New book announcement: Heart Berry Bling

Written by the award-winning co-author of the bestselling picture book I Am Not a Number.

VANCOUVER — On a visit to her granny, Maggie is excited to begin her first-ever beading project: a pair of strawberry earrings; however, beading is much harder than she expected! As they work side by side, Granny shares how beading has always helped her stay strong and connected to her Anishinaabe culture—especially after she lost her First Nation status and was forced to leave her home community. Maggie learns that Granny, like many other First Nation women, lost her status because she married someone without status—an unfair law that didn’t apply to First Nation men.

As she learns about patience and perseverance from her granny’s teachings, Maggie discovers that beading is a journey, and like every journey, it’s easier with a loved one at her side.

In this beautifully illustrated book, children learn about the tradition of Anishinaabe beadwork, strawberry teachings, and gender discrimination in the Indian Act.

Heart Berry Bling is set to release on May 9, 2023.

About the Author and Illustrator:

Jenny Kay Dupuis (she/her/hers) is a sought-after public speaker, best-selling author, educator, and accomplished artist whose focus is raising awareness about Indigenous realities. As co-author of the award-winning children’s book, I Am Not a Number, Jenny Kay shared her granny’s experiences at an Indian Residential School in Canada. A certified teacher and learning strategist, Jenny Kay holds her Bachelor of Arts in History and Visual Arts, Master of Education in Special Education, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is a member of Nipissing First Nation and lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Eva Campbell (she/her/hers) is an artist, illustrator, and teacher who lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Her work has been exhibited around the world, including in Canada, the United States, Barbados, and Ghana. She won the Children’s Africana Book Award for her illustrations in The Matatu, by Eric Walters, and the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration for Africville, by Shauntay Grant.

Book Details
Heart Berry Bling
By Jenny Kay Dupuis
Illustrated by Eva Campbell
HighWater Press
$24.95 CAD
Hardcover 9” x 9” / 48pp
ISBN: 9781774920558

For more, please contact:
Lohit Jagwani
Zg Stories
lohit@zgstories.com