This is a good, simple, introduction to the idea of the residency schools, and should probably be followed up with something that is a little more detailed. The history of the Residential Schools is a dark mark on Canadian History, but it needs to be told. The youth of today need to know that this happened and our government needs to continue to work toward reconciliation with the Native Canadians.

Amik loves school and shares this with his grandfather. When he discovers that his grandfather did not like his school, he asks why. Grandfather tells him very briefly about the residential school he lived in. He does not give a lot of detail about the horrors that many children experienced while at residential schools. Amik comes up with an idea to share how different his school is from the one his grandfather went to. He invites him to spend time with him at school and shows how the language of his people are taught at the school, and his heritage is now respected. They even smudge the room every morning, just as they do at home. His grandfather is happy that this school is not like the one he endured. The illustrations are well done and very respectful to the culture.

This is one of seven books that teach about the "Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe—love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth." I am looking forward to reading the other six in this series.

The residency schools are a dark mark left on a he indigenous peoples of Canada who survived them. But that isn't quite what this picture book is about and Amik only knows that he loves his school.

When he discovers that his grandfather did not like his school, he feels he has to share how different schools are now. He shows how the language of his people are taught at the school, and his heritage is now respected. They even smudge the room every morning, just as they do at home.

His grandfather is happy that this school is not like the one he endured.

Not as striking as some of the other picture books that have tried to explain the residency schools to school age children, it does not tell of the horrors that the children endured, but perhaps that is ok. It does let Amik know that things used to be much worse, and now they are better.

This is a good, simple, introduction to the idea of the residency schools, and should probably be followed up with some of the excellent picture books out there that do go more into this, such as "when we were alone" and "I am not a number" both of which either chronicle real relatives stories of being in the residency schools. Those are the only two I know of, and it this one makes three. There should be more books out there.

Just as there are books of the holocaust, and of the Japanese Internment, there needs to be books that chronicle what happened, so the children, and grandchildren can understand and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

In awe of this gem! Beyond the importance of teaching about the horror of residential schools, this was an insightful children's story. Katherena Vermette just continues to impress!

A touching story about the bond between a boy and his grandfather. The contrast between their experiences of school was informative and sentimental, and the grandfather's response to seeing Anishinaabe culture validated at Amik's school was heartwarming. The illustrations are lovely.