• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

Based in Duck Bay, Manitoba, in the 1940s, an Elder shares his experience of packing up to go out to collect blueberries, a traditional gathering that took place every summer. He describes the journey and landscape with humor and such vivid imagery that readers will see themselves there with him, boarding the trail of wagons from surrounding communities and heading east toward the blueberry patch. The Elder's stories offer a journey back in time and are complemented by images of fields of plump blueberries, tall green grass, bannock baking over an open fire, clear freshwater streams and the tents the people slept in.

Written in English and Anishinaabemowin.

Jennifer Leason self-identifies as Saulteaux–Métis Anishinaabek. Her maternal Indigenous roots are from Duck Bay, Pine Creek First Nation and Camperville, Manitoba; her paternal Ukrainian-Norwegian roots are in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. She is the mother of two children. Jennifer is an advocate for women and for Indigenous communities, and she teaches at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD (2017), an MA (IGS), and a BA in psychology. Jennifer is a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band in Camperville, Manitoba.

Jennifer Leason's profile page

Norman Chartrand is Saulteaux–Métis Anishinaabek. He is Jennifer's great-uncle and the son of Elise Beauchamp and Arthur Jacque (Jimmy) Chartrand. Elise Beauchamp was the daughter of Philoméne Klyne and Jean Beauchamp. Julia Brass was the daughter of Julia McLeod of Pelly and George Brass. Jean Beauchamp was the son of Nancy Chartrand and Joseph Beauchamp. His ancestors come from the Riding Mountain territory in Manitoba.He is a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band in Camperville, Manitoba.

Norman Chartrand's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

★ “Acutely joyful.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review