THE SACRED STONE CAMP, by Rae Rose, Aly McKnight, Dial Books, Oct. 7, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 5-9)
The Sacred Stone Camp, by Rae Rose and Aly McKnight, recounts the first day where Indigenous activist LaDonna BraveBull Allard gathered water protectors to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The land is sacred to the people. The people are sacred to the land.
As Water Protectors gather to defend the water and protect the land against a black snake that threatens the rivers that millions of people depend on, a young girl looks to her Unci LaDonna and Lala Miles who are leading the way to the camp.
Although she’s nervous about what might happen next, she finds strength from her family and the strangers all coming together to stand up for what’s right. —Synopsis provided by Dial Books
The Sacred Stone Camp was written by Indigenous and Asian journalist Rae Rose, who knew LaDonna. Rose’s personal ties to the subject ring true through the warm and spirited text.
The story follows LaDonna and her granddaughter as they travel to and set up Sacred Stone Camp. Along the way, readers learn about the impact pipelines have on people and the ecosystems they depend on.
As the 10th anniversary of the NoDAPL protests nears, the book simultaneously celebrates family and the power of community action.
In addition to a compelling story, artist Aly McKnight’s vibrant watercolor illustrations make The Sacred Stone Camp a book kids will want to pick up.
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