All Our Relations: The Gratitude Deck

Wahinkpe Topa, Indigenous scholar and educator, has created a genuinely useful and beautiful resource for anyone seeking to understand the Indigenous worldview. All Our Relations: The Gratitude Deck grounds gratitude practices and reflection in Indigenous ecological wisdom, centering kinship with the earth.

Each of the 52 cards features a mythic story drawn from Indigenous communities around the world, brought to life through Rachel Jung’s evocative illustrations of plant, animal, and water kin. Together, they offer an inspiring invitation to examine our debt and obligation to all beings.

Wahinkpe Topa transparently acknowledges using ChatGPT alongside his own extensive knowledge in developing the deck — a quiet irony worth noting. AI-generated content sits in tension with wisdom rooted in a living relationship with the natural world. Given growing awareness of AI’s environmental costs, this contradiction invites further critical reflection on the work.

Dedicated students of his work will find much to delight in here, and the deck is equally accessible to newcomers and all generations. The included “Eco-Thriving Game” is a particular highlight: a thoughtful, all-ages activity that embodies core Indigenous values of interconnectedness, reciprocity, and truthfulness. It is a wonderful catalyst for meaningful conversation among friends and family about cultivating the right relationship with other-than-human kin.

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Seattle Book Review.

The Book of the Frog

The Book of the Frog by naturalist Sally Coulthard is a delightful celebration of one of nature’s most extraordinary creatures. With genuine enthusiasm, Coulthard brings the remarkable world of amphibians to life, showcasing the astonishing variety of frogs and toads found across the globe. This focus aims to spark curiosity and admiration among readers of all ages, encouraging a sense of wonder about frog diversity and biology

Readers of all ages will be captivated by the amazing creatures, as the book shares the intricacies of their life cycles and dietary habits, as well as the deep evolutionary history that has shaped them over hundreds of millions of years. Coulthard’s narrative is brought to life by whimsical, artfully rendered illustrations.

Beneath the wonder, Coulthard also shares an urgent truth. Like so many species, frogs and toads are vanishing at an alarming rate. These ancient creatures, survivors of mass extinctions, now face threats entirely of our making. I appreciate how Coulthard highlights the importance of conservation and inspires readers to care about protecting these vulnerable species. Many chapters end with an empowering and practical section called “How to Help Frogs,” which features a list of actionable ways people can contribute to frog conservation, from creating a pond in their backyard to joining citizen science projects.

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Portland Book Review.