Description

From the bestselling and Governor Generals Award-winning author of On the Trapline comes a beautifully told and comforting picture book about a boys journey to overcome generational trauma of residential schools.

Deep in the night, when James should be sleeping, he tosses and turns. He thinks about big questions, like why we dont feel dizzy when the Earth spins. He looks at the stars outside his bedroom and thinks about the Night Sky Stories his kōkom has told him. He imagines being a moshom himself. On nights like these, he follows the moonlit path to his mothers bedroom. They talk and they cuddle, and they fall asleep just like that.

One day, Jamess kōkom takes him on a special walk with a big group of people. Its called a march, and it ends in front of a big pile of things: teddy bears, flowers, tobacco ties and little shoes. Kōkom tells him that this is a memorial in honor of Indigenous children who had gone to residential schools and boarding schools but didnt come home. He learns that his kōkom was taken away to one of these schools with her sister, who also didnt come home.

That night, James cant sleep so he follows the moonlit path to his mother. She explains to James that at residential school when Kōkom felt alone, she had her sister to cuddle, just like they do. And James falls asleep gathered in his mothers arms.

Includes an author note discussing the inspiration for the book.

Author: David A. Robertson
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Published: 07/29/2025
Pages: 48
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9781774881729
Language: English