MY STREET REMEMBERS

A street brings back memories of what once was.

Stroll along the pavement and learn more about Danforth Avenue in Toronto. Krossing warmly acquaints readers with the people who live there now—and “everyone who once did.” Relying on the refrain “my street remembers,” she offers snapshots of the history of the road, starting more than 14,000 years ago, when mammoths and mastodons roamed. Next, Krossing speaks of First Nations people and the harmonious relationship they enjoyed with the land. With three impressive, wordless spreads of people fishing, canoeing, and preparing food, Jamieson, an Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee descendant, lets readers soak in the tranquility of life before colonialism. But in the 17th century, the arrival of European settlers changed everything. The British pressured the Mississauga into signing unjust treaties; settlers built homes and widened roads. Reconciliation eventually followed, with Canada making an official apology to First Peoples. Jamieson’s naïve-style, symbol-laden artwork will inform readers while also encouraging them to reflect on their own relationships with the Earth. Krossing’s thoughtful text is rife with vivid imagery (“hard-heeled boots”); her well-researched backmatter supplements the narrative with historical context and urges youngsters to be mindful stewards of the land.

A historical account with a wholly original perspective, imbued with a crucial environmental message.