The Dragon's Pearl by Julie Lawson

Lawson, J. (1993). The dragon’s pearl. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary

Xiao Sheng is a young boy with hopes and dreams of what tomorrow will bring. Forced by survival, Xiao Sheng must cut and sell grass from the fields in order to help him and his mother make money. When a severe drought hits his village, Xiao Sheng finds a pearl hidden amongst some magical grass. When he takes it home, he realizes it is a magical pearl. However, when two dangerous men come looking for wealth, Xiao Sheng soon understands the magic of the pearl.

Advisory Information:

-Themes:

a. Treat Others as You Wish to be treated: Even the lowliest of villagers are helped by Xiao Sheng and his mother when they do become wealthy.

b. Cultural Tales: This book is Julie Lawson’s retelling of a Chinese myth.

c. Sacrifices: Xiao Sheng understands the life he must sacrifice at the end of the book.

-Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this picture book to readers aged 3 – 7. Younger readers will enjoy the pictures while juvenile readers will enjoy reading the text.

-Other Information:

At the conclusion of the book, Julie Lawson includes an afterword about the importance of Dragons in Chinese culture.

The book was illustrated by Paul Morin.

Awards include:
Short-listed for the Ruth Schwartz Award and the CLA Book of the Year Award
Winner of the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for illustrations.
U.S. 1993 NAPPA Award for Folklore (National Parenting Publications Award)

Reaction:

I thought that this book is an interesting look at the Chinese culture. Unlike Paul Yee’s Dead Man Gold and Other Stories, this book focuses on Chinese culture with positive effects. What happens to Xiao Sheng, while somewhat tragic, becomes a saving grace for his mother and the village. He is seen with respect in the eyes of the community. I also think that the illustrations tie the morals and themes of the story well.

The Orphan Boy by Tololwa M. Mollel

Mollel, T. M. (1990). The orphan boy. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary:

The Orphan Boy tells the story of how the planet Venus came to be known as Kileken in Maasai culture. An elderly man, alone and childless is lonely tending his farm by himself. One night, a boy comes to the man and asks the man if he would take him in. When the man agrees, the boy takes on all the farm tasks, even those that seem impossible. Just who is this boy and how is he able to complete these tasks?

Advisory Information:

Themes:

a. Trust: The boy trusts the old man, and for a certain amount of time, the old man trusts the boy.

b. Unusual Strength: The boy is capable of running the farm for the old man.

c. Cultural “creation” story: This story is very similar to the Just So Stories or other cultural tales which explain to children how things came to be. In this case “creation” is not meant religiously, but rather in how Venus was named.

d. Maasi Culture: Through the illustrations, people witness typical clothing and daily chores.

e. Conscious: I especially liked the old man’s shadow, emphasizing a sort of devil on your shoulder. The shadow is never fully explained, but it is an interesting take as to how the man was persuaded to act upon his curiosity.

Age Recommendation

I would consider this story to be appropriate for young children who are just starting to read for themselves, roughly aged 7-10.

Other Information:

The book was illustrated by Paul Morin.

The Orphan Boy received the Governor General Award

Reaction:

I thought that the book read like an oral tradition, with the illustrations reinforcing the text. As a reader it was interesting to see how the author did not fully explain some of the aspects of the story, they were just kind of left up to the reader’s own interpretation of how things were possible. However, I think that is why this book works, since it does feel like a story to read aloud, perhaps readers are more inclined to allow for this suspension of belief.

Dead Man's Gold and Other Stories by Paul Yee

Yee, P. (2002). Dead man’s gold and other stories. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books.

Summary:

Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories, is a collection of ten stories which chronicles the lives of men and women who traveled from China and Hong Kong to Gold Mountain. Each character shows a different side of the people who came to Gold Mountain, some are rich, others poor. Each story is unrelated to the others, and describes how characters face hardship, greed, disillusionment, and for a few, still feel happiness in their new worlds.

Advisory Information:

Overall Themes of the Short Stories:

a. Death
b. Spirits
c. Honor
d. Discrimination
e. Disillusionment

Age Recommendation:

Due to the older themes, I would encourage intermediate to advanced readers to read this book, aged 10-14.

Other Information:

The book’s illustrations were completed by Harvey Chan.

Reaction:
Heavily inspired by Chinese cultural anecdotes and morals, Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories transports the reader to the past. While most of the stories do not end with a “happy” ending, it is interesting to see how culturally Gold Mountain was viewed. For many people Gold Mountain was an illusion of wealth and prosperity. I thought that Yee did an excellent job establishing this theme throughout his stories.

The Curse of the Shaman by Michael Kusugak

Kusugak, M. (2006). The curse of the shaman: a marble island story. Toronto, Ontario: HarperTrophyCanada.

