I love that this book brings more diversity to picture books, it is needed. I will be purchasing this for the library. I love the message, and I think it would be a great pick for kids.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley for an e-ARC to read and review. This book is beautifully illustrated, and the spectacular artwork is an incredible fit for a story that quite literally draws you in. I am very interested in reading about Canada's indigenous communities and this was a lovely addition to my reading list that I'd highly recommend for kids (and adult readers!) everywhere. I really appreciated and enjoyed the story of Memekwesewak on-page, and through the author's ending note.

David A Robertson has done it again with another beautifully written book that embraces Canada’s indigenous folk tales about creatures called Memekwesewak. This is a legend common to the Peoples of Turtle Island. This book flows in a manner that is easy and fun to follow. The story is magical, the story is engaging, the story is at times haunting and it shares a voice that is so important in children’s literature. The book does give the reader information about the Memekwesewak, but it happens at the end of the book. This would have been a great author's note at the beginning to give a little background knowledge to those readers who do not have the knowledge of the different creatures and characters included in the story. But reviewing and learning at the end was also helpful to gain context.

Lauren, her brother and their Moshom (grandfather) go fishing one day. When grandpa fell asleep the children decided to fish in a canoe by themselves. While they are finished the canoe tips and Lauren’s brother is pulled away by the Memekwesewak — creatures who live in and around water and like to interfere with humans. She follows because she knows she needs to rescue her brother. She then becomes enthralled by the Memekwesewak’s song. In the distance they hear a steady beat. A familiar song they know that helps call them home.

Beyond the story the graphics were absolutely stunning. They added to the magic created in this tale. I cannot wait to add this book to my classroom collection. It is totally worth it.

Beautiful illustrations and so happy to see more indigenous representation, especially in children's' books! The only criticism.I have is that I wish the author's note about Memekwesewak was included before the beginning of the story so that readers and their children can get a little bit more understanding and context for some of the main actors in the story.

A beautiful book full of fabulous illustrations. One of the few books the children added to their list of 'real' books they wanted on the bookshelf.
A delight to read as a family, a classic.

Two children go on a trip to the land with their moshom (grandfather). Getting there tires him out. While Moshom naps, the hungry children, Lauren and James, take the canoe out onto the lake to go fishing.

Lauren has never paddled a canoe before. It capsizes and as she comes to the surface, she sees Memekwesewak taking James away. She follows after them and ends up in a portal to another place. Going through it in search of James, she arrives at an island where he is dancing around a huge fire with Memekwesewak. As she tries to pull him away, she too is caught up in the dance. They lose all sense of time. They forget why they are there.

A sound, thum thump, thum thump, brings them out of their trance. It is Moshom, beating his drum, calling them home. And so they dance again, this time following the same route in reverse.

Maya McKibbin's illustrations give this a Disney feel. I can imagine this tale, using her artwork, told in a short animated video.

In the author's note in the back matter, Robertson talks about the Memekwesewak: these little people are a humanoid race of people here on earth. We are the other. According to him, "Memekwesewak live between rocks, in the rapids, amid the trees of the land that provides us with life. They are mischievous. It is said that one of their favorite things to do is to crawl out of the rocks and capsize canoes. Children are far more likely to see them. Memekwesewak have a soft spot for children, and will help them out when they are in trouble or sad."

These Memekwesewak are interesting creatures. I wish my Menominee grandmother was still here so I could ask her about them. I remember her talking about the little people. I thought she was referring to the fairies and elves I grew up believing lived in the world around us. I like this idea better.

Absolutely captivating story and illustrations! Readers of all ages will love The Song that Called Them Home! I love that Robertson is sharing his incredible stories with younger readers with a picturebook too. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I cannot express how excited I am to bring this book into our library! I have so many K-2 students who are looking for spooky folk tales, similar to how their older siblings read scary stories by Hahn and Schwartz. This book is PERFECT for that gap in our library with its combination of bringing in often unheard stories, creepy plot with eerie illustrations, and the happy ending that younger students need to end their scary tales. I know that this book will fly off the shelves! I cannot wait to purchase multiple copies.

The song that called them home is a story from the indigenous communities of Turtle Island. I always love to hear stories like these, where you learn that someplace in this earth, there's these creatures hidden in this earth that helps little kids. This time, they brought the children to them, but lucky their grandpa knows how to call them back home.

What an absolutely beautiful book by David A.Robertson! I can’t wait to see this on my library’s shelves and in my students’ hands. Lauren and James spend the day at the lake with Moshom, their grandfather, but when James is pulled away by the Memekwesewak, Lauren must follow! What an amazing way to introduce readers to lesser-known indigenous legends and stories. The artwork by Maya McKibben is absolutely beautiful.

A beautiful story and introduction to a legend common to the First peoples of Turtle Island. David A Robertson’s books are always wonderful and this is no exception. The prose is engaging and easy to understand and the illustrations are eye catching and magnificent. A must addition to any library, school, or diverse collection of picture books.

