Tani's search for the heart: a magical journey of discovery

Tani’s Search for the Heart written by Keith Egawa and illustrated by brother and sister team of Keith Egawa and Chenoa Egawa. It is about a young girl named Tani who lives in a village in the Pacific Northwest woods near the Salish Sea with her grandmother.

Her grandmother tells her the story of Stick Indian, a magical being of wood, branches and leaves who scratches at windows at night. One day her uncle arrives and reveals that the woods are being cut down. Grandmother tells Tani that she must find the heart of the world, of the people. Grandmother soon dies and Tani moves in with her uncle, aunt and baby cousin. Tani soon hears her grandmother’s voice sending her on her journey. While on her journey, Tani meets various animals who speak to her and help her on her journey. Tani discovers the location of the heart of the world, of the people.

The story is easy to read and the illustrations are beautiful. I love the message of the story how to live in the world around us and how to take care of this world. The lesson is told through magic and nature. I love that the various animals she meets has a different piece of information for Tani to help her on her search. I would recommend this great book. Children will love listening to this magical story of one girl’s journey.