This is the rare picture book that's both gorgeous and genuinely important. It introduces environmental activism and Indigenous wisdom without talking down to kids or spiraling into climate despair.

The Caldecott Medal is well-deserved—Michaela Goade's illustrations are breathtaking, blending traditional Indigenous art with contemporary storytelling. And Carole Lindstrom's text is spare but powerful, turning the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline into something a 4-year-old can understand and feel inspired by.

Yes, you'll need to explain what a pipeline is. Yes, some kids will ask why people want to hurt the water. But those are good conversations to have, and this book gives you a gentle, age-appropriate entry point. It's activism without anxiety, empowerment without overwhelm.

A must-have for any family raising kids who care about the planet.