If you haven’t read our recent interview with Métis author David Bouchard yet, then head on over there right away! In the interview we talked only a little bit about his recent book Seven Sacred Teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman (More Than Words, 2009), which he co-wrote with Dr Joseph Martin, is stunningly illustrated by Kristy Cameron, and has an accompanying DVD with music by Swampfox, and for which Swampfox created seven flutes out of seven different woods, each in a different key.

David considers Seven Sacred Teachings to be one of his most important works to date. The seven teachings (Humility, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Truth, and Love) are universal to First Nations peoples, and are the strongest link between First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. Read on to find out more, for in this post David explains in more depth the background to this fascinating and ambitious project, which brought together six languages: English, French, Ojibwe, South Slavey, Bush Cree and Chipewyan.

The Aboriginal people in Canada have had to deal with many negative experiences over the past century and more: but one of the golden, shiny spots from coast to coast in our country is the spirituality that remains intact. If you go into any one of our schools, any school from coast to coast in Canada with Aboriginal kids, you’ll see posters or writings on the walls that refer to these teachings. Different people call them different things. Among the Ojibwe people they’re called the Grandfather Teachings, amongst the Lakota and Dakota people (who used to be called the Sioux), they’re called the teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman. Among the Dene of the north and their cousins the Navaho in America, they call them the Dene Laws.

But the teachings are very, very (more…)

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to head over to our main PaperTigers site and read our interview with Canadian Métis author and literacy advocate David Bouchard. David has produced more than 35 picture-books for readers of all ages, as well as two guides on reading for parents and educators. An erstwhile teacher and school principal, he is particularly concerned with Aboriginal-related issues and is a sought-after speaker for school presentations and on topics of reading and literacy.  Earlier this month David was named to the Member of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor, “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.”

Winchester Galleries, located in Victoria, BC, Canada, is currently hosting an exhibition entitled David Bouchard – Our Author and his Collection. Throughout his career, David has worked with over two dozen accomplished artists, the likes of Allen Sapp, Michael Lonechild and Jim Poitras, and has amassed a diverse and interesting collection of fine art.  Paintings from David’s collection, as well as autographed copies of his best-selling books will be on exhibit and sale at Winchester Galleries until May 1st. Here’s a video from the opening night:

Yes, this week’s Poetry Friday is here and we’re very excited to be hosting for the first time (and how great to be gathering together so many treasures of National Poetry month in the US too!). Please leave your links in the Comments Section below – I’ll be checking them throughout the day and updating this post.

My offering comes from David Bouchard‘s recent book, The Secret of Your Name/ Kiimooch ka shinikashooven (Red Deer Press, 2010). David only found out about his Métis roots relatively recently. In this poem he addresses his Nokum, his Grandmother. There is apology and regret for all that has been lost in the passing years – but there is hope too, because now that he does know, there is still time to discover his heritage and to proclaim it to the world. The beauty of this poem is that it is very personal to David’s own heart but also speaks for many, many Métis today, who did not, or still do not, know of their First Nations blood. And look very carefully at the beautiful cover (although I know it’s hard in a small picture like this) – Dennis J. Weber has drawn together in this one image all the longing, regret and eventual harmony with the past that comes through in the poem.

I’m sorry that I cannot sing
The songs that were passed down to you
The songs you heard your mother sing
The songs that I should own…

I’m sorry but I cannot sing
I did not know so I did not learn
I have yet to hear a single song
Sung by a Chippewa…

But I will go and seek them out
Then teach them to my children [...]

Our family will come to learn
You were a Menominee.

The book comes with an accompanying CD, with narration in English by David and in Michif by Norman Fleury, and with accompanying music, played by David on the flute and the “Master of the Métis Fiddle”, John Arcand. You can listen to the English version, including the insightful Foreward, here, while viewing the stunning illustrations. Our current issue of PaperTigers focuses on Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature and features a fascinating interview with David – definitely worth reading!

And now for the feast of verse that is Poetry Friday…

Danika from TeachingBooks.net shares audio of Robert Frost himself performing his poem “Birches”. How exciting to share this poet’s voice and rhythm with students – and indeed for all of us to hear him! -

and Tabatha has another audio offering, with Maggi Smith reciting Matthew Arnold’s “Mortality”: what a combination! And she also has a little Alan Rickman bonus too!

