A Man Called Raven
by Richard Van Camp (Author) George Littlechild (Illustrator)
When Chris and Toby Greyeyes find a raven in the garage, they try to trap it and hurt it with hockey sticks. To them, ravens are just a nuisance because they spread garbage all over the street. Or so they think-until a mysterious man who smells like pine needles enters their lives and teaches them his story of the raven.
In this intriguing book, A Man Called Raven, George Littlechild, internationally acclaimed artist and author of the Jane Addams Award-winning book This Land Is My Land, returns to collaborate with Richard Van Camp, an exciting voice in Native American literature. Set in the Northwest Territories of Canada, Van Camp's contemporary story draws from the animal legends and folklore told to him by his Dogrib elders. Littlechild's bold use of color and perspective captures the sense of mystery and magic surrounding the strange raven man who teaches the boys the meaning of respect for nature.
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 3--Pacific Northwest folklore is woven into a contemporary moral tale in this unusual title. Two brothers injure a raven. When it escapes, an impressively huge and angry man appears. He makes the boys take him to their home, where he tells them about a man who liked to hurt ravens and paid for it. In his tale, an injured bird starts to follow him everywhere, until finally the man himself turns into a raven. When he returns to his village to apologize to the people who are mourning his death, he can only call like a raven. Then he begins watching over his people and helping them. The boys understand the message. The man departs, "leaving behind him the thunder of wings." The final illustration makes it clear that the storyteller is himself that raven man of the tale. The first transition from the troublesome boys to the raven man's account is a bit awkward, and the instant reformation of the boys after hearing it is not particularly convincing. Overall, though, the weaving of one story within another works fairly well. The bold and dramatic illustrations lend real power to the story. Using simple shapes and vivid colors, the artist clearly conveys action and emotion. The style successfully captures both the magical element of the raven and the strong presence of the storyteller. The intriguing story and powerful artwork will attract young readers.
Copyright 1997 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Richard Van Camp is a young writer and member of the Dogrib Nation from the Northwest Territories, Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria and the En'owkin International School of Writing. He recently published his first novel and his stories have been featured in many collections.
George Littlechild is an internationally renowned artist from the Plains Cree Nation. His first book for Children's Book Press, This Land Is My Land (1993), was the winner of both the prestigious Jane Addams Picture Book Award, and the National Parenting Publications Gold Medal. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
