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Kohkom's First Drum - Monique Gray Smith

By Monique Gray Smith

Release Date: 2026-04-14

Genre: Culture, Places & People in Kids Fiction

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When Charlie’s Kohkom asks him what the best part of his school day was, he knows right away: Indigenous drum circle!

Kohkom tells him that not very long ago she was gifted her very first drum at a ceremony for children who never returned home from residential schools. But Charlie doesn’t understand. How could she only have gotten her first drum so recently?

Kohkom explains that she was taken from her family when she was very little because of something called the Sixties Scoop. She was raised by an adoptive white family and only later learned what being Cree meant. It’s taken her a long time to feel like she belongs. Kohkom's story gives Charlie the idea to teach her a song so they can play their drums together.

Praise for Monique Gray Smith:

★“Joyful and tender...celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections.”—School Library Journal, starred review for My Heart Fills With Happiness

★“Smith tackles difficult and complex conversations with straightforwardness and compassion.”—School Library Journal, starred review for Speaking Our Truth

“Gentle
Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities—and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others.”—Publishers Weekly for When We Are Kind

“Smith’s text is heartwarming!”—Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children’s Literature for You Hold Me Up

Kohkom's First Drum - Monique Gray Smith

By Monique Gray Smith

Release Date: 2026-04-14

Genre: Culture, Places & People in Kids Fiction

(0 ratings)
Read Download
When Charlie’s Kohkom asks him what the best part of his school day was, he knows right away: Indigenous drum circle!

Kohkom tells him that not very long ago she was gifted her very first drum at a ceremony for children who never returned home from residential schools. But Charlie doesn’t understand. How could she only have gotten her first drum so recently?

Kohkom explains that she was taken from her family when she was very little because of something called the Sixties Scoop. She was raised by an adoptive white family and only later learned what being Cree meant. It’s taken her a long time to feel like she belongs. Kohkom's story gives Charlie the idea to teach her a song so they can play their drums together.

Praise for Monique Gray Smith:

★“Joyful and tender...celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections.”—School Library Journal, starred review for My Heart Fills With Happiness

★“Smith tackles difficult and complex conversations with straightforwardness and compassion.”—School Library Journal, starred review for Speaking Our Truth

“Gentle
Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities—and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others.”—Publishers Weekly for When We Are Kind

“Smith’s text is heartwarming!”—Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children’s Literature for You Hold Me Up

More by Monique Gray Smith

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults

My Heart Fills With Happiness

You Hold Me Up

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Mi corazĂłn se llena de alegrĂ­a

My Heart Fills With Happiness / sĂąkaskinĂȘw nitĂȘh miywĂȘyihtamowin ohci

When We Are Kind

When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íigo

You Hold Me Up / ĂȘ-ohpiniyan

Speaking Our Truth

Sharing the Light

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Nijiikendam

Mi corazĂłn se llena de alegrĂ­a

J'ai le cƓur rempli de bonheur

My Heart Fills With Happiness Read-Along (Enhanced Edition)

J’espùre

TĂș me sostienes

Dreaming Alongside / ĂȘ-pawĂątamahk

Tilly e os Oito Malucos

You Hold Me Up Read-Along (Enhanced Edition)

I Hope

Nous sommes gentils

Le premier tambour de Kohkom

Dreaming Alongside

J’ai le cƓur rempli de bonheur / sĂą kask inĂȘw nitĂȘh miy wĂȘyi htamowin ohci

You Hold Me Up / Gimanaadenim

Kohkom’s First Drum / nîhkom nistam omistikwaskihkoma

Tu es lĂ  pour moi

Kohkom's First Drum

Hope, Faith & Empathy

I Hope / nipakosĂȘyimon

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