, whose cherished role as Musqon’s teacher serves to help her carry on an inter-generational duty. Her people use the sweetgrass to weave baskets and for ceremonial purposes.

Young children aged six to ten will treasure this sweet, thoughtful story. The soft, warm shades of the illustrations will invite them in to join Musqon and Uhkomi on their journey, and they’ll be enriched by the serenity that’ll surround them.


Reviewed By:

Author
Star Count 4.5/5
Format Hard
Page Count 32 pages
Publisher Tilbury House Publishers
Publish Date 10-Aug-2021
ISBN 9780884487609
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue October 2021
Category Children's
Share