The four words : You hold me up ring throughout this picture book, highlighting the importance of family, trust, friendship and love.
Written by two Canadian authors, this story highlights the damage done by the government to indigenous children in the past and at times, now.
A pertinent issue for many countries around the world, and as an Australian, something we need to do more about.
Children being taken from their families, never to see them again was something that happened all too often and the stories that are emerging from this are atrocious.
Many of these children and families are on a long path to healing and can only do this with the support of the community around them.
This story reminds us that we are all human and that we all need love, respect and dignity.
Monique Gray Smith has written this with the littlest people in mind and hopes to encourage dialogue among children, their families and educators.
Danielle Daniel’s illustrations are vibrant and full of warmth and love. Each picture oozes the strength of each relationship and the bond held between the people involved.
Read this story with those around you and as you do, you will realise how important it is to hold everyone in our community up.
So what else can you do with this book?
- Think about how you can support those in your family when they are sad, have experienced something difficult or are just having a bad day.
- Investigate the Indigenous people of your country. How have they been treated in the past and how are they treated now?
- How do books like this inspire change? Can books inspire change?
- Look at the technique used by Danielle Daniels: bright colours, focus on faces and how we can draw emotion into people. Experiment with your own way of exploring happiness, love and support in art.