Summary:

New parents, The-man-with-no-eyebrows and Can’t-see, venture to Bit-of-sand in search for a bride-to-be for their newborn, Wolverine. When The-man-with-no-eyebrows asks the shaman, Paaliaq, for his newborn daughter’s hand in marriage, Paaliaq becomes angry because The-man-with-no-eyebrows is able to calm his crying newborn, Breath. In spite, Paaliaq curses Wolverine, stating that not only will Wolverine never marry Breath, but he will also never set foot on the mainland again once he comes of age. As the two children grow, their friendship blossoms and Paaliaq takes back his curse. When Paaliaq’s animal SikSik refuses to listen to Paaliaq, can Wolverine break the curse?

Advisory Information:

-Themes:

a. Coming of Age: Wolverine must learn how to become independent before he can return to the mainland.

b. Belief in Animism: This is evident with the SikSik, the oral traditions as told by Wolverine’s Grandmother, and the owl named Ukpigjuaq that Wolverine helps save.

c. Forgiveness: Paaliaq learns to apologize for his curse, while Wolverine thinks nothing of it. He does not even begrudge his future father-in-law, feeling that he is beneath him.

d. Good vs. Evil: SikSik represents the bad, while Wolverine must overcome his attempts to keep him from the mainland; this is with the help of Ukpijuaq, of course.

e. Respect of traditions: Wolverine uses the stories he learned from his grandmother and the skills he learned from his father in order to survive on Marble Island.

-Age Recommendation:

I think that The Curse of the Shaman is suitable for 4th graders through 7th graders.

-Other Information:

Vladyana Krykorka completed the illustrations.

Reaction:

The Curse of the Shaman is a great introduction to traditional Inuit lifestyles. The novel reads like an oral tradition, weaving cultural beliefs and lifestyles effortlessly in its prose. Although I know little of traditional Inuit belief systems and culture, the author has created a novel that readers of all backgrounds can enjoy.

Caribou Song by Tomson Highway

Highway, T. (2001). Caribou song. Toronto, Ontario: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.

Summary:

Young brothers, Joe and Cody, live in Northern Canada, where the land is covered in snow. Joe, Cody, their parents, and their dogs follow the caribou year round. One day Joe and Cody decide to play the accordion, sing and dance to call forth thousands of caribou. Suddenly, the caribou fill the meadow and the lake, separating the two boys. Can the boys find safety and “embrace the spirit” of the caribou?

Advisory Information:

-Themes:

a. Animism and the spiritual relationship between man and animal: Though a subtle relationship, the author illustrates the idea that animals can embody a spirit that can communicate with man. This is further reinforced with the illustrations and the bilingual text in Cree.

b. Separation: Cody and Joe are separated from their parents, and are separated from each other when the herd of caribou race through the meadow.

c. Protecting the ones you love: Joe must save his younger brother Cody from the stampeding herd of caribou.

Age recommendation:

This picture book can be hard to identify. The pictures are very expressive and little children would enjoy them. However, the context of the book is for more mature readers. Therefore, I would recommend this book to readers as young as 5 and as old as 8.

Other Information:

This book was illustrated by Brian Deines.

This book is bilingual, written both in English and Cree.

Reaction:

This book told an interesting story about the link between the spirit of animals and its counterpart in man. The boys are not scared of the caribou, but understand the need for safety. Ultimately, it is their innocence and acceptance of the caribou, which allows them to understand and “embrace” the power of the caribou spirit.

Alego by Ningeokuluk Teevee

Teevee, N. (2009). Alego. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books.

Summary:

Written in both English and Inuktitut, a young girl, Alego, goes clamming with her grandmother for the first time. There she finds interesting objects and collects them in her bucket. When her grandmother asks what the young girl has collected, the grandmother chuckles over her granddaughter’s curiosity. They return home and have a feast of clams and hot tea with the rest of the family.

Advisory Information

Themes:

a. Keeping with culture: Since the book was written in Inuktitut, readers are able to see how the written word can keep cultural traditions alive. Furthermore, the illustrations give the reader a chance to understand the environment of Cape Dorset as well as some of the clothing that Alego and her grandmother wear.

b. Curiosity: Alego’s innocence at the tide pools reinforces the idea that children need to explore the world around them and experience new things.

c. Family ties: Alego’s relationship with her grandmother is very loving and accepting towards Alego’s inquisitiveness at the beach, emphasizing the need for strong family bonds.

Age Recommendation:

This picture book would be acceptable for all ages, however, children from 4 to 8 would probably best understand the pictures and the text.

Other Information:

Ningeokuluk Teevee also completed the illustrations for this book.

Reaction:

This was my first introduction to the Inuktitut written language. I really enjoyed the bilingual text and the inside cover map to help readers locate where in Canada the story takes place. I think that children need to be exposed to many different types of language and cultures so that they understand the amount of diversity in the world and the capability to be accepting of other cultures.