The most recent issue of PaperTigers focuses on First Nations books for children in Canada.   What better time than this to introduce the newly released first graphic novel 7 Generations Stone by David Alexander Robertson and Scott B. Henderson (Highwater Press, 2010).  7 Generations Stone opens in contemporary Winnipeg with a young man named Edwin, hospitalized after attempting to take his life with an overdose of pills.  As Edwin comes to in hospital, his mother, in an attempt to understand her son’s motivations for the act, begins to relate the family’s history to Edwin.  Edwin is descended from Stone, an early 19th century Plains Cree hunter.  7 Generations Stone tells Stone’s story — how he becomes initiated into manhood, how he sees his brother killed by the Blackfoot, and how eventually he avenges his brother’s death.  Juxtaposed against Stone’s story is Edwin’s; Edwin, too, is a young man struggling for meaning in his life.   Will he survive?  How will he find the resources and strength to keep on living?  Book 2 of the series continues the story of Edwin’s struggle while further exploring the next generation of the Stone-descended family.

As 7 Generations Stone is a recent release, it may be hard to find.  If you are interested in this graphic novel series, I do encourage you to check out the Highwater Press website and order from them directly.  You might also want to check out the promotional video of the book and the other forthcoming titles in the series found on the Portage and Main Press blog.

Expanding on our current focus on Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature, I’d like to remind readers about Cree author Larry Loyie’s work. He has written the following children’s books that focus on the modern history of Aboriginal people and deal with native traditions, residential school, HIV awareness and prevention, the meaning of war and other challenging topics: Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), When the Spirits Dance (Theytus) and The Gathering Tree (Theytus). Study guides for all four books can be found on his website.

As Long as the Rivers Flow was selected as an honor book for the 2006 First Nation Communities Read Program, and this year, along with Goodbye Buffalo Bay, it was chosen for inclusion in a literacy project whose goal is to encourage learning and understanding of First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives in Ontario schools.

Together with his partner, writer and editor Constance Brissenden, in 1993 Larry created the Living Traditions Writers Group to encourage writing within First Nations communities. If you’re not yet familiar with his work, you’re in for a genuine treat.

You can read our 2007 interview with Larry here. His next book, The Moon Speaks Cree, will be published by Theytus in 2011.

Our April update over on the main PaperTigers website focuses on authors, illustrators and others involved in the field of Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature.

The First Nations peoples, along with the Inuit and the Métis are the three officially recognized aboriginal peoples of Canada. A tribute to their accomplishments, the new reviews, interviews and illustrators’ galleries currently highlighted on our website call attention to the richness of their literature and the distinctiveness of their voices and cultures. We hope you’ll take some time to enjoy these offerings and to encourage others to do the same.

Of course, we will be further exploring the theme of Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature here on our blog for the next two months. We would love for you to join in the conversation!

Last week I volunteered to drive students in my son’s class to a local theatre to see Cinderellas. This wasn’t the regular run-of-the mill Cinderella play though, so instead of just dropping the kids off, I purchased a ticket for the show. Put on by ABC Let’s Act, this production presented the story of Cinderella as told in four different traditions: Walt Disney’s, the Chinese, the First Nations and the Korean versions. Did you know that there are over 300 versions of the story of Cinderella throughout the world?

The young cast did a wonderful job of telling the story of four Cinderellas from four different cultures and proved that Cinderella can indeed have brown eyes and black hair! It truly was a multicultural experience with aspects of traditional Chinese theatre, a Korean fan dance, Tae Kwon Do martial arts and the singing of a sacred First Nations song that has been passed down from generation to generation. Director Mandy Tulloch says she wanted to ensure that each version of Cinderella was shown in a manner that was true to its respective culture:

Advisors were consulted to make sure the play was as culturally responsible as possible. In the segment from China, we utilize the traditional method in Chinese theatre where the audience is asked for permission for the performance to take place. We also have the property men as well. For the First Nations piece, we were granted permission by the local elders for the performance to take place. They also blessed the show and worked with us on the music and mask making. In the Korean segment, which was written specifically for this show, you will see an authentic Korean Fan Dance performed by kids as well as award winning Tae Kwon Do artists.

