When We Are Kind / Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íigo (Bilingual Edition, English and Dine)
"Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities--and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others."--Publishers Weekly
When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves.
This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Diné.
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Monique Gray Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author and public speaker. Her books cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique's writing and her speaking engagements is the teaching that Love is Medicine. Her books include Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, My Heart Fills With Happiness, You Hold Me Up, Lucy and Lola, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, Tilly and the Crazy Eights, When We Are Kind and I Hope. She has also created the young adult adaptation of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Monique is Cree and Scottish. She lives with her family on the Traditional Territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples.
Mildred Walters is Diné (Navajo) from Torreon, New Mexico in Eastern Navajo Nation. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, a Master of Arts in Language, Reading, and Culture and a Master of Arts in Information Resources and Library Science. She currently works as a Librarian for a Tribal Public Library in Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico and has done so for 11 years. Mildred currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"Simple statements have the resonance of affirmations and establish a clear chain of connectedness...A panoply of Indigenous characters is featured in rich detail. A visual feast for families interested in seeing the Native world through small, kind deeds."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"An accessible picture book that will work well as a read-aloud in a group or for quiet reading alone. Whether at home or in the classroom, its pleasing repetition of phrases. such as 'I am kind when' and 'I feel', will appeal to young readers and invite re-reading. Highly Recommended."-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"
"Gentle...Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities--and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Lovely...A gentle message that shows how kindness connects us and reinforces our deep relations."-- "Toronto Star"
"Using minimal text, the message of kindness is delivered in illustrations that are beautiful, colorful and detailed. This title is highly recommended for use in preschool and primary or elementary classrooms and libraries."-- "Must Read Literature"
"Visually appealing at every turn and offering up details in clothing and surroundings, there is much to see here. The words inspire questions and memories about being kind in the world, and with family and friends."-- "Sal's Fiction Addiction"
"Thoughtful and beautifully illustrated."-- "Canadian Teacher Magazine"
