annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Crow Helps a Friend is a beautifully illustrated Coast Salish tale written and illustrated by Andrea Fritz. Released 16th April 2023 by Orca Books, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is an original story told in a traditional style. Wood duck Qwiwilh and crow Q'uleeq'e' are playing when an accident robs the duck of his nest. The friends figure out how to solve the problem together. Although it's a modern story, the parallels in style and form to traditional oral stories are striking (and respectfully rendered).
This is a book aimed at younger readers (6-8 years, Lexile 670L) with simple text and appealing stylized illustrations full of details. The book has a number of traditional Hul’q’umi’num’ words, but the author has included a glossary and pronunciation guide.
Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving. It's a good story about friendship and responsibility, and it's also a respectful and loving introduction to Indigenous culture and storytelling.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.