We Are Water Protectors

We are Water Protectors 

By Carole Lindstrom 

1. Bibliography 

Lindstrom, Carole. 2020. We are Water Protectors. Ill. By Michaela Goade. Roaring Book Press.

ISBN 9781250203557 

 

2. Plot Review 

This picture book is about a young girl who is part of an Ojibewe tribe whose role is to be the protector of water. She has been taught from an early age that water is sacred and a “black snack” will come and destroy her land, the water, the plants, and animals that live on her land. It is her job as the protector of water to stand up and represent those who cannot represent themselves. She is a water protector (Stewards of the Earth) who takes a stand with others to fight the black snake and protect the waters of her land. 

 

3. Critical Review 

This picture book is written from the point of view of a young water protector. The book is written in a lyrical format. You can almost feel the emotion of the young girl and her love for the Earth and the plants and animals that share space with her. The author uses similes and metaphors in the story to give the reader a visual. The illustrations are beautiful watercolor. The illustrator's work leads you to see the bravery on the young girl's face and you see the beauty of the water, the plants, and animals that she is trying to protect. Through the illustrations you feel the coldness and scariness of the black snack and recognize the damage it could cause. The author writes the lines We stand/With our Song/ And Our drums/ We are still here. These lines show up three times in the story and the reader will notice that the illustrator has generational pictures around this saying, and the reader can recognize that these water protectors are not new; they have been around for a long time. Both the author with her words and the illustrator with her pictures leave the reader with a feeling of pride and appreciation for the water protectors and how they are working to protect our Earth. 

 

4. Review Excerpts 

• Caldecott Award, 01/01/2021 

• Kirkus Reviews Starred, “An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected planet.” 

• Publishers Weekly Starred, Observation is not enough, the book communicates: action is necessary. 

 

 

 

 

5. Connections 

At the book's end, there is a pledge called The Earth Steward and Water Protector Pledge. It would make for a great discussion and an opportunity to pledge support for the Earth. 

The author has a website with activities as well here is that link We are Water Protectors. 

For a cross-curricular activity a student could create an Oil Spill to assist in further understanding of the damage the “black snake” could cause on the environment. Directions can be found here.