Tâpwê and the Magic Hat

by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Michelle Alynn Clement (Illustrator)

From beloved Indigenous icon Buffy Sainte-Marie comes a chapter book inspired by oral histories and traditions. On a prairie reserve, Tâpwê receives a mysterious gift from Kokhom (grandma)—and finds himself on an unforgettable adventure.

Tâpwê can’t wait to spend a week with his cousins on the other side of the Cree reserve—especially since Kokhom, his grandma, has given him the most amazing gift: a Magic Hat with bluebirds and grass snakes that come to life! Tâpwê is so excited that he soon forgets Kokhom’s advice: Watch out for tricksters!

Tâpwê’s adventure is everything he imagined. He meets his cousins, takes part in a powwow, and sleeps in a tipi. But soon he’s reminded of Kokhom’s words. Is his new friend Wâpos leading him astray with mischief?

Genres: Indigenous, Childrens

152 pages, Hardcover

Published June 7, 2022

About the author

Buffy Sainte-Marie, CC (born Beverly Sainte-Marie) is an Indigenous Canadian-American singer-songwriter, musician, Oscar-winning composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist. Throughout her career in all of these areas, her work has focused on issues facing Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Her singing and writing repertoire also includes subjects of love, war, religion, and mysticism. She has won recognition, awards and honours for her music as well as her work in education and social activism.

In 1983, Buffy Sainte-Marie became the first Indigenous person to win an Oscar. Her song Up Where We Belong, co-written for the film, An Officer and a Gentleman won both the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 55th Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

In 1997, she founded the Cradleboard Teaching Project, an educational curriculum devoted to better understanding Native Americans.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC provided by the publisher.

What I loved most about this book was the way in which the author wove together a modern Native narrative with traditional folktales and songs. The writing was at times lyrical, with beautiful imagery--I could taste the chokecherries and maple sugar, and I could smell the sweetgrass burning. Tapwe is curious and full of energy. Although he is momentarily seduced by the Trickster's antics (as so many are), he learns an important lesson about being true to yourself. His authenticity is what literally keeps the magic alive! A fun tale of family, friends, tradition, and magic.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a week, Tapwe got to visit his cousins who lived on the other side of the reservation. While there he met Trickster whom he was warned about by his grandmother. The Magic Hat that Tapwe was given by his grandmother was so special and had to be cared for, but Tapwe started forgetting about it. That became a problem. His adventure was so much fun but Tapwe learned a lot of lessons, even from the Trickster.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This trickster tale based on Cree legends involves a very wily rabbit named Wâpos. A young boy named Tâpwê is visiting relatives far from home. Kohkom (grandmother) has given him a magic hat, a feathered headdress adorned with live talking snakes and birds, which he is excited to wear. She tells him stories about the hat and about Wâpos, and Tâpwê feels he’s prepared to engage with the rabbit when he meets the human-like animal. And sure enough, Tâpwê gets fooled by Wâpos again and again: the rabbit tricks Tâpwê out of the magic hat and beats him at the game of Possum and Bat. Tâpwê’s cousins tell other stories about the trickster. Each time, the tricked person learns something about human nature by thinking about what Wâpos did.

Full of native songs, dances and magical creatures, this silly story is an immersion into a Cree folkloric world through the eyes of a boy. Cree practices still in use today are also mentioned – I liked reading about pounding chokeberries and burning sweetgrass. Cree words, which are frequent, are easily understood through context clues, and there’s a glossary at the end. Black and white artwork is interspersed.

A few problems: there are vocabulary words which are not in the glossary, such as saskatoon and bannock, which may be puzzling to young readers. I felt that the story was overly wordy and a bit moralistic.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tâpwê visits some extended family on the reserve during the summer, and his Kohkom gifts him a magic hat and a warning to watch out for tricksters. So begins his summer full of adventures. While it's not an "authentic legend," this chapter book shares Indigenous culture and includes a glossary with pronunciation at the back. Clement's illustrations throughout bring Tâpwê's summertime fun and lessons to life. For kids who like folktales or anyone that likes those that teach a lesson, like The Tortoise and the Hare or Anansi the Spider.

[Amy (novelteahappyme) · Rating 3 out of 5]

With it’s important message for young readers about being yourself and learning to dance to the beat of your own heart, Buffy Sainte-Marie has created a lovely tale inspired by Indigenous oral histories and traditions.

Advanced readers copy reviewed for CM Magazine ... fully review to be posted in their online publication.

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my doubts when I picked this book up. The art style isn't that great and the interior illustrations are kind of childish. That being said, it was a really nice and enjoyable story. I really enjoyed the message of true friendship and sticking to your beliefs even when you want to be someone cooler. I loved the magical realism, the world needs more magical realism in kids books.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute middle grade/kids read - a sort of introduction to kids for tricksters and a good moral of treating everyone kindly. Loved all the Cree wording throughout that helped keep the story authentic and introduce my kid to other languages. We enjoyed the story and my sister illustrated the book based on some old drawings Buffy did - thought they were really cute!

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan at all of the art in this one, and I'm trying to take the story, a faux trickster tale, at face value, but it feels like a mix of tribal legends a that could not be assigned to one group in particular. Knowing what we know, or at least suspect, now about Buffy Sainte-Marie, I guess that makes sense. But it's a damn shame. I loved her picture book.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy spends the summer with family and friends and learns many lessons.

[Kaeleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my Gr. 2 & 3 library students; they really enjoyed it. I found it problematic at times and was not a fan of much of the writing style.