How Raven Brought Light to People
PreSchool-Grade 3-- This colorful adaptation of an Alaskan Tlingit Indian legend explains how Raven gave the sun, moon, and stars back to man and how he got his feathers sooty in the process. Long ago, the great chief deprived man of light as he hoarded for himself the sun, moon, and stars in three wooden boxes. Raven transforms himself into a pine needle so that he will be consumed by the chief's daughter as she drinks from the stream. He then is born a boy. Gradually the boy's doting grandfather allows him to play with each box in turn. First raven releases the stars, then the moon, and finally he returns to his former shape to fly up the smoke hole of the lodge with the third box. The story is fast moving with its magical transformations, and the language is simple and direct. The illustrations are dramatically shaded watercolor and acrylic drawings full of Native American detail and design. Many of them play with various reflections of light. Particularly effective are the scenes depicting the transformations and those in the lodge. A useful addition to legend and folklore collections as well as a dramatic story for telling aloud. --Yvonne Frey, Peoria Public Schools, ILCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.