In return for the flour he has blown out of young Peter's hands, the North Wind gives a magic cloth, goat, and stick. After an innkeeper cheats Peter out of his first two magical gifts, Peter uses the third to set things right. Repetition of phrase in each of the three segments of this story makes it an easily-read tale. In this retelling of the classic story by Sergei Prokofiev, each character is represented by an instrument of the orchestra. Recounting the capture of the fearsome wolf that has threatened a young boy's small animal friends, this modern literary folktale is a story of youthful courage and ingenuity.
Illustrations using pastels capture the sombre mood and Russian flavour of the story.
At Peter Cardinal's birthday party, children enjoy indoor games, bannock, hot dogs, cake and ice-cream, then a snowmobile ride to the winter carnival. There, the children enjoy skating and snowshoe racing on the lake and a marshmallow roast by the campfire. Illustrated by Philip Spink. Peter Cardinal's grandmother has made him a pair of beautiful moccasins finely detailed with tufted moose hair and porcupine quills. As everyone else in his class wears sneakers, Peter hides his moccasins until a classmate brings her pair of beaded moccasins for show and tell.