I'm a Medicine Woman Too!: A Tale of Herbal Wisdom and Personal Empowerment

Awesome find. Well worth the money. Education is priceless. I fear for future generations who blindly give into western medicine. We couldn't have come as far as we have as a race of beings without this knowledge, in my humble opinion. We are of the earth. Let's treat ailments with things also of the earth.

I bought this sight-unseen because of its association with Shanleya's Quest and Botany In A Day--two fantastic titles for both youngsters and adults new to botany.I'm A Medicine Woman, Too is essentially the story of an 8-year old, Rhiannon, who wants to be a Medicine Woman like 5 or 6 other women whom she knows and admires.This book is a great concept, but the writing and illustrations never allow it to reach its full potential.Here are some examples of the writing, which ranges from didactic to stilted:"Remember, A Medicine Woman is anyone who is dedicated to healing her self, other people and the planet that we are a part of. . .""I could never be a Medicine Woman like Mama Kiva or Mama Loba," she answered with the cutest of pouts."The narrators response to this last comment?"No," I told her, "but you could be a Medicine Woman that is the fulfillment of the real, whole you. . . like nobody else in the world can do." (We never learn just why it is that Rhiannon can't be like Mama Kiva or Mama Loba.)The illustrations are disappointing and amateurish--hopefully a few will eventually be available for viewing before purchasing. All the women are portrayed as long-haired neo-hippies wearing flowing dresses (think Renaissance festival garb), with the exception of poor disheveled Annie Mae who is in denim overalls.I'm giving it 2 stars for pages 36 & 37 which have 25 questions about the plants shown in the illustrations. Answers are given a few pages later, but no further explanations.Here is an example:"D) Below the log on the right is one of the most popular adaptogens and a common wild food with many of the nutrients we need to survive and be healthy. Warning: There's a reason that it is usually harvested with gloves on!It's a nice concept to marry an intro to botany with Girl Power, but somehow the attempt just falls flat and never reaches its full potential.

This book is awesome. My 3 year old loves it.

I'm a Medicine Woman, Too by author, artist, and environmental restorer Jesse Wolf Hardin is an exquisitely beautiful book with a vitally important message for children of all ages: You have wonderful and important abilities that the world needs, and you are valued. His own young daughter Rhiannon was his inspiration and model for this story of a child's journey into deepening connection, wisdom, and self-worth. As Hardin says in the book's note to parents, "The core message is learning to believe in ourselves enough to dare to live our dreams."This tale of a child's quest for meaning and special purpose is set in the wild, gorgeous and powerful river canyon in SE New Mexico that Hardin and his family call home. Opening the book is like taking a step into the vitalizing abundance of nature's flora and fauna in which the family lives in mutually supportive relationship. Much like the essence of the Medicine Woman tradition that is revealed in this tale, I'm a Medicine Woman, Too brings some of the blessings of nature to the hearts of young readers no matter where they live, and the healing ways of thousands of years ago into their awareness.Hardin adds additional value to his inspiring story and work of art by including an important message to parents that explains the value of the book to children ages 3-12, a "name the herb game" at the end, and a list of valuable references for parents and children interested in increasing their knowledge of herbalism and deepening their relationship with the natural world.I'm A Medicine Woman, Too is a much-needed treasure that can provide nurturance, inspiration, and meaning to the hearts and minds of children living in our spiritually impoverished, highly technological, nature disconnected, and self-esteem numbing culture. As Hardin himself expressed, "I would hope that no child reading this book could ever doubt their worth and potential, for their sake and the planet's both."

Jesse Wolf Hardin has written a real life fairy tale for all of us! Only this is not a tale of a princess in a far away castle waiting to be rescued. This is a tale of his own wild otter child, Rhiannon and her self discovery in a very real, but oh so magical, canyon. It is a story of a child's growth and the real women around her. The illustrations are beautiful and magical, particularly the herbs, which are so detailed and realistic. My daughters (ages 21 and 18) love this book and my 21 year old commented saying,'I love the way he speaks to his daughter.' So, in a way this book is also a mini book on parenting skills where Wolf models respectful dialogue between a parent and child. The 'name the herb game' is a wonderful addition to the book and helps to make it very interactive. I particularly love how he points out to his daughter each woman's individual medicine. Everyone is different, all walking their own path, yet each one a strong and powerful medicine woman. In the end you too will discover that you're a Medicine Woman too!

I love this book. I think it's just what older kids (9-up) need in this world, to remind them that who they are is amazing, just as they are, and they can be whatever they want to be in their adult life. Especially kids who have parents interested in healing and learning how to care for themselves and our world. I'm not good at writing reviews, but what I want to say is that I really love the book and am excited to share it with my kids!