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A review by ljrinaldi
Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom by Katherena Vermette
4.0
The residency schools are a dark mark left on a he indigenous peoples of Canada who survived them. But that isn't quite what this picture book is about and Amik only knows that he loves his school.
When he discovers that his grandfather did not like his school, he feels he has to share how different schools are now. He shows how the language of his people are taught at the school, and his heritage is now respected. They even smudge the room every morning, just as they do at home.
His grandfather is happy that this school is not like the one he endured.
Not as striking as some of the other picture books that have tried to explain the residency schools to school age children, it does not tell of the horrors that the children endured, but perhaps that is ok. It does let Amik know that things used to be much worse, and now they are better.
This is a good, simple, introduction to the idea of the residency schools, and should probably be followed up with some of the excellent picture books out there that do go more into this, such as "when we were alone" and "I am not a number" both of which either chronicle real relatives stories of being in the residency schools. Those are the only two I know of, and it this one makes three. There should be more books out there.
Just as there are books of the holocaust, and of the Japanese Internment, there needs to be books that chronicle what happened, so the children, and grandchildren can understand and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
When he discovers that his grandfather did not like his school, he feels he has to share how different schools are now. He shows how the language of his people are taught at the school, and his heritage is now respected. They even smudge the room every morning, just as they do at home.
His grandfather is happy that this school is not like the one he endured.
Not as striking as some of the other picture books that have tried to explain the residency schools to school age children, it does not tell of the horrors that the children endured, but perhaps that is ok. It does let Amik know that things used to be much worse, and now they are better.
This is a good, simple, introduction to the idea of the residency schools, and should probably be followed up with some of the excellent picture books out there that do go more into this, such as "when we were alone" and "I am not a number" both of which either chronicle real relatives stories of being in the residency schools. Those are the only two I know of, and it this one makes three. There should be more books out there.
Just as there are books of the holocaust, and of the Japanese Internment, there needs to be books that chronicle what happened, so the children, and grandchildren can understand and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.