A warm, intergenerational picture book introducing the Lakota tradition of winter counts and celebrating resilience, remembrance, and connection across distance.

A moving story of love and tradition—perfect for kids discovering their role in their family and the power of remembering.

Gabriel's parents are leaving to serve, and he will stay with his grandmother, his unci. When Gabriel forgets to give his parents a parting gift, an important tradition in their Lakota family, he is bereft.

But then he learns about winter counts from Unci, and slowly but surely he both waits for his parents to return and becomes the keeper of the winter count in their family.