This unique offering from an Indigenous botanist pulls together elements of science, lore, history, and ecology. It seeks to show how humans need to be mindful of their connections to the planet. Kimmerer, of Anishinaabe heritage, crafts her musings and teachings around the life cycle of sweetgrass. This common plant is considered sacred to many Native American cultures and is used not only for braiding baskets but also for medicine and as an important element in rituals. The book evolves around six sweetgrass categories: "Meeting," "Planting," "Tending," "Picking," "Braiding," and "Burning," and each chapter evokes an aspect of modern Western society in light of how so many people have gotten so far away from the old ways of cherishing the earth. Pages are filled with legends, reminiscences, bits of history, sidebars, and drawings, as well as gentle challenges to readers that encourage them. The text is engaging and goes down easy; notes and a bibliography round things off. Truly, a lovely, calming addition for collections.

In this young readers adaptation of the 2013 adult bestseller of the same name by Potawatomi botanist Kimmerer, Smith (I Hope), who is Cree and Lakota, breaks down myriad Indigenous nations’ relationships with nature. The creators detail how humankind’s reciprocity with the earth is integral to many Native peoples’ mindsets and often stems from a gifting economy, in which plants and animals make a gift of themselves and humans, in turn, care for them. This is the foundation of the Honorable Harvest, the narrative’s key concept and a core Native practice that “governs our taking, shapes our relationships with the natural world, and reins in our tendency to consume.” These guidelines also encourage sustainability in hunting and gathering etiquette, and in further developing clean energy procedures. Smith smartly streamlines language while staying true to the narrative’s core concepts by adding brief sidebars that explain featured terminology, pose reflection questions, and highlight important passages, inviting collaborative discussion and acting as a call to action. Crisp pen and ink wash illustrations by Navajo artist Neidhardt (When We Are Kind) provide visual interest; by depicting Skywoman’s creation in comics spreads, Neidhardt both complements and elevates Smith’s approachable prose. Ages 12–up. (Nov.)