Mary Lee, from A Year of Reading, who is one of those awe-inspiring bloggers posting an original poem throughout this Poetry Month of April, has a beautiful poem today inspired by “something a child said to me at recess” – and it’s already inspired a poetry risposte in her Comments; I’m sure there’ll be more before the day is out. Don’t miss this post, either, for all the links to other National Poetry Month enterprises around the Kidlitosphere.

Laura Salas has an excerpt from “Hotel Deep” by Kurt Cyrus in a post entitled The Belch of a Blowfish - that should give you some idea! – and she is also host to “some great 15 Words or Less poems based on a ghoulish book cover” and invites you all to share yours too…

Jeni Bell continues her daily (wow!) children’s poem through April with this “Haiku-ish poem”, “At My Grandpa’s House“…

and Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s inspiration for her Poem #9 of the month, “Cat-Dog Secret” comes from an equally beautiful photograph of her cat and dog – plus she cites two books about teaching poetry, one of which she loved so much, she named her daughter after the author!

Ruth at There Is No Such Thing As A God-Forsaken Town focuses on Odysseus, with an extract from Louise Glück’s “Parable of the Hostages” and her own thought-provoking “Penelope Thinks It Over”.

Sara Lewis Holmes over at Read Write Believe has been collecting quotes about poets and poetry for National Poetry Month, and today features J. Patrick Lewis’ fifteen different definitions of poetry in his poem, “Poetry Is…”. “Which one speaks to you?” she asks – for me it’s 13, 15 and maybe 8…

Jama has, as ever, a mouth-watering post at Alphabet Soup, continuing her Poetry Potluck Series with Julie Larios’ “Domingo.” - and she shares Julie’s recipe for Tortas Mexicanas – I know what we’ll be eating over the week-end, and trying to remember the patter of Julie’s poem at the same time, no doubt!

Diane Mayr highlights poet Dorothea Grossman over at Random Noodlings; and Kurious Kitty looks at Wendell Berry’s latest book, Leavings: Poems. KKs Kwotes has a beautiful quote from Wendell Berry, too, from his poem “The Silence“.

David brings together in a single post, at his blog Fomagrams, all the haiku and limericks he has written this week – he’s aiming to tweet three!!! haiku and a limerick each day through April! Little Brother is already quoting the limericks – we love the nautical theme!

Jeannine Atkins writes about creating poetry from images drawn from history.

Christine Marcianik at The Simple and the Ordinary shares another installment of an original poem by her 13-year-old daughter, called Tessa in Wonderland.

Karen Edmisten joins in with The Thought of Something Else, by Wendell Berry.

Carmela from TeachingAuthors.com points to a poem by April Halprin Wayland and reminds us that they are sponsoring a poetry anthology giveaway (US residents only) in honor of National Poetry month.

At Enjoy and Embrace Learning, Mandy Robek shares Pairs and Clusters, an original poem about her backyard in Spring, inspired by Mary Lee’s “a poem a day” undertaking.

At Wild Rose Reader, Elaine Magliaro has a number of her original animal mask poems, two poetry book recommendations, and an invitation to readers to write and submit their own animal mask poems.

Sheri Doyle is in with an article she wrote for Appleseeds magazine, “Get Your Poems Into Shape!” So fun to see her words turned into objects like a kite, a light bulb, a guitar…!

Sylvia Vardell continues her glorious Poetry Tag over at Poetry for Children – today Marilyn Singer is IT – this is definitely a National Poetry Month game worth following! -

…and it just so happens that Stella at My World-Mi Mundo highlights Marilyn Singer’s book Mirror Mirror, “a great fun book of reversible verse.” I love the idea – we’ll be looking out for this one!

…as does Jennie at Biblio File, who quotes “Bear in the News” from Mirror Mirror – a double-take on Goldilocks – yes, we will definitely be looking out for this delightful-sounding book – and I like the look of Josée Masses’ illustrations too…

Tiel Aisha Ansari has a beautiful original rondeau that encompasses changes in perspective, called A Postcard Full of Sky, over at Knocking From Inside.

Doraine Bennett at Dori Reads has a poem about polar explorers, “I Had Been a Polar Explorer” by Mark Strand: “When they once set foot in frozen lands, they always wanted to go back. This poem… captures the longing.” – it certainly does…

Gregory K. has a new original poem by Alan Katz called “Ch-ch-ch-check, Please” over at GottaBook – and since last Poetry Friday, he’s also posted new poems from Laura Purdie Salas, Calef Brown, Carole Boston Weatherford, Jorge Argueta, Susan Marie Swanson, and Ralph Fletcher, too, “so I hope folks will come on by and check ‘em all out (Friday poems or not!)” – all part of the Thirty Poets, Thirty Days extravaganza of original poetry that he’s hosting.

