Full Wolf Moon: A Lunar Calendar of the Anishinabe

Full moons were named centuries ago by the Anishinabe people who lived in what today is the southeastern part of Canada and the northeastern part of the United States, west to beyond the Great Lakes. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving each full moon of every month a distinct name. The names of each moon varied among the tribes, but overall, the names used by any given tribe celebrated, and reminded of, those parts of the annual cycle of life that were current when the full moons were manifest. Every month of each season marked a significant event in nature. Whether it was time to pick wild strawberries, fish the great lakes and streams, or harvest corn, the Anishinabe understood that their existence hinged on the sustainability, or renewal, of Earth s resources. Their survival hung in careful balance with nature. Behind each beautiful, full-moon name is the Anishinabe s honor and respect for the animals, trees, weather and waters and for all that call the same place endaanhg. Here, in Full Wolf Moon, Cheryl Wilke uniquely pairs narrative prose with haiku poetry to tell the story of Native American tradition through the eyes of a child. Award-winning illustrator Ernest Gillman s sensitive artwork brings these moments in Anishinabe culture history to life. Full Wolf Moon invites the reader to celebrate that which we all share Earth s full moons.