In “Picking Sweetgrass”, a Native-written and illustrated children’s picture book, a young boy recalls a cherished childhood memory of gathering sweetgrass with his grandmother, Ma. On a bright Saturday morning, he escapes household chores to join her in the field, where she patiently teaches him how to identify and pick the fragrant sweetgrass used in her black ash baskets. Through Ma’s careful instruction and loving presence, the boy gains practical knowledge and a deeper connection to her artistry and Ojibwe traditions. The sweetgrass's sensory richness, the day's rhythm, and the grandmother’s wisdom weave a lasting memory. Narrated with warmth and nostalgia, the story honors Indigenous knowledge, family heritage, and the enduring power of memory.

The book also pays tribute to Josephine Robinson, the author’s grandmother and a renowned Ojibwe basket maker from the White Earth Reservation, whose life and artistry are detailed in the book’s biographical section.

Order your copy of "Picking Sweetgrass" by Kent Estey!

Please email Kent to order your copy or to get volume pricing for schools and libraries at kent@kentestey.com

Order directly from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G6HT9MF9

NOTE: This event will be held at the FOSSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. This is a FREE event.

This work is funded in part by MHC with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.