We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
Why This Book Matters
We Are Water Protectors is a powerful and poetic picture book that centers Indigenous values, environmental justice, and the deep relationship between people and the natural world. Written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, this Caldecott Medal–winning book follows a young Ojibwe girl who rises to protect water from a destructive force she calls the black snake, inspired by real-life Indigenous resistance to oil pipelines.
The story draws on ancestral teachings and traditional ecological knowledge to show that water is not just a resource but a sacred relative. Its message is both urgent and hopeful, encouraging children to become caretakers of the earth and to understand the spiritual and cultural importance of the land around them.
This book is a meaningful resource for families, classrooms, and community groups seeking to build awareness of environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty. Use it to support lessons on climate justice, Indigenous rights, or to invite young readers into conversations about activism, courage, and collective care.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
Why This Book Matters
We Are Water Protectors is a powerful and poetic picture book that centers Indigenous values, environmental justice, and the deep relationship between people and the natural world. Written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, this Caldecott Medal–winning book follows a young Ojibwe girl who rises to protect water from a destructive force she calls the black snake, inspired by real-life Indigenous resistance to oil pipelines.
The story draws on ancestral teachings and traditional ecological knowledge to show that water is not just a resource but a sacred relative. Its message is both urgent and hopeful, encouraging children to become caretakers of the earth and to understand the spiritual and cultural importance of the land around them.
This book is a meaningful resource for families, classrooms, and community groups seeking to build awareness of environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty. Use it to support lessons on climate justice, Indigenous rights, or to invite young readers into conversations about activism, courage, and collective care.