A Blanket of Butterflies

In this Eisner-nominated adventure, a Tłı̨chǫ Dene boy and his grandmother help a Japanese man reclaim his grandfather’s lost samurai sword and armour. Now in full colour!

A mysterious suit of armour. A man in search of redemption. A butterfly tattoo. Can Shinobu regain his lost samurai sword and, with it, his family’s honour? Can 10-year-old Sonny and his grandmother help Shinobu while keeping the peace in their community? Find new historical and cultural context in this full-colour edition.

No one knows how a suit of samurai armour ended up in the Fort Smith museum. When a mysterious stranger turns up to claim it, Sonny, a young Tłı̨chǫ Dene boy, is eager to help.

Shinobu has travelled to Fort Smith, NWT, to reclaim his grandfather’s samurai sword and armour. But when he discovers that the sword was lost in a poker game, he must confront the man known as Benny the Bank. Along the way, Shinobu must rely on unlikely heroes—Sonny, his grandmother, and a visitor from the spirit world. Together, they face Benny and his men, including the giant they call Flinch.

Will Shinobu be able to regain the lost sword and, with it, his family’s honour? Can Sonny and his grandmother help Shinobu while keeping the peace in their community?

Now in full colour, this new edition includes additional background information and cultural context. Learn about the real-life inspiration behind the story and the intersections between Indigenous and Japanese Canadian experiences during the Second World War.