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  • Published: 10 March 2027
  • ISBN: 9780593407547
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

Where the Wind Blows




Join Southwind on an exhilarating journey across a magnificent land and see how we are all a part of something bigger!

When Starboy notices the wind carrying the sweet scent of his mother’s favorite flower, he asks the Southwind where she has been. So many places, Southwind says, and happily begins to recount all the wonderous places she wafted through on her long journey north before drifting into a valley in the land of Starboy’s people. By the time Southwind finishes her tale, Starboy has just enough time to pick some flowers for his mom, give thanks to Mother Earth and the wind, and set off for home with dreams of traveling to all the places the wind has blown.

Violet Duncan’s vivid text and Steph Littlebird’s luminous art beau­tifully capture the exuberant spirit of the wind and remind us that we are all connected.

  • Published: 10 March 2027
  • ISBN: 9780593407547
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

About the authors

Violet Duncan

Violet Duncan (VioletDuncan.com) is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation. She is also the author of National Book Award finalist Buffalo Dreamer, as well as several picture books, including Where the Wind Blows, Life is a Dance, I Am Native, When We Dance, and Let’s Hoop Dance! She has toured nationally and internationally as an author, educator, dancer, and storyteller, and facilitates workshops to promote spiritual wellness and cultural education across the United States, Canada, and Europe. She is currently the Indigenous cultural advisor at the Tempe Center for the Arts, where she aims to create space for a permanent program of Indigenous performance and practice. In her role as creative director at Young Warriors, Violet is dedicated to cultivating spaces for Indigenous performances and practices. She lives in Mesa, Arizona.

Praise for Where the Wind Blows

3 STARS FOR VIOLET DUNCAN'S BUFFALO DREAMER (NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST)
  * “Shines a light on a devastating aspect of Indigenous history, never sugarcoating the topic yet leaving readers with hope. . . . Seamless, tight, and immersive, making stellar use of sensory descriptions . . . braids important truths into her captivating narrative. . . . Compelling yet heartbreaking—and essential reading for all young people.” —Kirkus STAR
  * “Balances an exploration of painful events with idyllic scenes of intergenerational love and connection. Beautiful descriptions of traditional Native American culture and dress make scenes vivid for readers. . . . A powerful addition to all middle grade library shelves highlighting a time in history that has been hidden and often forgotten.” —SLJ STAR
  * “Makes a violent and devastating component of Indigenous history emotionally appropriate for middle-graders. . . . A welcome addition to the often-underexplored history of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.” —SA STAR

PRAISE FOR STEPH LITTLEBIRD'S ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOU ARE THE LAND
   “A resilient and resounding ode to the family who raises us and the world that sustains us. “ —BCCB
   "An Indigenous girl explores her strong bond to family and the land. . . . The vibrant illustrations are luxuriantly alive with bright colors, patterns, and movement." —Booklist
  * “Relying on daring colors that resemble those seen in nature and in powwow regalia, Littlebird’s sweeping illustrations pair with invigorating text, soaring butterflies, birds and bees crisscross the pages, uniting the girl with the land. A powerful look at indigenous identity and a loving reminder that ‘everyone can be a place keeper’.” —Kirkus STAR