Amik is a beaver. He and his younger sister Nishiime are expecting cousins to visit them today. But when the cousins show up, Nishiime is nowhere to be found. As Amik shows her cousins around their part of the woods, they learn a lot.

A bear is nearby. but she is not a threat. She likes that the beavers dam the water, creating shallow areas where she can find food for herself and her cubs. The deer appreciate the fallen trees, as they can reach the tasty leaves more easily. The fish can swim all winter long because the channels the beavers create in the water keep it from freezing. And the red fox can get home to his family quickly because of the dam over the water.

Amik and her cousins enjoy their day together, even though she’s been looking all over for Nishiime but couldn’t find her. But as the cousins are getting ready to go back home, the younger sister shows up. When Amik asks her where she had been, she answers that she’d been hiding. Nishiime was afraid of meeting new people, but she watched them all day, and she’s less afraid now. She talks to all her cousins and makes plans to visit them all at some point. And then it’s time for the cousins to leave.

Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome is a picture book filled with lessons for young kids. They can learn about beavers and how they contribute to their environment. They can learn about dealing with fears of strangers. And they can learn about the Anishinaabe, the indigenous people of the Great Lakes region.

Each of the six beaver cousins come named as the word “beaver” in their own language and bring gifts. And at the end of the book is a short glossary of the words used throughout the story. Biindigen, for example, means welcome, and nishiime means little sister. It’s a sweet introduction to the Anishaabe people, with colorful illustrations and sweet characters.

I really enjoyed Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome and think it will spark a lot of young minds to be curious about nature and about the history of the Great Lakes region. However, I do wish that author Nancy Cooper had been more information on the indigenous people. As someone who is not from that area, I had to look up information on the Anishinaabe on my own to understand the book well enough to talk about it in a review. But I do think it will ignite curiosity in kids and will lead them to learn more, which is always a good thing.

Egalleys for Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome were provided by Owlkids Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.