How Raven Got His Crooked Nose: An Alaskan Dena'ina Fable
Description
2019 Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable and American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) 2018 Best Book.
Chulyen the trickster raven loses his nose one day, but he vows to get it back. Luckily he has some special powers to help him!
How Raven Got His Crooked Nose is a modern retelling of a traditional Native American fable. Part picture book and part graphic novel, this beautifully illustrated story teaches an important lesson to children through Dena'ina mythology and includes a glossary of Dena'ina words to learn.
Product Details
Price
$12.99
$12.08
Publisher
Alaska Northwest Books
Publish Date
September 22, 2020
Pages
32
Dimensions
7.9 X 9.7 X 0.1 inches | 0.25 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781513264394
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Barbara Jacko Atwater is a retired teacher, village administrator, and author of Walter's Story, about her great uncle Walter Johnson who was a respected Dena'ina elder. Before passing away at the age of ninety-three, her uncle left Barbara and her son, Ethan, fables and folklore of their Native American ancestors, including the story of Chulyen the raven. She hopes to carry forward the traditional stories of the Dena' ina people and share their history just as her great uncle did for their family. Barbara currently lives in Soldotna, Alaska.
Growing up in Alaska, Ethan Jacko Atwater engaged with his community at an early age and worked as a camp counselor and interned with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. He is currently attending college and is passionate about educating children on Dena'ina folklore.
Mindy Dwyer is a prolific children's book author and illustrator, with over a dozen books published in print. She is the recipient of "Not Just For Kids Anymore Award" from the Children's Book Council, a National Parenting Publication Award, and a Young Readers Choice Award. She loves the magic and make-believe places that fairy tales offer, that they "give us permission to hold onto a childhood promise that 'anything is possible and we were put on this earth to take part in adventure.'" She now lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she continues to dream big and wonderful stories.
Reviews
"One of the best books I have read all year! A wonderful trickster tale, set as a morality tale for children in the most clever, dramatic way. Just perfect illustrations in tandem with the authors' tribute to their family's storytelling traditions, and to a language with less than 100 who still speak it today. I was so intrigued, I've done further research on Chulyen the Raven, as I've mostly read trickster tales from elsewhere. Said the raven to me: Read some more!". --Carl Lennertz, Children's Book Council Bulletin
"Working in graphic novel-style panels, Dwyer introduces Chulyen, who is boldly depicted with patterned black and purple plumage and lime-green eyes. . . use of strong contrasting colors brings a fresh, modern sensibility to this tale, while patterns and motifs are suggestive of traditional Dena'ina art."-- "Publisher's Weekly"
"In this retelling, which is gently laced with Dena'ina vocabulary, readers learn not only a cautionary tale, but also facts about the culture. . . Both entertaining and instructive, a refreshing breath of air from the far north."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"The conversational writing style and the clean layout design make this an easy read-aloud choice to share with a group. VERDICT A fine addition to nonfiction collections to highlight Dena'ina culture and traditional stories."-- "School Library Journal"
"Dwyer's illustrations are eye-catching; the raven is bold and loud while the narrators and their setting are soft and subtle. The story is told with care and respect, passed down from the authors' own ancestors. This lesser-known tale from a distant and possibly unfamiliar culture will broaden and enhance any collection of folk literature. Background information about Dena'ina history and culture is also included. Additional Resources. Glossary."-- "School Library Connection"
"Working in graphic novel-style panels, Dwyer introduces Chulyen, who is boldly depicted with patterned black and purple plumage and lime-green eyes. . . use of strong contrasting colors brings a fresh, modern sensibility to this tale, while patterns and motifs are suggestive of traditional Dena'ina art."-- "Publisher's Weekly"
"In this retelling, which is gently laced with Dena'ina vocabulary, readers learn not only a cautionary tale, but also facts about the culture. . . Both entertaining and instructive, a refreshing breath of air from the far north."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"The conversational writing style and the clean layout design make this an easy read-aloud choice to share with a group. VERDICT A fine addition to nonfiction collections to highlight Dena'ina culture and traditional stories."-- "School Library Journal"
"Dwyer's illustrations are eye-catching; the raven is bold and loud while the narrators and their setting are soft and subtle. The story is told with care and respect, passed down from the authors' own ancestors. This lesser-known tale from a distant and possibly unfamiliar culture will broaden and enhance any collection of folk literature. Background information about Dena'ina history and culture is also included. Additional Resources. Glossary."-- "School Library Connection"
