Free to Fly: A Tender Picture Book about Native Resilience, Grandparent Love, and Dreams That Span Generations by Karina Iceberg, Steph Littlebird
Published by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks on 2026
ISBN: 0063254905
Genres: Cultural / Native American, Family, History
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Free to Fly is a picture book that conveys the lasting trauma that Indian boarding schools had on the Alutiit people, who live on the coast of what is now called Alaska. A child, Qal, visits her Apaa (grandfather) who is a survivor of the schools. He is spending time in his treehouse–where he goes to recover when he is feeling the heaviness of the past. As he tells his story, he uses ravens, eagles, cages, and flight as metaphors for identity, oppression, forced assimilation, and freedom. Apaa imagines a safe nest within him that allows him to heal, have dreams, and hope again, despite the suffering of the past. He dreams of a future where he has a grandchild, just like Qal. The watercolor artwork is structured with bold lines that bring both the dreaminess of memories and the present day together. Younger readers would benefit from an adult to help guide a discussion and answer questions. This would be a fantastic book for upper elementary and middle grade readers to get a window into Alutiit culture, and to begin to understand the history of the colonization of North America. The Author’s Note at the end gives more detailed historical context and there is an Alutiiq (the language) glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book. This is a five-star, cream of the crop nominee. 

Reviewed by Antona Briley, Librarian, Dora Small School, South Portland