If You Make a Mosom Tea

If you spend the afternoon with Mosom, you might make him tea and listen to stories.

If you make him tea, chances are that he will want some bannock to go with it. He will tell you his stories, show you pictures from when he was young and share his Knowledge. Although Mosom may move a little slower and sometimes forget things, you can help him find his glasses and go for walks together. It’s okay to go slow. Along the way, Mosom will teach you new Cree words and the best places to find delicious saskatoon berries. And when you're back home again, Mosom might just ask you to make him another cup of tea.

With warm, engaging illustrations, this story celebrates the joy and importance of spending time with Elders, passing down Traditions, and the lasting bond between a child and his mosom. A gentle story that highlights meaningful connection between generations.

Available in Plains Cree as kîspin osîhtamawaci kimosôm maskihkîwâpoy.

Praise for Tonya Simpson

★“In warm, soothing language, a mother speaks to her infant, poetically describing their ancestral surroundings and reflecting on traditional Cree knowledge…Luxuriantly alive with glowing colors and textured patterns, Dumont’s (Onion Lake Cree Nation) exquisite pointillist illustrations resemble three-dimensional beadwork. This eloquent and insightful picture book (…) honors the enduring relationship between a child, their ancestors, and the land.” – Booklist, starred review for This Land Is a Lullaby

★“This solemn and serene volume should be considered a first purchase. Essential for most collections, and with its wildlife-centric art, it’s also a perfect read-aloud for Earth Day.” – School Library Journal, starred review for Forever Our Home

Tonya Simpson is of Scottish and Cree ancestry. She is a member of Pasqua First Nation and was born and raised in central Alberta. Tonya is an anthropologist who loves to write stories that connect families with each other and the natural world around them. She is the author of Forever Our Home and This Land Is a Lullaby, winner of the Governor General's Literary Award. Tonya lives with her family at Pigeon Lake in Westerose, Alberta.

Emily Côté is an illustrator originally from Windsor, Ontario. She has a unique perspective on art due to her education in both fine art and illustration. Since discovering her Métis connection, she has been learning more about Indigenous culture through art. Emily uses narrative art to highlight our inherent connection with nature. She loves working digitally while also incorporating traditional media such as watercolor and colored pencil. At home, she has many houseplants as a way to bring the green indoors. In her free time, she enjoys drinking tea and walking on trails―touching moss and looking for wildlife, mushrooms and wildflowers!