Meanwhile Kelly Fineman over at Writing and Ruminating brings us an old, much loved poem, John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn“.

Jet over at The Write Sisters is in with “A Man Alone” by Stephen Orlen.

Julie Larios features heart-stopping poems over at The Drift Record, taken from The Wishing Bone Cycle, an anthology of poetry from the Swampy Cree tribe, gathered and translated by Canadian poet and novelist Howard Norman.

Mary Ann Dames features Julie Larios’ Imaginary Menagerie and says this: “Today I challenged my readers and myself to write about two animals as one. Read about wharks, birees, and rhinopuses. And, from Recipe Wednesday, you can make a Beetle Bop Salad to go along with the book of the same name by Denise Fleming.”

Mary Ann at Great Kids Books has a review of Nest, Nook & Cranny, by Susan Blackaby – a wonderful blend of nature and poetry.

Fiddler focuses on the links between poetry and music over at Rockhound Place with a celebration of “The Lark Ascending“: George Meredith’s poem and a video featuring Janine Jansen playing Vaughan William’s music.

breannep raises a smile at Language Literacy, Love with the heart-felt “If I Were in Charge of the World” by Judith Viorst.

Megan at Homeschooling on the Run shares a poem that is particularly special to her: “Oceans” by Juan Ramón Jiménez.

Heidi Mordhorst over at My Juicy Little Universe talks about taking part in Thirty Days Thirty Poets with her class and mixes seasons and metaphors with David McCord’s “Snowflakes”.

Janet Squires shares three fun/informative garden-themed poetry books: Busy in the Garden, I Heard It From Alice Zucchini: poems about the garden, and Slugs in Love over at All About the Books.

Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews has a review of Think Again by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Julie Morstad, and shares two poems from the book about Time…

Diane White shares the poem “Dean’s Tree” by Nancy Bo Flood. She says: “It seems providential, somehow, that the poem I chose to post is by my good friend Nancy Bo Flood. By pure coincidence, Nancy was a guest on PaperTigers just yesterday.”

[Sunday] A huge thank you to everyone for making this a bumper Poetry Friday roundup – I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s posts, both on Friday and, with a bit more time, over the week-end. What a fantastic introduction to hosting Poetry Friday this has been for PaperTigers – thank you!

The BolognaRagazzi Awards 2010 have just been announced over on the Bologna Book Fair website. For us at PaperTigers, two books stand out immediately:

Do! by Gita Wolf, illustrated by Ramesh Hengadi & Shantaram Dhadpe (Tara Books, 2009), winner of the New Horizons Award

What the jury said:

Bursting with bright clarity, this book illustrated by Ramesh Hengadi and Shantaram Dhadpe employs an extremely refined use of colour. Paper and figures are embroidered with a lace like precision. There is a wealth of narrative in the details that beg to be explored at length. The exceptional elegance of the ochre and white colour palette together with its multi-facetted narrative potential makes this an exquisitely crafted, eminently readable book.

and The Drum Calls Softly by David Bouchard and Shelley Willier, illustrated by Jim Poitras, music by Northern Cree (Red Deer Press, 2008), Non-Fiction Mention

What the jury said:

The joyful yet complex style of Jim Poitras is the vehicle for an enjoyable lesson in cultural anthropology. The clear contours of the foreground figures dialogue effortlessly with the landscapes in the background whose colourful, complex and material quality is rendered almost tangible. This novel illustration technique is particularly suited as a book for children since it highlights to great effect how man’s customs, lifestyles and traditions take on significance only when seen against the backdrop of the skies, hills, rivers and natural world that gave rise to them.

The winning books come from all over the world and it does indeed look like an absolutely stunning selection. And this seems the perfect moment to let everyone know that Aline, Corinne and I will be at the Bologna Book Fair this year (yippee!) so we will be among the lucky ones to see all these books in one and the same place.

If you are going to be there too and would like to meet up, then do drop us a line. And if you can’t be there, keep an eye here on our blog as we will be posting regularly, to share some of our highlights with you all straightaway!

