Rainbow Bird: An Aboriginal Folktale from Northern Australia - Hardcover

Maddern, Eric

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0316543144 ISBN 13: 9780316543149

Publisher: Little Brown & Co, 1993

Synopsis

When the world was being born, only rough and crabby Crocodile Man possessed the gift of fire, and he was unwilling to share it, so Bird Woman thinks of a plan to trick Crocodile Man into sharing fire.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-"Long ago in the Time of Dreams when the world was being born," Fire belonged only to rough, tough Crocodile Man. He guarded his possession jealously and when the other animals complained and begged him to share it, he just laughed and growled, "'I'm boss for Fire!'" Bird Woman felt sorry for all those, including herself, who lacked light and warmth. Knowing that she could never overpower the fierce creature, she watched and waited patiently until Crocodile Man opened his jaws to yawn. She flashed down from her perch, snatched up the firesticks, and flew around the country putting Fire into the heart of every tree. From that day on, people have been able to make flames from dry wood. In celebration, she put the firesticks into her tail and became the beautiful Rainbow bird. Kennaway's vibrant watercolors are nicely suited to this pourquoi tale, told in a simple straightforward style. As in her previous books, such as Lazy Lion (Little, 1990), she uses a bright palette of clear yellow, orange, and brown, creating paintings that are as warm and glowing as Crocodile Man's Fire.
Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 3-6. Bold, luminous watercolors illustrate a simple aboriginal pourquoi story that explains how fire came to humankind. In the Dreamtime, nasty Crocodile Man hoards fire for himself: "I'm boss for Fire." But plain Bird Woman watches from her cold treetop until Crocodile Man gives the "widest, longest, sleepiest, biggest yawn anyone had ever seen." Swooping down, she snatches the firesticks and brings fire to people. Sporting blazing feathers as a sign of her good deed, Bird Woman vows to stay on top, banishing Crocodile Man to the swamp below. Kennaway uses intense shades of red, yellow, and orange to emphasize Crocodile Man's sole possession of fire, a less intense palette once the element has been shared. The large-scale pictures have a strong sense of design, as everything from the scales on the reptile's back to vertical water reeds create subtle patterns. While Maddern's gracefully honed text makes this one for storytellers to cherish, it will be hard to resist sharing such splendid artwork with young children. No source note. Julie Corsaro

About this edition

• Publisher: Little Brown & Co
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0316543144
• ISBN 13: 9780316543149
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Kennaway Adrienne