Review by GiGi Kang
Medicine Wheel Publishing, PUB: 2025
28 pages, Hardcover, $22.99 CAD,
978-1-7785-4063-9
Ages: 4-6
Children’s Books, Picture books
“I feel the thick moss beneath my feet and notice the beautiful big ferns growing beside the huckleberry bush.
I am thankful.
What are you thankful for?“
I Am Connected is about unity. Ḵung Jaadee’s picture book, illustrated by Carla Joseph, inspires readers to observe and reflect on our relationships with each other, the environment, animals, our ancestors, and ourselves.
The story follows a young narrator who grew up on Haida Gwaii. Throughout the book, readers are shown the gratitude she feels for the place she calls home through the slow pacing of the story as she takes her time to appreciate the land. For example, Joseph’s various illustrations depict the narrator standing barefoot as she feels the energy of the Earth, watching the motions of the ocean, and seeing the world from treetops. Joseph’s illustrations are captivating as they highlight natural beauty and give readers the opportunity to appreciate Haida Gwaii too.
Notably, some spreads include specific details of Haida Gwaii like its ravens and eagles, the dormant volcano Taaw Sdalee, and Alaskan mountains in the distance. While I Am Connected is based in Haida Gwaii, it presents the idea that connectedness can be practiced anywhere. Questions are posed throughout the book, such as, “Is there a favourite place you like to walk to? What do you notice along the way?” Jaadee’s thoughtful prompts invite readers to engage with the text and will inspire reflection, no matter where they are.
The unrushed pace, coupled with detailed illustrations, demonstrates the calm that comes from connectedness. The story propels the idea that there is a certain oneness we feel from all that is around us, and the narrator revels in that feeling. For example, the final page is a beautiful spread depicting the narrator’s ancestors with closed eyes, looking serene, as a raven floats over them with orcas in the background and a beautiful pink sky. In the spread, the narrator shares, “The ancestors, Mother Earth, the trees, the animals, all people, you and me…We are all connected.” It is a soft moment of admiration for all there was, is, and will be.
Toward the end, the narrator becomes a grandmother. On page 20, she shares, “I am becoming connected to my granddaughter. I sing nursery rhymes to her in our language; I speak to her in X̱aad Kíl (Haida language).” The moment is tender as readers get to trace the narrator’s appreciation of her own ancestors to becoming a grandmother herself who passes down love and knowledge. It may inspire young readers to think about what they love most about their relationships with their own ancestors.
Overall, I Am Connected is a thought-provoking story with complementary illustrations. The prose and art highlight the narrator’s mindfulness by celebrating the Earth’s natural beauty that she finds all around her. The book can act as a wonderful resource when introducing young readers to Indigenous knowledge. In fact, author Ḵung Jaadee is a professional Indigenous storyteller in addition to her publications. She shares traditional Haida stories through performances at schools, festivals, workshops, and more. Like the narrator, Jaadee was born and raised on Haida Gwaii, making I Am Connected a reliable, authentic representation of Jaadee’s personal experiences.
GiGi Kang studied English Literature and Creative Writing at UBC. In addition to her creative writing, she is a music writer at LA-based magazine The Luna Collective where she interviews creatives and enjoys learning of their stories. You can read more of her work at gigikang.com.
YOUNG ADULTING 