Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow by Sita MacMillan and illustrated by Azby Whitecalf [Annick Press #gifted]

In Sarah Ponakey, Storycatch and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow, Sarah has now been living in the city for three months - and she's still not used to it. She misses her Kôhkom, her best friend Eden, and the mountains that used to be her home. As she shares her loneliness with Kôhkom through video chat, Kôhkom mysteriously asks to have a private conversation with Âhâsiw, Sarah's stuffed animal crow. Âhâsiw who turns life-size and takes Sarah to her first ever powwow in the middle of a magical forest. Here, Sarah learns to find the courage and confidence to join in on the powwow and finds the strength in her adventure to face what's waiting for her back in her city home.

I really enjoyed this first volume to this early chapter book series - and love that it features a Cree main character. There's a Cree glossary at the start and the story keeps readers engaged in themes of fitting in, friendship, family, and identity.