Storm Boy ANNOTATION
A story drawn from Haida Indian literary tradition in which a boy falls from his canoe into a world of eighteen-foot tall humanlike creatures who welcome him and eventually return him to his village.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
After a violent seastorm, a Haida prince washes ashore of an unfamiliar village inhabited by strange and colossal creatures. The young prince has entered the supernatural realm of the killer whale people and his spiritual journey begins. Powerful illustrations make stunning use of northwest coast Native American motifs which, combined with Lewis' unique style, create a compelling atmosphere of mystery and displacement.
Author Biography: Paul Owen Lewis is best known for books that explore the native crafts and the marine life of the Pacific Northwest. A popular speaker at schools and conferences, Paul inspires thousands of children every year to recognize and inspire the "eager storyteller" within.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Lewis (Davy's Dream) draws on folkloric and artistic traditions of the Pacific Northwest coastal tribes for this somewhat attentuated tale. Thrown from his canoe during a storm, a boy is ``washed ashore under a strange sky he had never seen before.'' Inhabitants of the coastal village, who are very large and dressed in vivid garb, welcome him with a feast and a celebration. The chief recognizes the boy's homesickness and returns him to ``his very own village''-where he discovers that a year has passed in his absence. Though the totem-like motifs of Lewis's boldly colored and sharply defined artwork provide drama, several illustrations are repetitious. Also, despite a few clues (fish swimming in what appears to be the sky, killer whales displayed like trophies in one of the strangers' houses) the story's key element may perplex younger readers-these ``finely dressed people'' are in fact whales in human form. A comprehensive-and sophisticated-author's note credits the mythological motifs encountered in the story (Separation, Initiation and Return) to the writings of Joseph Campbell. Ages 5-10. (May)
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Native Americans from the Northwest Coast provide the background and setting for this original heroic adventure story. A chief's son is lost and ends up under the waves, living with a strange people who appear to be killer whales when they go out into the water. They share knowledge and help the boy returns to his people. After he relates his adventures, he is granted the right to display a killer whale crest and his story becomes a legend among his people. Extensive notes about the culture and paintings that display clothing, totems and other Native American artifacts make this book a useful one for social studies or multicultural programs.
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