WOW, what a wonderful, gorgeous, important and timely book. There are stories about indigenous heroes here, but I also learned about so many different kinds of interesting people. The illustrations are gorgeous and this is just such a positive book, while also showing the struggles of indigenous people now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

We Are Who We Are by Wab Kinew is a rhyming picture book introducing young readers to Indigenous Americans and what they have done throughout history and the modern day.

The book doesn't shy away from the fact that many Indigenous Americans are still fighting for their rights and how governments keep offering money for land. It also briefly touches on racism against a backdrop of a modern gathering of Indigenous peoples, which helps affirm that they are not relics of the past but are still part of the present.

There are figures from a variety of peoples in here, including Cherokee, Navajo, and Metís, and the back of the book has profiles on each figure for readers to do more research after the brief introduction each figure is given. This makes it a good choice for classrooms and libraries for elementary school students as it can serve as the beginning to a broader lesson plan.

The art is very distinct and colorful but also full of wonderful earth tones. It has a strong sense of realism that helps to solidify to young readers that the people in the book are people, not cartoon characters like they might see on TV.

I would recommend this to educators and guardians looking to start introducing Indigenous narratives to young people and young readers who show a lot for connecting the past with the present

The illustrations are beautiful, especially the details in the sky and clouds, it looks like a layered painting. Rhyming couplets sharing history and biographies of important Louis Riel. It is the perfect introduction to a number of important names and stories that can encourage readers to inquire more. I love that so many different Indigenous groups are represented and that elements of the culture are included in the illustrations. The book ends with short 2-3 sentence biographies of the people mentioned in the story. I could definitely see myself using this book in my classroom. It would be a great way to introduce students to biographies, spark curiosity and share elements of Indigenous histories and culture, all in one book! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

This books tells the stories of indigenous heroes of North AMERICA. It's gives a brief summary of 13 people from different walks of life who have influenced their country positively and served as great representatives and heroes of their community. Each story is succinctly yet poetically and lyrically told giving a brief glimpse into their achievements and wetting the appetite to know more. At the end of the book there is a small biography of each with slightly more details. It also also beautiful illustrations that help the stories to come alive. There is a strong message, 'they are who they are', and that is their strength, they fought for the freedom of the indigenous people and have left a legacy for the next generation to enjoy. It is a beautiful celebration of first nations culture and gives some helpful insights into their lives and what they stood for. It's a must for anyone wanting to understand indigenous history in North AMERICA and to help children understand the value they bring to the nation.

Well done story that weaves a whole bunch of important figures in Indigenous history into a picture book that shows how important different cultures are in the world we live in. The illustrations are nice and for the most part the flow is there. A few times, I was confused about the links between the historical figures presented and the overall message, but ultimately it works.

This is a good bedtime or read aloud book for a younger reader that could be used to spark a conversation about Indigenous culture or the importance of differences.

I also found it really interesting to read the short histories of each of the important people who were presented in the main story. It's great that it's there because I didn't have to look it up and it would serve as a way into the deeper histories with the enthusiastic child.

Great for gifting.

A tribute to the indigenous men and women who are woven into our collective history but often forgotten, "We Are Who We Are" gives them space to celebrate their achievements with biographies at the end to expand on the figures.

I loved the art style and the line "Our culture is rich/ we come from the stars./ They may say we're poor / we are who we are" has stayed with me long after reading the book.

It was touching and a good jumping off point for deeper conversations on the different historical figures and their contributions. So while this picture book may not have all the answers right away, it is a way to introduce children to modern and historic men and women that strived to make a difference for indigenous communities and the world.

A wonderful collection of important indigenous men and women throughout history who may not have received as much recognition as they deserved. I loved the illustrations, lyrics, and heartfelt biographies that serve to educate and inspire the reader. I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

I was given this ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The illustrations in this book are amazing. They use vibrant colors and show a unique art style that is both informative and beautiful. I appreciated how the book highlights important indigenous people throughout history. I think that having the writing written in verse made it lose some of the context. The rhyming felt forced. It gave me more questions than answers. I would have appreciated a small blurb on each page about the important figures. I wanted to know more about what contributions each person made and when, their tribes/background, and what part of North America they hail from, etc.

Gorgeous! The words beg to be read aloud. You can get lost in the illustrations.- so beautiful As I read, I was hoping there would be biographies of the people mentioned. It was such a wonderful read. I cannot wait to share this with others.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A gorgeous picture book celebrating indigenous tribes.

A really interesting way in to finding out more about indigenous peoples and their contributions to making a better world for all.
The illustrations are lovely and the mini bios at the end are a great way of accessing more information about the people featured.
On the back of having read this book, I'll definitely be finding out more about some of the heroes.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

"So you can be you."

Told with rhythm and rhyme, this picture book highlights the remarkable achievements and feats of indigenous people throughout history. With breathtaking illustrations, the reader is transported throughout North America to gain a deeper understanding of history and the indigenous people who have shaped it.

This is a great picture book to add to libraries and personal collections. I am adding it to my order list for this coming school year.

Thank you to Tundra Book Group, Tundra Books, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This picture book explored the lives of over a dozen indigenous heroes. It was great to hear their stories and see their likeness.

A loving tribute in verse to some lesser recognized (but no less amazing!) Indigenous heroes from past and present. This is truly a beautiful sentiment alongside powerful, gorgeously done illustrations -- a necessary addition to any children's library!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Magnificent artwork accompanies the powerful phrase @We are who we are”. People from the past are honored throughout. Dedicated biographies are included in the back.