A Family Tree: An Ojibwe Picture Book About Nature, Resiliency, and Roots for Children

by Staci Lola Drouillard, Kate Gardiner (Illustrator)

A modern-day twist to  The Giving Tree,  this book chronicles the changes brought upon a beloved family tree that must be uprooted and planted on new land. This debut picture book by Staci Lola Drouillard (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe descendant) celebrates resiliency, family bonds, and our deep connection to and responsibility for nature.  Grandma’s garden was not just any garden. It was where a spruce tree, only as tall as baby Francis, reached her roots into the soil and stretched her branches toward the sky. Here, on the shore of Gichigaming, is where Francis and the sapling felt right at home. But when Grandma and Grandpa decide to move away, Francis wants to take the tree with them—can they? Brimming with tenderness, this story from Staci Lola Drouillard (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe descendant), with illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians), traces the journey of one family, and a little tree, as they adapt to change by drawing on the strength of their roots.

Genres: Picture Books, Indigenous, Nature, Native American, Childrens, Family, Environment

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Phobean · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 for introducing me to a lot of Ojibwa language and words.

Soothing illustrations with a very calming color tone. A surprisingly long story, but I respected the lesson about being (forcibly) moved but not removed from community or self knowledge. There’s something funky going on with time here because in the book, the grandparents move because they can no longer keep up the property, but there’s also an indication that they’re being forced off their land, like in early America. I’m not sure a child will understand the metaphor, since they are literal minded at that stage of development. Overall, this very much read like a book written by someone used to writing for adults.

It was good to hang out with a gijigijigaanaeshiin (chickadee) again, and I enjoyed learning Ojibwemowin word for squirrel: ajidamoog.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I 100% appreciate what the author is trying to do, I found this story wordy and the illustrations bleak with kind of a hopelessness to them that doesn't match the message of resilience that the text gives.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical family tree in the sense of genealogy.

The family finds they need to move due to Grandma and Grandpa's aging and no longer able to care for the home and land around it. The entire family will move together. Francis worries about a small spruce tree planted in Grandma's garden when Francis was very young. Will new people care for it and watch over it as her family has done? So the decision is made to dig up the tree and move it with them. Like all creatures the tree takes awhile to acclimate and struggles in its new home. Ultimately the family, and the little tree settle in.

This is a sweet story about family supporting one another as well as a tree which is part of them. Based on the author's own experiences and adding Ojibwe words and practices this story shows a great respect for family as well as the natural world. A glossary is included with a pronunciation guide.

Recommended for purchase by public and school libraries for children ages 4 - 8.

M.P.
Retired Library Associate

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely introduction to the worldview of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) about nature and family, this book is based on a true story of a young white spruce tree that moved from Grand Portage to Northern Minnesota. When very young, just a baby, Francis and family visit their grandparents in their home near Lake Superior and a tree is planted in Francis' honor. Eventually, the grandparents need to leave their independent home and move in with family. Francis' biggest concern? What will happen to the young spruce tree? This book seamlessly weaves STEM knowledge about tree's roots and their mycorrhizal networks with indigenous knowledge of this tree species, introducing many Ojibwemowin words along the way. I was delighted how the tree is gendered and named in this story, like the relative that she is, while Francis is not gendered in the book, though the name and clothing are male, as is the photo of the real life, but elderly, Francis. Lovely, gentle and masterful.

[Candance Doerr-Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story expanding our understanding of kinship and family. Little Francis has grown connected to a tree and the land the little spruce lives in. When Francis’ human relatives need to move, he pleads that they uproot the young tree and bring it with them to their new home. Like a beloved pet, Francis can not bear to be parted from his “gaawaandagoonce.”

The book features several words from Ojibwemowin, showing a familiarity and connection to plants and animals. The specifics are balanced well by the subtle intimacy of the collage and simple line drawings.

I plan to use this book to illustrate kinship and relationally across all living beings (plants, animals, humans, soil)

The book also serves as a strong mentor text for figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, etc.)

Excited to use this in my classroom this fall.

New: Birchbark books

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical family tree in the sense of genealogy. The family finds they need to move due to Grandma and Grandpa's aging and no longer able to care for the home and land around it. The entire family will move together. Francis worries about a small spruce tree planted in Grandma's garden when Francis was very young. Will new people care for it and watch over it as her family has done? So the decision is made to dig up the tree and move it with them. Like all creatures the tree takes awhile to acclimate and struggles in its new home. Ultimately the family, and the little tree settle in. This is a sweet story about family supporting one another as well as a tree which is part of them. Based on the author's own experiences and adding Ojibwe words and practices this story shows a great respect for family as well as the natural world.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bitter-sweet, sad, but hopeful book about having to leave one place, but slowly putting down roots and growing in some place new.

On its surface this is about a tree being moved from one place to another, a bit deeper and you get the story of a family having to sell one place but taking a bit of that place to a new place (in the form of a tree), dig even deeper (by reading the author's note) and you get a story of the Anishinaabe/Ojibwe people having to leave their homelands but still holding onto some of their roots and knowledge. "... like the little spruce tree [in the story] we continue to adapt and change while retaining the wisdom and knowledge of the forest, which was taught by our elders, who learned from those who came before them."

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing story of a tree that is planted in honor of a family wedding. The youngest member of the family, Frances, loves to visit the tree as it is almost as tall as they are. When the family needs to move, Frances asks if they can move the tree too. The family takes the little tree with them and though it struggles with the change at first, it flourishes with great care.

A bit heavy for storytime, but a great tale for understanding change and traditions.

[Maeve Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a tree on a families land who are indigenous to the area. The story is about the tree being planted and growing as the families grows eventually the tree has to move with the family and the store ends with the tree plantings its roots in a brand new place. I would use this text to teach my students about indigenous culture and for them to better understand the progression of the story and the symbolism.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is long, wordy, and fairly dreary, both in the color palette and themes. The personal story is touching, and I appreciate the inclusion of a glossary in the back, but this will appeal to adults far more than children.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching example of resilience with the support of loved ones and the natural world, love the seamless integration of Ojibwe language and the reminder that "trees, like people, are stronger together."

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little melancholy, but also hopeful. Reads like a magical fable, but the family history, and the science of trees, is accurate and true. Lovely, appealing, and important. I will look for more by both creators.

[Susan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, reverent Ojibwe story of a family taking meticulous care of a tree, rather than a tree being exploited by a kid (apologies to Shel Silverstein, but I much prefer this story). Respect for the earth and nature as part of the Ojibwe tradition is a bonus.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a tree that was given to a couple on their wedding day, and how they planted it in their home. I would use this book to teach a lesson about families, culture and heritage. It would include an activity on your family tree and where your family came from.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the diversity and the story, but it should be noted that this is a very wordy book.
3.5 stars

[Debra Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender and not what I expected.
The family tree also includes an actual tree.
How do they cope with change?
How are they cared for.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young Ojibwe girl helps her grandmother nurture a tree over time. When her grandmother is moving away, she wonders if it can come with them. A lovely story but a bit wordy.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this title about a tree and the family attachment to the tree and d the message that even though you may be uprooted from your location just like the tree one can grow new roots. Love the fact that native cultures use nature to teach about life happenings and life issues.
While others had some comments on editing and language style in this title I do not as speakers and writers of English as a second language many times do not use the words in the same way as we who have spoken English our entire lives. I am pleased to see cross cultural influences in children’s literature.