(Click on event name for more information)

African-American History Month~ USA

3rd International Galle Literary Festival~ ongoing until Feb 1, Galle, Sri Lanka

SCBWI Annual Winter Meeting~ ongoing until Feb 1, New York, NY, USA

6th International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum~ongoing until Feb 4, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Bermuda Reading Association’s Literacy Week and 25th Annual Conference~ ongoing until Feb 7, Bermuda

Kolkata Book Fair~ ongoing until Feb 8, Kolkata, India

Scraps & Imagination – Elisa Kleven’s Mixed Media Picture Book Art Exhibition~ ongoing until Feb 27, San Francisco, CA, USA

20th Annual National African American Read-in~ ongoing until Feb 28, USA

Entries Accepted for the Growing Up Asian in America Contest~ ongoing until Mar 5, San Francisco, CA, USA

Taipei International Book Exhibition~ Feb 4 – 9, Taipei, Taiwan

National Launch: Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy~ Feb 5, Washington, DC, USA

The Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature 2009 Conference: Nation, Translation, Migration~ Feb 6 – 7, Drumcondra, Ireland

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival~ Feb 7 – 15, Bombay, India

Black History Month Family Day Celebration~ Feb 8, Washington, D.C., USA

First Nations Public Library Week~ Feb 9 – 14, Province of Ontario, Canada

Reading Crusade 2009~ Feb 9 – Mar 23, Christchurch City, New Zealand

Crossing Cultures, Changing Skins: Writing Across Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Culture~ Feb 10, New York City, NY, USA

Imagine 09: Children’s Literature Festival~ Feb 12 – 22, London, United Kingdom

The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature Presents Rhythms of the Heart: The Illustration of Ashley Bryan~ Feb 12 – Apr 30, Abilene, TX, USA

Kids ♥ Authors Day~ Feb 14

24th Jerusalem International Book Fair~ Feb 15 – 20, Jerusalem, Israel

Words and Beyond: Exploring Illustrated Children’s Literature in the English Language Classroom~ Feb 17 – 20, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Read Today, Lead Tomorrow Speaker Series Featuring David Bouchard “Boys: Reading for Success”~ Feb 18, Port Moody, BC, Canada

7th International Literacy Conference~ Feb 18 – 20, Guatemala City, Guatemala

International Reading Association’s 54th Annual Convention West: Beyond the Horizon~ Feb 21 – 25, Phoenix, AZ, USA

25th Annual Freedom to Read Week~ Feb 22 – 28, Canada

The Forbidden Bookshelf: Banned Children’s Books Week Writers Talks~ Feb 22 – Mar 1, Wellington, New Zealand

CABE’s 34th Annual Conference: Releasing Multilingual Dreams Today, Creating New Worlds Tomorrow~ Feb 25 – 28, Long Beach, CA, USA

Emirates Airlines International Festival of Literature~ Feb 26 – Mar 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Latvian Book Fair~ Feb 26 – Mar 1, Riga, Latvia

Seattle Rainbow Bookfest~ Feb 28, Seattle, WA, USA

The Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Serendipity 2009: Telling Our Stories~ Feb 28, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Bath Literature Festival~ Feb 28 – Mar 8, Bath, United Kingdom

Have you ever been somewhere so breathtakingly beautiful you want to write about it?  Twice a year we travel through a valley in Saskatchewan called the Qu’Appelle.  In winter or summer, the valley never fails to elicit our awe.  It follows the Qu’Apelle River for more than 400 kilometres, from Manitoba into Saskatchewan.  The Qu’Appelle is lush, sheltered, and fertile, and also revered by its Cree inhabitants.  The area got its name from a report by a Metis trader who’d heard the Cree speak of a voice calling through the valley, to which they would respond “Who’s calling?” or “Qui Appelle?” in French.  The story of the valley’s naming has been written about by Mohawk poet Pauline Johnson.   She romanticized the story in verse and it is to this version that children’s writer David Bouchard (formerly featured in a post by Corinne) turned when composing his book.

“Qu’Appelle” is illustrated with paintings by Michael Lonechild.  Much of the attraction of the book lies in its compelling panoramic views of the valley in different seasons.  The paintings evoke vividly the life of the Cree in a valley familiar and beloved to many.  The story Bouchard weaves is about two lovers separated, never to be united again.  It is the woman who dies and whose voice calls out to her warrior-love in the valley.

He was covered with sweat and his eyes were wet
When again he heard the calling.
“Qui Appelle?” He cried.  Yet he knew deep inside
It was she, his love, who was calling.