Multicultural versions of Cinderella abound in children’s and young adult books too. To get a sense of what’s out there, check out our blog posts Globe-trotting Cinderella and Bound by Donna Jo Napoli and Books at Bedtime: Fairy Tales (2); and read this review of Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella, which forms part of our current focus on the Philippines…

On Dec. 30, the Governor General of Canada announced 60 new appointments to the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor. Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. I was thrilled to hear that Canadian author and literacy advocate, David Bouchard was named as “Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions as an author of children’s books and an advocate who has championed the cause of reading and writing, and who has shared his pride as a member of the Métis community through his stories.”

A former teacher and principal, Bouchard is British Columbia’s best-selling author and single most sought-after public speaker. He has written over 25 best-selling children’s books which have won several prestigious awards, among them: the Governor General’s Award for The Song Within My Heart, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Voices from the Wild, the Red Cedar Award for The Great Race and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for Illustration for The Dragon New Year. His books have also been short-listed many times for Canada’s most illustrious awards.

Each year David Bouchard travels extensively, championing the cause of literacy to students, parents and educators. During these events, Bouchard shares his perspective: “We do not need new curriculum or harder working teachers in order to get our students to read. We need parents, teachers and administrators who read. The key lies in modeling.” He outlines respective roles and responsibilities that will ensure that all children are given the gift of reading. He inspires and leaves his listeners with a concrete plan and the rejuvenation needed to face literacy issues head on.

“The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of reading. There is no magic in giving it. There is no toy or program that will do the job for us. It takes time, commitment and most of all, fire. We cannot hope to light a fire in the hearts of others without a fire burning in our own. Light and stoke yours, then spread the flame fast and furious. Let literacy be your legacy.” says David.

On Jan. 21st David will be the keynote speaker for Literiffic Day at my son’s school, an event which I am looking forward to attending!

We’re starting to count the days in our family to when school will break up for all of us… we’re looking forward to indulging in some good “book sessions”, when we can all snuggle up and take turns in reading piles of books to each other – old favorites and new.

Two very different books I’m looking forward to sharing with the boys this year are The Huron Christmas Carol illustrated by Ian Wallace and Santa Knows by husband and wife team Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith.

The Huron Carol takes its text from a carol which, as the name suggests, was originally written in the old Huron language in c. 1641, probably by Father Brébeuf, a French Jesuit missionary in what is now Ontario, Canada. Sung to the tune of a traditional French carol, it was translated into English in 1921, beginning “’Twas in the moon of wintertime”. This is the version which forms the text of this lovely book, although both the Huron and French words for one verse are given at the end, along with the tune. In it, the Christmas Story is set among the Huron Indians, so that, for example, “chiefs from far before him knelt/ with gifts of fox and beaver pelt”. Ian Wallace’s illustrations emphasise the cultural setting within the intimate space of a Huron longhouse, as well as through his sweeping depictions of the Canadian landscape filled with local wildlife. This book is a really special way to share the universality of the Christmas message, made relevant to a specific group of people by being placed into their own, familiar context.

Meanwhile, you just have to see the cover of Santa Knows to know that this book is going to be a fun
treat. Just look at those pyjamas! When it came out last year, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast said

This one would make a rousing read-aloud to the elementary-aged children at which it’s aimed

– I definitely agree: especially as that is just the age when the questions about whether Santa exists are starting to emerge. Let Alfie F. Snorklepuss’ experiences (what a glorious name!) be a warning to all those doubters out there! And just to add to the excitement, run to the end of this Cynsations post from a few days ago, where Cynthia Leitich Smith gives details of how to ask her for a signed “Santa Knows” bookplate.