A stunning, heart warming and faintly spooky story of two children pulled away by the Memekwesewak - creatures who live in and around water and like to interfere with humans - and the song that calls them home. Look for it on it’s 4.4.2023 release date so you too can show love to @davidrobertsonwriter ‘s gorgeous words and @mkchibs ‘s stunning illustrations. Thanks to @penguinrandomca and #NetGalley for this copy to preview.
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Lauren and her brother James go on a long journey to the land with their moshom (grandpa). When they arrive, moshom is tired so takes a nap.Lauren is hungry, so she takes her brother James into the canoe with her and they head out into the lake. Unfortunately, Lauren has never paddled a canoe alone, and they begin to drift. Suddenly, their canoe is surrounded by whirling water, and capsizes. Lauren and James fall in, and Lauren sees her brother being pulled away by the Memekwesewak. She follows him through a portal into another world, where they both get swept up in the songs and dances of the Memekwesewak. Is there a song stronger than the Memekwesewak’s that can help the children remember their home?
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I have yet to come across a David A Robertson work that I do not love in some way - some make me smile, some make me uncomfortable and some make me think but I always love them. This is no different. Based on a sighting that his father was a child, this story gives life to the many Indigenous stories of the Memekwesewak (“Little People”). Known to be mischievous, with a particular fondness for capsizing canoes, here Robertson shows the Memekwesewak to be both a bit eerie and kind to children. I absolutely adore Maya McKibbin’s illustrations, which give life to the words, vibrant and beautiful, and pull you into the children’s journey. This story not only highlights the Little People, but also the power of song and family. I love that Moshom’s drumming and song calls the children home. This will be a well loved book in many libraries for years to come. Make sure to look for it on shelves in April!

4.5 stars.

The Song That Called Them Home is yet another wonderful picture book from David A. Robertson. The story is filled with familial love, especially the love of a sister for a brother and a grandparent for their grandchildren. The fantasy story woven around Indigenous legends (the author is Cree but mentions in his note at the end that similar legends exist in other Indigenous nations) is an engaging ones that brings traditional stories to life in a way that's relatable for modern kids. I do wish it had been longer, but I suspect that that would have been too long for a picture book and I'm only saying this as an adult reader. The art is gorgeous--I've read something else illustrated by McKibbin before and I remember enjoying their work there too, but the landscapes here especially stood out for me.

Overall a great book that I would definitely recommend for children of all ages (provided they aren't too spooked by stories about being lured away from their families by mythical beings). I'm always looking out for new works by Robertson, and now I'm excited for future works from McKibbin too.

What a lovely, beautifully illustrated story. We loved the way the children were portrayed, and the familiar-yet-unique story of the Memekwesewak. Growing up in the PNW, we were always on the lookout for water people (although I knew them by a different name then). This story reminds us of the power of our family to guide us when we need it.

Thanks to netgalley, the author, and publisher for sharing an ARC of this sweet Indigenous story.

This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the tale of little people from Anishinaabe culture. Lauren and James leave their sleeping moshom (grandfather) to try their luck at fishing from a canoe. The little people tip their canoe and they are transported to another world, as Lauren follows James, who has traveled through a waterfall into another realm. It is the sound of their moshom's drum that calls them back home. The back matter explains the legend of the little people and an experience the author's father had with them. There are many cultures that share stories of little people, and this story about the memekwesewak from Turtle Island is a super addition. The illustrations are absolutely amazing!

Thanks to David A Robertson, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Robertson is such an incredible storyteller and this picturebook is no exception! The story is about two kids, Lauren and James, who fall into the water and discover the world of the Memekwesewak.

The illustrations are truly stunning and the story is super interesting! I think it will definitely be another must have Indigenous picturebook that will be on all the lists about what books to buy.

I hadn’t heard any stories about these creatures/beings, so learning a bit more was amazing. I love picturebooks that teach us about cultural stories in accessible ways.

The setting is super cool and I love that music is such an important part of the story. I also find the highlighting of connection and home really beautiful.

Overall, this book is full of gorgeous pictures and words. It’s a quick, but powerful read about finding your way home and adventure. I highly recommend this picturebook and all of Robertson’s other works honestly!

The art style in this was simply beautiful. I appreciated how it told an indigenous story without being like "HERE IS A NATIVE STORY.'" I also loved the ending with the drum that helps you find your way home and how it mimics the heart beat. I know this is a children's book, but I would've liked to see a bit more with the dancing and how they were called home. I also liked the information in the back about the legend.

This book is about 2 children that are in a boat and their magical adventure that leads them back to their grandfather.

Another stunning example of David A. Robertson's powerful storytelling and yet another reason to own everything he writes. With engaging illustrations from Maya McKibbin, this intriguing and compelling tale pulls the reader into the world of two grandchildren who find themselves lost and at the mercy of the Memekwesewak ("little people") after their Moshom falls asleep at the water's edge. Will they be forever lost in the music of the Memekwesewak or will their Grandfather call them home with a more alluring song? Coming April 2023 from Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra straight to your local storylady's bookshelf.

This was a nice and enjoyable read! The illustrations were beautiful! Very well done! Cant wait to see this book in stores!