Swift Fox All Along

This very specific story is anchored in a personal experience, as clarified in the author note at the back. nevertheless, it offers readers of every background a wealth of personal connections related to identity, acceptance, worries, and confusions. The specific details of Swift Fox's struggle involve anticipating and feeling safe within her much-loved father's family when she meets them for the first time. Her reactions and perspectives are illustrated with earthy colors, informative scenes, and details that infuse an appealing story with authentic insights to the realities of modern native lives.This will be a welcome (and necessary) addition to every home, classroom, and library.

Swift Fox All Along makes an important contribution to Canadian children’s literature. It will, I hope, help children—and adults—to understand the vital importance of people knowing who they are, and where they came from.For children the story, and its ideas, are accessible and understandable, as well as being a “good read”. Hopefully many adults will also enjoy taking a few minutes to read it. And everyone should appreciate and enjoy the wonderful illustrations, which very effectively capture both a sense of place and children’s emotions.The book, of course, is of special importance to First Nations children, many of whom (and their parents and grandparents) have been stripped of the right to know who they are. Both the author and the illustrator draw upon their experiences growing up as Aboriginal people in post residential school Canada. Many other children may find it relevant to their lives, or at the very least help their understanding of each other.Children and their parents should emerge with a better understanding of the importance of self knowledge.