• Age: 2 to 5
• Grade: 2 to 5

A New York Times and CBC Books bestselling #OwnVoices love letter from an Indigenous mother to her new baby, new from celebrated author Tasha Spillett and 2021 Caldecott winning illustrator Michaela Goade, that honors the beauty of a little one's arrival

Drawing from Indigenous creation stories and traditional teachings and illustrated in dazzling watercolors, I Sang You Down from the Stars is a tribute to the bond between mother and child.

The narrator gathers gifts for a medicine bundle in anticipation of her baby’s birth; a fluffy white eagle plume, bunches of cedar and sage, a quilted star blanket, and a small stone from the river. When the baby arrives, the mother shares the bundle with her child and reveals the importance of each item inside. But when her family comes to meet the new arrival, she realizes the baby arrived with gifts of its own and that the baby is also a sacred bundle: a baby bundle.

Writing in simple, lyrical text, author Tasha Spillett draws from her cultural heritage in order to celebrate Indigenous traditions and the universal nature of a mother’s love, with stunning art by the 2021 Caldecott medal winner for We Are Water Protectors, Michaela Goade.

Tasha Spillett, PhD, (she/her/hers) is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and public speaker who draws her strength from her Cree and Trinidadian bloodlines. Tasha’s work centers around the liberation and affirmation of BIPOC women and children. She acknowledges her unique opportunity and responsibility as an Afro-Indigenous woman to create learning environments that are culturally responsive. Infusing her teaching with cultural knowledge, Tasha supports and fosters belonging amongst BIPOC students and their families.

Tasha is the author of the award-winning graphic novel series, Surviving the City, the New York Times bestselling picture book, I Sang You Down from the Stars, and Beautiful You, Beautiful Me. Tasha weaves her cultural identity into both her trade and scholarly work focusing on issues affecting Indigenous women like calls for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. Her work is a continuation of the resistance against the legacy of colonialism and a celebration of the beauty and brilliance of her ancestors.

Tasha Spillett's profile page

MICHAELA GOADE is a Tlingit award-winning illustrator. She grew up in the rain forests and on the beaches of Juneau, Alaska, and still makes her home on traditional Tlingit territory today. She is the illustrator of recent picture books We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, Encounter by Brittany Luby, and Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy, winner of the 2018 American Indian Youth Literature Best Picture Book Award.

 

Michaela Goade's profile page

• Commended, TD Summer Reading Club Top Recommended Read
• Commended, From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books
• Commended, ALSC Notable Children's Book
• Winner, McNally Robinson Book for Young People
• Commended, American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book
• Commended, Rise: A Feminist Book Project List
• Commended, A Best Children's Book of the Year
• Commended, A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2021
• Commended, A CBC Best Canadian Picture Book of 2021
• Commended, A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2021
• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens
• Commended, A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2021

"I Sang You Down From the Stars is, quite simply, the best book available in the 'Welcome Baby' category ... An instant timeless classic."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Storytelling and artwork in I Sang You Down from the Stars are both exquisite ... Readers looking for a heartwarming, inviting parent-child (mother-child) story, or those looking to gift a new family with an exceedingly beautiful picture book, I Sang You Down from the Stars is a top pick."

Fab Book Reviews

"A tender celebration of parenthood that will resonate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike.”

Publishers Weekly - STARRED REVIEW

"Graceful, lyrical language is accompanied by soft, soothing, watercolor and mixed media illustrations that shimmer with light and love. If you are looking for a gift for a family with a newborn, this would be a cherished selection."

Sal's Fiction Addiction

"Beautifully expresses a mother’s hopes, dreams and love for her newborn ... Marvelously conveys not only the bonds between mother and child but also the multitude of connections that await every child—connections to family, community and Earth itself."

BookPage - STARRED REVIEW

"The care and love felt through the pages of the illustrations are dreamlike and ethereal ... The emotions stirred by word choices and visual elements can be overwhelmingly tender."

School Library Journal - STARRED REVIEW

"[Tasha] Spillett's tender free-verse tribute to the joy of welcoming a new baby should resonate with any caregiver who has excitedly awaited a child's arrival ... [Michaela] Goade's ethereal watercolor and mixed-media illustrations soar across the page, overflowing with gorgeous touches ... I Sang You Down from the Stars will make a beautiful gift for an expecting family as well as a read-aloud to assure children they are loved."

Shelf Awareness - STARRED REVIEW

"Gorgeous, shimmering, heartfelt."

Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW