One of the most unexpected and meaningful outcomes of the international SPIRIT work has been the relationships formed across homelands and oceans. Over time, collaborators became relatives, connected not only through the work, but through shared values, culture, language and kinship. These relationships ultimately inspired the children’s book When You See the World, written by our own Crystal Austin, Director of Communications and Senior Advisor for the SPIRIT project.
Crystal is often affectionately referred to as the “OG” of Family Spirit, to which she jokingly responds that it stands for the “Old Grandma” of the program, a title she carries with humor, humility, and deep respect and hope for families and communities.
Told through the voice of a grandmother speaking to her grandchild, When You See the World is a tender story about family, identity, and the enduring love that travels with us wherever we go. Young readers are reminded that no matter how far their journeys take them, they carry their family, their language, and their values with them.
As the story moves from Diné Bikéyah to the homelands of the Skwxwú7mesh, Māori, and Arrernte peoples, children learn that the world is full of relatives, people just like them who share stories, traditions, and a deep connection to land and community.
A perfect read‑aloud for bedtime, a meaningful gift for any occasion, and a treasured addition to family bookshelves everywhere.
