Book review: Cristine the Tiny Snipe : Adventures in a Field (Six Nations Clan animal stories)

By Carrie MacKenzie

Cristine the Tiny Snipe: Adventures in a Field by Zig Misiak and illustrated by Jennifer Bettio is a beautiful children’s book that follows the first weeks of life of a young snipe named Christine.  She begins to experience the sights and sounds of the field where she hatched and entered the world.  This book also introduces the reader to First Nations Clans. These clans differ depending on the First Nation that an Indigenous person belongs to. This story is part of a series of nine books that teach the reader about nature and the nine Clans of the Haudenosaunee people.

Misiak treats Indigenous cultures with respect and genuine interest. His passion for educating people about Indigenous cultures and nature shines through from every facet of this story. This is made even more impressive and striking given the fact that Misiak is a Polish World War II refugee coming to Canada as a young child. He sees himself as a student of Indigenous culture and history. Through this, Misiak serves as an example of something that is not very common; respect for and a real interest in different cultures.

As well as being an engaging and delightful story about the snipe Christine, this narrative is educational, teaching the reader about a number of topics.  The reader learns about the nine Clans of the Haudenosaunee and their origins. This gives the reader information they may not know and perspectives that may differ from their own. The reader also learns various facts about snipes and the various insects and animals Christine encounters on her adventure. There is even a map showing where snipes can be found during different times of the year like the breeding season and their migration path.

Adding to the educational aspect of this story, there is a question-and-answer sheet and a page asking the reader to identify the animal prints that represent the nine Clans. Both encourage the reader to think about what they have read and to start conversations.

The tone of this book is warm, cheerful, and gentle. The reader feels like he/she is being told a story by an Elder. When a lesson is directly taught it is done in a way that is non-confrontational and respectful, so the reader doesn’t feel guilt or shame as they process the information. This keeps the audience engaged and learning the lesson.

The illustrations by Jennifer Bettio, a French Canadian Métis artist are vibrant, colourful and a perfect complement to this narrative. They are detailed and the bright colours grab and hold the audience’s attention. This helps the reader to absorb and process the lessons within this story. The illustrations also add to the warm and cheerful tone.

The language that Misiak uses is age-appropriate for a young reader. This allows the reader to absorb and learn from the teachings about Indigenous culture and how we should treat nature. For words that might require an explanation, there is a Key Vocabulary section at the back of the book.

Christine is a young Snipe. She is learning and growing like the children reading the story. She shares certain qualities with them such as curiosity and a sense of wonder about the world around them. This allows the audience to relate to Christine letting them see themselves in the character of Christine.

This book is beautiful, touching and an educational read with amazing illustrations. It would be an asset to any classroom or any child’s personal library and will bring a smile to any reader’s face.

Cristine the Tiny Snipe: Adventures in a Field, Zig Misiak, Zig Misiak, 2021.

ISBN 978-0-9950128-1-3