For anyone who has been to this picturesque part of the prairie, reading this book can enhance the experience.  As the book is written as a long poem, I include it for Poetry Friday hosted this week by Laura Salas.

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!

(Click on event name for more information)

Golden Feather Literature Festival~ ongoing until Jan 31, Mongolia

5th Tales in the Park Festival~ ongoing until Feb 7, Bangkok, Thailand

Discovering Ethnic Minorities – Storytelling Workshops for Children~ ongoing until May 31, Hong Kong

2008 Cybils (the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards) Finalists Announced~ Jan 1

Costa Book Awards Winners Announced~ Jan 6, London, United Kingdom

7th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities~ Jan 9 – 12, Honolulu, HI, USA

Mitali Perkin’s Secret Keeper Book Launch Party and Writing Workshop~ Jan 15, Palo Alto, CA, USA

CISA World Symposium and Storytelling Festival: Indigenous Voices, Ancient Trade Routes~ Jan 15 – 17, San Leandro, CA, USA

Storytelling by Winners of the First Time Writers & Illustrators Publishing Initiative 2008~ Jan 17, Singapore

Newberry Library Lecture – Babes in the Wood: The Death of Childhood and the Birth of Modern Children’s Literature~ Jan 17, Chicago, IL, USA

Presentation Ceremony for the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation~ Jan 20, London, United Kingdom

20th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities~ Jan 20 – 25, Eatonville, FL, USA

Presentation by Award Winning Author and Literacy Advocate David Bouchard~ Jan 21, Port Moody, BC, Canada

Jaipur Literature Festival~ Jan 21 – 25, Jaipur, India

SCBWI Tokyo Presents Alison Lester: From Arnhem Land to Antarctica as a Children’s Author and Illustrator~ Jan 23, Tokyo, Japan

Deb Ellis and Groundwood Books Partnership with USBBY in a Fundraiser for IBBY’s Fund for Children in Crisis~ Jan 23, Denver, CO, USA

2nd Children’s & Young Adults’ Book Fair~ Jan 23 – 26, Marousi, Greece

American Library Association (ALA) 2009 Midwinter Meeting~ Jan 23 – 29, Denver, CO, USA

ALA Youth Media Awards Announcement~ Jan 26, Denver, CO, USA

Yabun 2009: Celebrating Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures~ Jan 26, Sydney, Australia

No Name-Calling Week~ Jan 26 – 30, USA

Family Literacy Week~ Jan 26 – 31, Province of British Columbia, Canada

Family Literacy Day~ Jan 27, Canada

SCBWI South Africa – Cape Town Presents What’s Happening in the SA Educational Book World~ Jan 28 , Cape Town, South Africa

3rd International Galle Literary Festival~ Jan 28 – Feb 1, Galle, Sri Lanka

Kolkata Book Fair~ Jan 28 – Feb 8, Kolkata, India

Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award Entry Deadline~ Jan 30, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

SCBWI Annual Winter Meeting~ Jan 30 – Feb 1, New York, NY, USA

On a recent brief trip to the beautiful little city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, I spent some time in the well-stocked children’s book section of the local Chapters Bookstore, where a helpful clerk gave me a quick tour of local favorites, starting with a local resident David Bouchard. Saskatchewan-born, Bouchard has written a couple dozen-plus books for kids, including many award winners and many that reflect his own Metis (the Canadian term for mixed European and Native) origins.

Nokum Is My Teacher, available in English or French with Cree alongside, was the Ânskohk Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year for 2007. Buddha in the Garden, with illustrations by painter Zhong-Yang Huang, recalled to mind Phillis Gershator’s Sky Sweeper, a story with a similar theme. Click here for information on Bouchard’s upcoming books.

I also took time for a delightful few minutes with Vancouverite Nan Gregory’s Pink, unquestionably a book for the top of the list of every little pink-loving girl (and perhaps her parents as well, with their gender-associated color questions!).

On the shelf with other Canadian favorites was one I recalled from my pre-multicultural southern U.S. childhood, Robert Service’s wonderful poem The Cremation of Sam McGee, in a 2006 re-issue of the 1986 edition with illustrations by painter Ted Harrison. Back in the warm-drowsy long-ago afternoons of my musty Virginia schoolroom, it seemed cautionary tale on complaining about the heat; I wondered at how differently a 21st century Canadian child takes in the story today!