Meennunyakaa Blueberry Patch by Jennifer Leason and Norman Chartrand is a tender and culturally rich picture book that draws readers into a world of family, tradition, and the natural beauty of the blueberry patch in Duck Bay, Manitoba.
Leason’s storytelling is warm and lyrical. She transports us to summer days filled with sunlight filtering through the blueberry bushes, birdsong on the breeze, and the comforting, rhythmic work of picking berries with loved ones. The narrative centers on a child’s experience at the patch, learning its patterns, listening to elders’ stories, and understanding the importance of connection—to land, to culture, and to family. That repeated refrain—something like “we walk softly among the bushes”—imbues the story with mindfulness and respect. https://www.jenniferleason.com/
Norman Chartrand’s illustrations are the soul of the book. His soft, dreamy watercolor palette—shades of gentle blues, jade greens, and misty purples—evokes both the lushness of the wild patch and the quiet magic of ancestral memory. Every spread feels like a gentle hug: sun-dappled leaves overhead, hands cupping freshly picked berries, and elders sharing stories whose voices seem to echo across generations. Chartrand’s art beautifully captures the sacred intimacy of tending land and passing on cultural knowledge.
A highlight is the moment when the family gathers around a low fire, making bannock and telling stories. The textures in the illustration feel almost tactile—you can sense the warm glow of flame on skin, the soft plumpness of blueberries, and the way the air hums with community and memory. You’ll have to purchase the book at https://www.theytus.com/Books/M/Meennunyakaa-Blueberry-Patch or win it in our Giveaway section to try the Bannock recipe in the book. In the meantime, Abbey’s Kitchen provides us with a Wild Blueberry Bannock for you to try in our Recipe section…since wild blueberries are plentiful at this time of year! https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/eventrecipe-highlights-youarewelcome-host-first-nations-food/
Strengths:
- Cultural resonance: It sensitively weaves in indigenous traditions—harvesting, story‑sharing, gratitude for the land.
- Sensory immersion: Both text and art engage sight, sound, taste, and touch.
- Emotional depth: It balances childlike wonder with the quiet power of heritage and nature.
Meennunyakaa Blueberry Patch is a heartfelt invitation to pause, listen, and appreciate the simple but profound ways in which land and lineage intertwine. A must‑read for families, educators, and anyone who treasures stories rooted in nature, culture, and generational love.
Contents and images used with permission by Theytus Books for Meennunyakaa – Blueberry Patch, by Jennifer Leason. https://www.theytus.com/Books/M/Meennunyakaa-Blueberry-Patch