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Title: |
Nanabosho, Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon, 3rd printing |
Author: |
Joe McLellan |
Number Of Pages: |
48 |
Subject: |
Character Education, Children - Non-Fiction, Food, Legends, Oral History/Traditions |
Grade Level: |
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six |
Publication Date: |
2006 |
ISBN: |
0-921827-23-7 |
Publisher: |
Pemmican Publications Inc |
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Book Description |
| Nanabosho, Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon is one of the titles in the Nanabosho series by Winnipeg children's author, Joseph McLellan. The author who is also a teacher believes in the power of the oral tradition and storytelling. He takes traditional stories about the Ojibwe (Anishinabek) trickster and teacher, Nanabosho, and weaves a contemporary story that will appeal to all children. Like all the stories in the series, this one begins as a story within a contemporary story. In the story the boy helps his mother with the laundry while his sister and cousin go ice fishing with their grandfather. On route to the lake, the girls hear the story about Nanabosho stealing the catch from Soaring Eagle after their fall fishing. Without the fish for their winter food supply, Soaring Eagle and his family will go hungry. Trout takes pity on Soaring Eagle and shows the man how to catch fish to feed his family. The man's greed overtakes his common sense and this almost leads to the loss of his son. Soaring Eagle heeds the advice of Trout and goes into the frozen lake in search of his son. With the help of Otter and the Great Sturgeon, Soaring Eagle and his son return home with plenty of fish for their winter needs. The illustrator has cleverly created images that capture the main details of the two stories. As the story moves from the contemporary setting of a boy doing laundry to the world of Nanabosho and Soaring Eagle, the artist successfully blends the two with subtle images of laundry baskets and trucks that trail off the page and away from the main images. Readers should look carefully to locate these touches of humour throughout the book. The author provides a glossary of the Ojibwe words and their meanings, and a closing page about the history and current vulnerability of the sturgeon. This excellent story teaches and delights on several levels. It provides a traditional teaching about the environment and human greed as well as an entertaining story for young readers. |
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