David Bouchard & Shelley Willier; paintings by Jim Poitrus; singing and drumming by Northern Cree,
The Drum Calls Softly
Red Deer Press, 2008

Rating: G*

This bilingual book in English and Cree includes a CD of both the spoken text, and background drumming, chanting and sound effects. It conveys the power and cultural significance of the Cree drum circles, and the family and community life that it celebrates. It offers glimpse into relationships, the rituals of tribal life, and the strong connection with nature and the continuous circle of days and seasons.

While this work offers an important glimpse into the traditions of native life, and introduces the Cree language on the page and drumming and flute music on the CD, problems with some of the rhyming schemes may trip up a child or adult reading the text, and are evident in the version read by David Bouchard on the sound version. For example, I was immediately draw in by rhythm of the first stanza, ‘Step into the outer circle/Listen to the beating drum/Take my hand and hold it tight/The thing you seek is soon to come.’ But then the following two lines, ‘Everybody’s smiling because/Our hearts all beat as one…’ forced me to re-read the verse to ensure I had not misread it. And other distracting rhyming errors as the book continues prevented me from being as engaged as I would have liked. Especially troubling given the topic of a book in which the language should impeccably support the drumming theme.

Poitras’ illustrations set on ochre backgrounds are evocative in a direct and naive way and support both the tone and the subject of the book. Night, dawn and daylight reveal the Cree people’s life in community, on the plains and near the water, and on every page celebrate a strong connection to nature and to a life of spirit.

An important book, even if slightly flawed, that deserves a place in school and public libraries.

Thematic Links: Native American Culture; Drumming; Cree

Lois Peterson
Vol. 14, number 2
December 2008

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.