Sometimes I feel like a turtle,
slow and quiet.
I retreat into my shell
and find peace and solitude.
According to Anishinaabe tradition, which spans thousands of years of history, the word totem, or doodem, means clan. Each Anishinaabe individual belongs to a clan, which is represented by a different traditional animal. Different animals represent different skills, knowledge and abilities, and the tradition reinforces the idea of the interconnectedness of all living things.
Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox gently encourages readers young and old to explore and experience the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals in a poetic celebration of aboriginal culture. From the a strong and confident bear to the sensitive and kind deer, twelve children explain why they connect with different traditional animals, and share what that animal means to them. The text is simple and elegant, and creates a series of gentle, evocative poems.
Danielle Daniel’s soft, colourful illustrations depict each child with a mask of their chosen animal, almost becoming one with their animal. This reinforces the Anishinaabe tradition of the totem animal a part of each person – not simply a mask, but a very real aspect of their spirit and identity.
While tradition holds that each person has one predominant animal totem that acts as their guide through life, children may associate with different animal guides at different times. Like the children in the poems, they might sometimes feel like bear, or a wolf, or a deer. All animals are connected, both within the animal kingdom and to all living things, and we all have aspects of different animals within us.
Writer and mixed-media artist Danielle Daniel wanted to help her young son connect with his Aboriginal roots, and was inspired to create this accessible introduction to the totem tradition. As she writes in her author’s note,
In my book, a selection of totems act as guides to help children identify with the positive character traits of animals that might be familiar to them…Totem animals remind us that all living organisms are interconnected. We are all part of the same cycle of life.
Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox is a beautiful addition to any library collection, and especially to a First Nations or Aboriginal collection.
What a beautiful book. Thanks for sharing it.
Always happy to share beautiful books.
Thanks for spotlighting this interesting book. Love the art!
It’s a beautiful little book.
Gorgeous illustrations! It reminds me of the Chinese zodiac (also twelve animals).
Yes! Studying and getting to know other cultures is so eye-opening, it kind of reminds us of how much we have in common, despite our outward differences.
So very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome – librarians are always sharing books, even when they’re not in the library
This is a beautiful book, Jane. I’ve put it on my list. Thank you!
Hurray, hope you enjoy it, too!
So few words teamed with gorgeous illustrations very effectively.
It’s amazing how much a good writer can convey with just a few well-chosen words, isn’t it?
I always enjoy your book recommendations, Jane! Thanks for this one.
Thanks so much, Violet! I love sharing books – once a librarian, always a librarian!
“All animals are connected, both within the animal kingdom and to all living things, and we all have aspects of different animals within us.” AGREE!
Such a great message!
I’m lucky, I’m the collection development person at my library, so I’ll be sure this one is ordered next week. Thanks for the recommendation!
That’s fantastic!!
What a fun book, nice poetry. And oh I wish I had a group of kids to inspire to try writing their own poems based on the totem idea. The idea fits in well with many of our Hawaiian traditions and stories.
That’s so cool! I love learning about different cultures and traditions, and books are such a great way to explore and experience other peoples’ stories.
Jane, thank you for this! I’m not sure we here across the border would learn of it otherwise, and I can see using this with my 2nd graders for perspective and point-of-view work along with mask poetry, even if they wouldn’t have the explicit aboriginal culture connection. But then we are all descended from aboriginal humans, aren’t we, who once did a much better job of sharing the planet?
I really do try to make a point of sharing Canadian books whenever possible – even here in Canada, the majority of our books come from the US of A, and it can be hard for little Canadian publishers to compete. And you’re so right – we are all connected and related when you think about it!
What a beautiful book! This looks like a natural to share with children. Personally, I find myself identifying with the turtle these days! Thanks so much for sharing!
A gorgeous book. Thanks for sharing! I think my library needs this too.
I love these illustrations! And I’ve always loved poetry (and animals, actually), ever since I was a kid, so I think I would’ve loved this. That’s also really cool how it uses the concept of totem animals and kind of explains them in an easy-to-understand way. Great find!