David Robertson is a fantastic Indigenous author from Manitoba who has written many great books, and The Song That Called Them Home is just another great book that can be added to this list of accomplishments. Retelling a breathtaking story of creation and the first peoples on Turtle Island (Canada), the writing and imagery help to tell the story in a way that young readers can follow while adding to the beauty of the book as a whole. As a teacher I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

David A. Robertson could write a grocery list, and I would read it without hesitation. Add in legends and gorgeous graphics, and I am enamoured. Robertson has again created an accessible means for young people to learn about Indigenous stories, while being reminded of the importance of family and traditions.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing me with a complimentary advance copy, in exchange for my honest opinion. I will be buying copies of this book for many of the youngsters in my life.

I thought that this was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. The story! The illustrations! The folklore! UGH! IT was all just so amazing and I cannot wait to share this with as many people as I can!

It was also a really great insight into a traditional story. I thought it was really beautiful.

This is an indigenous story about two kids crossing paths with the Memekwesewak, mischievous creatures that live in and around water and like to interfere with humans.
One day Lauren and her little brother went fishing with their grandfather. When the grandfather falls asleep, they decide to take the canoe out themselves. But then the Memekwesewak tip over the canoe and lure the kids into their world to dance with them. They lose track of time and are ultimately stuck. Only a song can call them back home. Will the grandfather be able to break the charm of the Memekwesewak and reunite with his grandchildren?

This picture book has beautiful illustrations that depict the spiritual world wonderfully. The Memekwesewak seem quite scary, though. But as with every wild thing, we shouldn’t fear it but respect it. Fear will immobilize us, but respect will keep us and them safe. Every wild creature contributes in its own way to nature. Without them, it will become unbalanced. That’s why I love indigenous teachings about spirits. They are so powerful, but we are, too, if we listen and honour them.

An interesting short story that reads a bit like some myths. I would have enjoyed this as a novel. I could see it being adapted for his Misewa saga.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

The Song That Called Them Home by David A. Robertson was a short children's story about a brother and sister who go on a fishing trip with their grandfather, only to get kidnapped by the mythical Memekwesewak (don't ask me to pronounce it, I've tried) creatures, humanoid water creatures that enjoy making mischief. Lauren and her brother James have trouble escaping until they hear their grandfather's drum calling them home.

This was a beautifully illustrated book and story. It's always interesting to see different cultures depicted in picture books, but it felt a bit disjointed for me since, a: it was very short/not a lot of script and b: I was new to the folklore and it wasn't explained at all. I know this book will be a tremendous pleasure for many out there, but I personally felt a bit removed from it without further background info.

Two youngsters become part of a legend of one of the indigenous peoples of Canada. It means being drawn into the world of strange beings and becoming part of their dance until they were rescued by the constant beat of Grandfather's drum. A fine story beautifully rendered and shared with family and others.
The illustrations by Maya McKibbin are fun, dreamlike, colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a picture book based on the folklore of 'Memekwesewak', the dwarf creatures found around Turtle island. Author gave a way to the story for the mystery lies in the ancient built-up myth of the indegenious people of the Seneca tribe and likewise.
Here James and Lauren, two siblings who were riding canoe went downwards with the effect of whirlpool and found that Memekwesewak were taking them with them at some place where they danced on the waves of water and to forests and skies & return to their side of shore, back to their 'Moshom' (GrandPa in native language).

It is a nice story with a touch of some other part of world's folklore and quite musically adventurous. Illustrations were so soothing and colourful, with facials matched with the depicted kind of native tribes' people.

Really great children's book with lots of great lessons and connections! I enjoyed reading the story and the elements included in it. Love the tie in about being called home and the message that the strong pull and feeling of family can bring you back home.

<i>4.1.2023
The original ARC, via the Kindle Fire, was unreadable [the pictures were cut up, and out of order, making it close to impossible to read. I am going to try downloading it to my computer and if that fails, I will waiting until it is published [4.4] and see if I can find it through one of my libraries to be able to read and review that way. It is very disappointing.</i>

Well for all that [see above], I didn't enjoy this story much when I finally did get it downloaded to my computer [where, thankfully, it was fully readable]. I am a complete outlier in my general dislike of this book, but it just didn't work for me.

While the story was interesting [any time indigenous stories are told, it is a good day], I 100% didn't love the illustrations [every single person looks so angry through the whole book - even when they are smiling, their eyes are angry and it was very disconcerting] and I would have loved some context about the Memekwesewak before the story started [this comes at the end of the book, but it would have worked better at the beginning as either a note from the author, like at the end, or as actually PART of the story - I think it would have made the flow of the story better, especially of those of us who are not familiar with indigenous stories [but want to learn].

