THE ECHO PEOPLE

Two Indigenous cousins learn valuable lessons while visiting their grandfather.

After preparing a blessing, Grandfather, the village chief, tells Aiyanna and Little Wolf that today they’ll meet the Echo People, who live in the river gorge and who have much to teach the children. He takes each of them to separate areas of the gorge and instructs them to introduce themselves to the Echo People, who can’t be seen. Impatient Little Wolf cries out, and his frustrated words (“You are just repeating everything that I say!” “I feel like a fool!”) are echoed back. “Those Echo People are terrible people,” he complains to Grandfather. But when the two check on gentle Aiyanna, she’s had an entirely different experience; her words of love and tenderness reverberate back to her, and she tells Grandfather how kind the Echo People are. True to traditional Indigenous teachings, Grandfather shares his wisdom about life (“Your actions, your words, even your thoughts all come back to you”) but lets his grandchildren make meaning from their experiences. Begay’s (Navajo Nation) magnificent, earth-toned illustrations establish a dreamy setting, supporting each word of Youngwolf’s (Tsalagiyi Nvdagi) inviting story. Small brush strokes enhance the action, suggesting clouds moving across the sky or smoke rising from the fire as Grandfather gives his blessing.

A visually appealing and carefully told tale that will linger.