| Nanabosho and Porcupine is the most recently published titles in the Nanabosho series by Winnipeg children's authors, Joe McLellan and Matrine McLellan. The authors believe in the power of the oral tradition and storytelling. They take traditional stories about the Ojibwe trickster and teacher, Nanabosho, and weave a contemporary story that will appeal to all children. In this picture book, the story begins with Nokomis telling her granddaughter, Nonie, about how to bead using seed beads. Long ago, the Anishinabe used porcupine quills instead of the seed beads used today. But granddaughter fears the porcupine quills because they are so sharp. Grandmother tells her how porcupine came to have the special quills for protection. Porcupine did not have quills at that time and so she went outside the wigwam with Nanabosho. Nanabosho wanted to play without Porcupine because she who was too small. Porcupine was so disappointed that she hung her head as Nanabosho left her behind. Porcupine told Nanabosho that she could help in him in the future. Playing on his own, Nanabosho began teasing a small bear cub but Mother Bear soon came by and chased Nanabosho all around the woods, even across the lake. Porcupine came to the rescue of Nanabosho by tripping Mother Bear during the chase. Porcupine tumbled into a bramble bush and was covered with thorns. Nanabosho got away safely but saw poor Porcupine with a large bruise because bear tripped over the small animal. Nanabosho thought he should help Porcupine and went to a tree and took the moss growing there and made Porcupine a little sweater for protection. Nanabosho took some of the bramble thorns and attached these to the little covering. When he finished Porcupine had a funny-looking coat. Nanabosho gently kissed Porcupine and the mess of bramble thorns became the beautiful quills that porcupines have today. With that, Nanabosho went to play with his special friend Porcupine. The simple, colour drawings in the book about Nanabosho and Porcupine are created by Ryan Gorrie. This story with its special message will appeal to elementary school students. |
