This document summarizes a book review of the children's book "Shi-shi-etko" by Nicola L. Campbell. The story is about a young Indigenous girl named Shi-shi-etko who must leave home to attend an Indian Residential School. Each day before she leaves, she spends time with her family participating in cultural activities to help her remember her family and home. The review praises the book for its historical accuracy and illustrations that help the reader experience Shi-shi-etko's emotions as she counts down the days until she must depart. It also draws connections between the book and non-fiction works about the real experiences of Indigenous children forced to attend boarding schools.

1. Shi-shi-etko
Book Review
By: Karen Pollari
Campbell, N. (2005). Shi-shi-etko. Toronto, Canada: Groundwood Books/
Houseof AnansiPress.
Summary
Shi-shi-etko is a story about a youngnativegirl whose nameis Shi-shi-
etko (meaning girl who playsin the water). Shi-shi-etko has been told
that she mustleave home to attend an Indian ResidentialSchool. She
begins countingdown the daysuntilshe leaves for school. Each
countingday she spendswith a member of her family doingthings to
help her remember her culture, family, and home, so she may take those
memorieswith her as she departson the cattle truck.
Analysis
Shi-shi-etko is not just a historical fiction book rich in content for third
to fifth gradestudents, but Shi-shi-etko is an exampleof a book rich in
illustrations as well. Kim LaFave’s incorporation of primary and
secondary colorsilluminates the setting of the story in the season of fall.
This provides the reader with a senseof time as the story moves
through Shi-shi-etko’s countdown. WhileShi-shi-etko’s experienceis
uniqueto her culture, every child will be able to relate to the “return-to-
school” season and the emotional preparation that is required of us in
going back to school.
Unity amongstthe illustrations is presentallowing the story to flow and
the reader to focus on the content. Repetition occurs throughout this
story as wefocus on Shi-shi-etko wakingin the morningwith another
day to countdown and another day tucked “safely under Yayah’s
patchwork quilt”. The quilt symbolizingher safety in her own bed and
home.
Nicola l. Campbellis clear in her intent with writing this book. She
providesadetailed forward supportingher contentand the Nicola l.
Campbell cleverly breaks the book into a segment of each day Shi-shi-
etko counts down; daysShi-shi-etko spendsat or near the water (as her

2. namemeans “she loves to play in the water”). The events of each day,
locked into her memory and her pouch, remind usthat our heritage and
cultureshould never be forgotten as it makes uswho we are. This book
promotesself-reflection, respect, and empathy throughout this piece of
authentic multiculturalliterature.
Connection
Archuleta, M. L., Child, B. J., & Lomawaima, K. T. (2000). Away From Home: American
Indian Boarding School Experiences (1879-2000). Phoenix, Arizona: The Heard
Museum.
I would like to tie Shi-shi-etko (a children’s book) to a non-fiction book
Away From Home. I am seeking to provideaconcrete realism to the
students; taking a picture book and convertingthe images to a real
person’sstory. BrendaChild, providesan afterword aboutthe
similarities and differencesbetween Native American boarding schools
in Canada, America, and Australia.
Bear, C. (2008, May 12). American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many. Retrieved
April 15, 2015, from NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16516865
This two-partrecordingshares, through interviewsand background
information, a 1st person perspectiveon NativeAmerican boarding
schools. In addition, it provides“whiteman” reason for eradicating the
Native American culture.