Little Chief and Mighty Gopher: The Pemmican Frenzy

Not long ago, I had the good fortune to attend a conference called Telling Stories: Representing Difference/Different Representations at the University of Saskatchewan. I was introduced to the works of some wonderful Canadian authors and had an opportunity meet them, hear their stories and preview their work. One of the books I picked up was Little Chief and Mighty Gopher: The Pemmican Frenzy by Victor Lethbridge. 

Little Chief and Mighty Gopher: The Pemmican Frenzy

Author: Victor Lethbridge

Illustrator: Ben Crane

Storyteller Media and Tatanka Productions

ISBN: 978-0-9866738-0-1

This is the story of a lonely aboriginal boy named Snow Cloud who has no friends. Snow Cloud limps and he struggles to keep up with the other kids who sometimes make fun of him.  Snow Cloud finds a friend in Mighty Gopher; however, unbeknownst to Snow Cloud, Mighty Gopher follows him home, and that is where he has the chance to taste pemmican made by Snow Cloud's mother. The combination of gophers and pemmican soon leads to chaos in the tipi camp, and it is Snow Cloud who helps to restore harmony, balance and tranquility to the camp.

I liked this story for numerous reasons. I am always searching for good picture books with Aboriginal content. This is a story that reflects Aboriginal values and has a loveable Aboriginal hero. Children will be able to relate to the main character. They will enjoy the relationship he has with the animals, and they will also enjoy the humour in the story. Adults will enjoy the opportunity to talk about the big ideas and  the values present in the story. While I think the book will find its greatest audience with the K-3 crowd, it's a good book to send to any class studying Plains Indians as the book includes information about the Lakota Sioux, Lakota traditions, pemmican and a list of Cree, Blackfoot and Lakota Sioux words with their translations.

Illustrator Ben Crane is an Albertan who is both a musician and an artist. His illustrations for this book have a comic quality to them which makes the characters, particularly Snow Cloud, even more loveable. However, it is important to note that some have questioned the caricature nature of the pictures and wondered whether they were appropriate. Personally, I feel it would be different if this were the only image of aboriginal people that students had. Those of Aboriginal descent to whom I have shown the book, agree.

Author Victor Lethbridge is multi-talented. A descendent of Chief Sitting Bull's original band and a member of Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation, Lethbridge is a musician, storyteller and motivational speaker. This book was written and produced to help support prevention workshops done through Victor's Tatanka Productions. Included with this picture book is a CD with a narrated version of the story as well as an accompanying song written by the author and his wife. As I listen to the song, I think it will appeal most to the younger Pre-K-1 students.
Little Chief and Mighty Gopher: The Pemmican Frenzy is ato any library.

Welcome to the Reading Pit!

Most people start the new year with a resolution. I didn't make one this year. After a few decades of not ever keeping a single resolution, I gave it up. This year, I brought in the new year with a challenge. Find the best new picture books for my library. After five years in a high school, I am now the teacher-librarian at a K-5 school. I want the best books to inspire children's imaginations and spark conversation. I love seeing them excited as they learn something new, make a connection, or just simply enjoy and love a story!

       

Mirror by Jeannie Baker
*A Most Highly Recommended Title

I was wandering through the bookstore looking at children's books and I was drawn to a book called Mirror by Jeannie Baker. It wasn't really the cover of the book, although it's a lovely cover; it was the sticker that said "Two Cultures, Two Stories." I'm always interested in books that tell stories about different cultures. I think it is so important to learn about many cultures and the lives of people in other parts of the world. I am always fascinated by the traditions and customs of others!

Mirror is a unique book. It is two stories told side-by-side in a wordless picture book. One family lives in a city in Australia and one lives in Morocco, North Africa. The book is designed to have the pages on each side turned simultaneously, so readers can look at the lives of two families; lives that seem so very different. Yet as you look at the illustrations (more about them in a bit), you can also see many similarities between the two families as well!

Part of the reason Mirror is so engaging is the design of the book, but the illustrations are the other reason. The illustrations begin as drawings, but are built into collages using all kinds of materials: sand, fabric, tin, paper and lots of other things. I found that I was looking at the illustrations to see the story, but then I kept staring to see what the collages were made of. They are so beautiful.

This is a book that can foster so much discussion. Talking to children about the similarities and differences of the lives of the two boys and about how they intertwine should make for interesting conversation. I haven't read this to students yet, as I just picked it up, but I am certain they will really be thrilled discovering the story. And I know without a doubt that there will be a lot of excitement as they explore the illustrations too.

Although there are no words, Mirror speaks volumes.

Curriculum Connections:

• Grade 2 English Language Arts - Social, Cultural and Historical
• Grade 3 Social Studies - Community Connections

Best Lists:

• New York Public Library Children's Books (2010)
• Horn Book Fanfare (2010)

Starred Reviews

• Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2010)
• Publisher's Weekly (October 25, 2010)