BLUES HANDS BOOKS

The author’s picture book helps Indigenous children see themselves in familiar stories   Sponsored by Annick Press P icture books help children learn about their identity, navigate new situations, and embrace themselves through relatable characters who are facing new challenges. If someone is not represented in books, those lessons can be more difficult to internalize. To expand these opportunities for Indigenous children, whose stories and unique challenges are underrepresented in picture books, Rebecca Thomas created Swift Fox All Along , the story of a young girl who meets her Mi’kmaw family for the first time after growing up offreserve. "Representation is crucial for young Indigenous people," Thomas says. "I never saw anyone who looked like me or had a similar experience growing up represented in books, movies, or TV." Those of her books that did include Indigenous people often