All You Need Is Love: A Review of We All Love

We All Love
Julie Flett
Greystone Books / Greystone Kids
Ages 3+
Available February 10th, 2026!

From snuggling otters & hand-holding crabs under the sea to a family fireside bundled up in the cold, we all love. Flowers dance in the wind. Big stars illuminate the night. Warm stones make the perfect perch for a plover. The stories of flora & fauna are the stories of love—all around us, inside us, and they, as author Julie Flett suggests, help us grow.

As a sequel to the award-winning We All Play, Julie Flett returns, even five years later, with the same easy-to-read charm that made the original so beloved. The book maintains its distinctly handmade feel through soft pastel illustrations and simple yet poetic sentences that are perfectly suited for younger readers. Throughout the book, a recurring Cree phrase, kîstanaw mîna, meaning “we do too!” appears across various pages, reinforcing the central message of shared experience, interconnectedness between nature, and belonging. A helpful glossary of Cree animal names alongside their English counterparts is included, as well as pronunciation guidance that invites readers to engage more confidently with the language. The glossary thoughtfully notes that many Cree words don’t have direct English translations, instead reflecting a fluid process of innovation and creation rooted in Cree culture. Because of this, the book functions not only as a story but as a gentle educational tool.

We All Love is a great semi-bilingual introduction for readers interested in exploring a new language, particularly one that may be unfamiliar to most, while honoring Julie Fleet’s Cree-Métis roots in Indigenous language and knowledge. Through its celebration of nature, language, and connection, We All Love is the perfect affirmation that love surrounds us.

2020 CaldeNott Results!

2020 caldenott book pile

This past Saturday, a lovely and lively group of picture-book-loving librarians, students, and authors spent the afternoon in mock committee mode. We discussed 14 titles in all, none of them eligible for the actual award, evaluating them against the terms and criteria used by the official Caldecott Medal awards committee. After nearly two hours of discussion, two rounds of balloting, and many cookies, we ended up with a clear winner and three outstanding honor books.

CaldeNott Honors go to:

Hicotea: A Nightlights Story by Lorena Alvarez (Nobrow)

Small in the City by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books)

Stormy: A Story about Finding a Forever Home by Guojing (Schwartz & Wade)

 

And the 2020 CaldeNott Award goes to:

The Moose of Ewenki

 

The Moose of Ewenki by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, illustrated by Jui Er (Greystone Kids)

 

 

 

Many thanks to Keary Bramwell, for all her work to make the BCLC CaldeNott awards a success, and to the “committee members” for making the awards process so much fun!