Review: One World
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 29, 2012
"The Boy Who Flew With Eagles" is a chapter book to read aloud with youngsters or for primary grade readers to read on their own.Ben Woodard opens and closes with the traditional Native American narrative voice. I especially liked the ending of this book.The story itself is of a young boy kidnapped by an eagle. Her babies are starving because the humans are taking too much of the game from the land. The Mother Eagle must feed her young.The wisethan-his-years hero, Naa'ki, convinces the Mother Eagle that he can help her, that he is useful. He shows her how he can help to fortify her nest. He uses his net for fishing to catch more minnows for the growing trio of eaglets, Otter, Wolf, and Snake. Although he misses his family, Naa'ki is learning with the young eagles about the larger world.He begins to wish to fly. Although the odds are against him, Mother Eagle is willing to help him to learn.His most important lessons come as the salmon spawning season begins. The death of the fish, in the mouths of bears or humans or eagles, is acceptable only if a certain number have been allowed to spawn.In its trim story line with lovely illustrations to open each chapter, "The Boy Who Flew With Eagles" reminds us of the gifts and responsibilities of living on Mother Earth.