Morning on the Lake

In overly lengthy prose, a Native American boy relates his encounters with wild creatures in three episodes: ""Morning,"" ""Noon"" and ""Night."" Under the tutelage of his grandfather, the boy discovers mystical bonds with various animals Waboose's (Where Only the Elders Go-Moon Lake Loon Lake) wordy narrative often bumbles its mystical purpose (e.g., when an eagle swoops down toward the boy, ""I feel talons combing through my hair with a gentleness I cannot explain""), and at times may even confuse readers (e.g., in two separate tales, the boy says morning, then night, ""is [Grandfather's] favorite time, and so it is mine""). Reczuch's (The Dust Bowl) pencil and watercolor illustrations--dominated by rich, realistic portraiture--hint at the comfort and mystery of the bonds between boy and grandfather, man and nature. However, the pictures have the effect of observing the two watch nature, and distance readers from the pair. For all its discussion of making connections between man and nature, this book ultimately misses making one with the reader. Ages 5-9. (Mar.)