Runs with the Stars - by Darcy Whitecrow & Heather M O'Connor (Hardcover)

About the Book

A young child learns from their grandfather about the Ojibwe Horses, what it means to be the animal's caretakers, and the importance of protecting this endangered species.

Book Synopsis

"Elders say they were always here. The horses were small, but strong."
"Like me?"
"Like you."

As they await the birth of a new foal, a man teaches his grandchild about the Ojibwe Horses that used to roam the forests of northwestern Ontario. The horses once ran wild and free, but when Grandfather was a boy, they almost disappeared. Now he is the caretaker of his own small herd, keeping the breed alive for future generations and teaching his grandchild about the loving bond between human and animals.

Review Quotes

"Illustrated with celestial delight by Burlington based artist Lenny Lishchenko, whose graphic work frames the story with an earthy, almost animate backdrop. While Runs With the Stars can be read as a parable of ecological resilience, the driving force is the true story of the Ojibwe horse itself. And who better to tell the story than Whitecrow."

"Moving, meditative, and a great way to talk to children about the natural world, Runs with the Stars is a powerful addition to the picture book landscape."

"Debut author Whitecrow (Ojibwe and Dakota) and O'Connor (Fast Friends) weave a history of wild-roaming Ojibwe horses around western Lake Superior with the intergenerational story of an Ojibwe seven-year-old ... In textural art, Lishchenko (In My Anaana's Amautik) conjures images of the herds, the protagonists, and the interplay between nature and technology."