Book Review: We Are Water Protectors
We Are Water Protectors (Book Review)
Bibliography.
Lindstrom, Carole. 2020. We Are Water Protectors. Ill. By Goade, Michaela. New York, NY: Roaring Books Press. ISBN 978-1250203557
Plot Summary.
A young woman’s grandmother impresses on her the importance of water, not only for their people, but for the earth and all the animals in it. The little girl is determined to take up the good fight to protect the earth’s water supply from an oil pipeline that threatens to poison the natural water resources that are nearest to her. She reminds the reader that her people are proud to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, that they use their drums, and songs and protests to make a stand, and that most importantly water is priceless and must be protected. She claims that water is what connects us all, not only to the space we occupy on the earth, but also to the ancestors of our past.
Critical Analysis.
The author’s thesis is clear throughout the story: she wants the next generation of people who will inherit the earth, whether they are of indigenous origin or not, to recognize the safety concerns of the pipelines that often leak and poison the land and natural water supply around them. The author’s note and the pledge to be a water protector at the end of the book highlight the author’s desire to implement a social change, and to convince her readers to take a stand with her. There is an overarching story tied together by pieces of the young girl’s memory of her grandmother’s advice and a writing style reminiscent of a fable or folktale, such as using figurative language to make the oil line come to life in the form of a black snake. The illustrations are a stunning representation of the author’s words, such as when the girl’s hair has waves in it like that of an ocean, or that the number of people on the page grows for each consecutive time that the author says “We stand with our songs and our drums. We are still here.” It is a heartfelt book with positive message for change and conservation.
Awards.
Caldecott Medal (2021)
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book (2021)
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner
Kirkus Prize Finalist
NPR Best Book of the Year
NYPL Best Book of the Year
Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year
Connections.
For students who are concerned about the conservation of water as a natural resource, they can find other related children’s books such as:
*Green, Jen. “Why Should I Save Water?”
*Lindstrom, Carole. “Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior.”
*Lord, Michelle. “The Mess That We Made.”
*Strauss, Rachel. “One Well: The Story of Water on Earth.”
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