Overall, this just didn't work for me and I cannot really recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, David A. Robertson, Maya McKibbon - Illustrator, and Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a stunning story inspired by an indigenous folktale. I love that there is a little bit of that spooky fairytale factor. I also love the way they depicted the speculative aspects and the movement between worlds. I also love how the children were depicted, both are not gender typical ( this is NOT to say that the story or even the illustration is assigning any type of sexuality or even gender to these kids, just that they are not illustrated in the gender norm). I wish I could have heard this book on audio since there is an actual song in it and I would have loved to have heard it sung. Even still, it was written so rhythmically that I FELT like I was listening to it. I really enthusiastic recommendation from me.

Overall the book was visually stunning. However, I feel like the explanation of what the Memekwesewak are would be better served at the beginning of the book than the end. On my first read-through I didn't realize what the spirits represented in terms of danger for the kids.

This is a fascinating and spooky tale inspired by Indigenous legends. It may be a bit too scary for younger children—especially those who canoe or swim in lakes—so some parental discretion is advised. Maya McKibbin’s illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. I appreciated that the sister in the story is not stereotypically girly in the illustrations but somewhat androgynous in appearance, although this may initially cause a bit of confusion. My only criticism is that the pacing felt a little rushed at times. I would have loved to see it as a longer picture book or perhaps even a short graphic novel.

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley.
Robertson offers a look at an older legend of the Memekwesewak. Readers see two siblings and their grandfather head to the lake to fish. While the grandfather dozes, Lauren and James set out on the lake to fish. When the water gets rough, their canoe overturns and James is drawn underwater. Lauren finds her bravery and follows to rescue him. Both are then entranced by the Memekwesewak and lose all track of time or other locations until they hear a different drumbeat. This beat sounds familiar and calls them home. Beautiful message of love bringing wanderers home. The illustrations capture the settings and invite readers to be part of this story.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and cannot wait to see a hard copy so I can fully appreciate the beautiful illustrations! I love the way movement is implied through the way the illustrations are drawn (especially the ripples in the water!). I had never heard of the Memekwesewak and it was fun being introduced to them! Also, I think kids would love this story and see a lot of read about potential.

I almost always love stories with grandparents so these kids and their Moshem are a delight! I also love the sibling dynamic and the representation and telling of an Indigenous legend.

Definitely a great book for an elementary school classroom or a kid's library!

I am biased because I enjoy all of David Robertson’s work. I really loved this retelling of a traditional Cree tale because it brought the entertaining, trickster elements of Indigenous storytelling to the forefront. In this book, it is the Memekwesewak who play tricks on the children but the enduring theme of family and home anchors the story. I can see these stories becoming part of mainstream consciousness the way Aesop’s fables and the Grimm’s fairy tales are, and that gets me really excited considering how long they have been around for. The artwork perfectly complements the writing; it’s bright, lively and wonderful..

I really enjoyed this story and learning about Indigenous stories of Memekwesewak, a story that I had not heard before. The illustrations are beautiful and I think that diversity and representation in books is so important.

I think that I would read this only with older children because of the way water safety was handled. I am so passionate about the importance of life jackets and was disappointed that there was no discussion of water safety. The children paddle a canoe on their own with no supervision and struggle to control the boat, while leaving life jackets on the shore. Supervision and life jackets are so important on the water. In the author's note he shares an experience his father had where he saw a canoe move through a waterfall - I wish that in this story instead of the kids going through an underwater portal they travelled through a waterfall. This would have allowed them to wear lifejackets. I worry that the children's adventure would inspire other kids to swim down too deep without a lifejacket or adult supervision.

My familiarity with both Indigenous myths *and* the works of Indigenous kidlit is extremely limited, so I appreciate having access to works like this. A pair of siblings are transported to the land of the Memekwesewak (Little People), entranced by their music, until they hear the familiar beating of their grandfather's drum. Robertson's sparse text is accompanied by McKibbin's capital G-gorgeous images, and I especially loved the spread depicting the transitions between the two worlds. This story will be most enjoyable for readers who enjoy a bit of fright, and would make an excellent read-aloud experience.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This book was a little scary for my taste. I liked the premise but would not share with younger kids.

James and Lauren head to the lake with their Moshom (Grandfather) who soon falls asleep. James takes the chance to take the canoe out, but the Memekwesewak (Little People) take him away. Lauren was determined to rescue him, but the Memekwesewak's eerie music casts a trance on them - until the familiar sound of Moshom's drum beats calls them home.
Read A Song That Called Them Home to foster discussions on folktales, indigenous communities, courage, strength, and resilience.