Raven, Rabbit, Deer

The young boy who narrates this story by Holler (Cold White Sun) spends a winter day with his grandfather, who, in English and Ojibwemowin, introduces his grandson to the animals they observe. The two spot tracks in the snow that look like “two hotdogs with two marshmallows in the middle.” Grandpa knows them: “Rabbit,” he tells the boy, “Waabooz.” The child offers information, too: “I show Grandpa how to kick snow into the bit of water under the bridge.” Following the two as they slowly explore, Holler records each new discovery: the animals and their names and footprints, and the human duo’s prints, too. Acrylic and colored pencil artwork by debut illustrator Faria (Chippewas of Rama First Nation) startles with rich, startling winter sunset hues of fuchsia, violet, and aqua. Grandfather and his grandson return home, share a snack, and settle down to read. “He falls asleep before the end,” the boy says, before himself snuggling in. Holler’s story gains from the interplay of dimensions: the affectionate relationship between the boy and his grandfather, the growing vocabulary they share, and their slow-paced appreciation of the natural world. Ages 4–7. [em](Nov.) [/em]