Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox - Tapa dura

"Sometimes I feel like a bear,
strong and confident.
I stand tall and growl
and protect those around me.

Sometimes I feel like a turtle,
slow and quiet.
I retreat into my shell
and find peace and solitude." -- from the book
A New York Public Library Best 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
A 49th Shelf Favourite Picture Book of the Year

"This book will fascinate children expanding their horizons and learning about other cultures (or, in the case of Anishinaabe kids, their own)." -- Kirkus Reviews

"The ideas inside unfurl outside the pages into readers' own imaginative worlds." -- Boston Globe

"Reminds readers of the importance of critical self-reflection and of our connection to the animal world -- two ideas worth championing at any age." -- Quill & Quire, starred review

"The stylized masks, soft colours and big eyes of the children convey a seriousness, almost an otherworldliness, to the animal/human relationship. . . . Haunting and thought-provoking." -- Toronto Star

In this introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals, young children explain why they identify with different creatures such as a deer, beaver, or moose. Delightful illustrations show the children wearing masks representing their chosen animal, while the few lines of text on each page work as a series of simple poems throughout the book. In a brief author’s note, Danielle Daniel explains the importance of totem animals in Anishinaabe culture and how they can also act as animal guides for young children seeking to understand themselves and others.