Sometimes I Feel Like a River

Sometimes I Feel Like a River, a collection of poems for young children, is rich in imagery and is told by an indigenous author who invites the reader to consider how connected we are to the natural world around us. In an age where many are more connected to devices and social media than to trees and streams, this refreshing series of poems reminds us of the natural world we live in and creates a longing to walk amongst the trees and to lie on one’s back and ponder the sky. Daniel invites the reader into the indigenous view where all natural things are connected and reminds us that we humans are part of this connection since we are natural beings ourselves.

Rather than telling a story, this book highlights different aspects of nature and how each bestows blessing on those around. It also includes the concept of mindfulness, a movement common in schools and in the culture at large. There is the sun that shines light, causing birds to sing joyfully. The river twists and turns but always moves forward; turning around obstacles, it reminds us that we, too, can turn around the obstacles we encounter in life. The open, vast sky centers us as we breathe in and out, enveloping us with peace. Clouds high up provide comforting shade for those who enjoy this relief. Falling rain helps everything grow and is to be celebrated. What a contrast this view is to the frustrated exclamation many of us make when opening the car door, only to get wet while we struggle to open the umbrella!

Josée Bisaillon, the illustrator, celebrates the multicultural makeup of Canada by intentionally including people of many cultures and abilities in her illustrations. Her doing so underscores the main theme of connectedness but extends this theme by emphasizing how people of all cultures are connected to the natural world. One illustration is of a person in a wheelchair, lifting his face to the falling rain. The joy expressed on the boy’s face is inspirational. The wheelchair normalizes people of different abilities and encourages inclusion.

Sometimes I Feel Like a River offers possibilities for good discussions between children and adults. How does the indigenous world view of connectedness to the land compare and contrast to our own world view? How can we reshape our daily lives to include more activities that connect us to the land? How can a walk through a meadow, the sound of crows cawing in the branches, and the chuckling of the stream fill us with calm and inner peace? Who can we thank for these blessings?