Raven, Rabbit, Deer - Hardcover

Farrell Holler, Sue

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1772781363 ISBN 13: 9781772781366

Publisher: Pajama Press, 2020

Synopsis

In an intergenerational winter’s story full of quiet wonder, a little boy takes his grandfather for a walk down a forest trail.

The boy shows Grandpa how to jump in the snow and how to make it splash into the creek. Grandpa shows the boy rabbit tracks and deer hiding among the trees. They greet their animal neighbors by name: Raven, Rabbit, Deer, Sparrow. Back home, the little boy sets the table with cookies while Grandpa pours the milk. It has been a glorious afternoon, and soon there will be books and blankets and the big armchair by the fire.

In Raven, Rabbit, Deer, Governor General's Award-nominated author Sue Farrell Holler casts a spell of simple wonder as small child earnestly sets out to take care of his grandfather for the day. Grandpa wisely gratifies this sweet self-importance while passing on important lessons: how to greet a raven…how to know a deer’s tracks…how to be family. Illustrator Jennifer Faria creates illustrations so cozy they make the winter’s day feel warm.

About this title

About the Authors

Sue Farrell Holler is the Governor General’s Award-nominated author of the YA novel Cold White Sun as well as the middle-grade novel Lacey and the African Grandmothers and several picture books. Sue grew up on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, where she wrote avidly to more than a hundred pen pals across North America. She later channelled her passion for writing into journalism studies at the University of King’s College in Halifax. Sue has lived in the Northwest Territories and today resides in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Jennifer Faria is an illustrator, painter, and graphic designer who studied at Central Technical School and George Brown College in Toronto. Her works can be found in the collections of celebrities, politicians, and especially parents, as one of her specialties is portraits of babies and small children. She lives in Burlington, Ontario with her husband and three children. While illustrating the grandfather in Raven, Rabbit, Deer, Jennifer drew inspiration from her maternal great-uncle, of whom she has warm memories. Similar to the boy in the story, Raven, Rabbit, Deer has been a walk of discovery for Jennifer as she learns more about her cultural heritage as a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-A young boy drops bright red boots into his grandfather's lap and suggests they take a walk outside. It is winter, so both bundle up for a trip through the snowy field behind their house. They view many animals: first a black raven, then a light-colored rabbit, and, finally, many brown deer, along with the tracks they have made in the snow. The grandfather imagines how each animal sounds. The text cleverly describes the snow prints in ways that a young child can understand. For example, the deer prints are "I love you hearts cut in two." The love between the boy and grandfather is evident in every action. Brilliant colors of the trees, animals, and characters contrast nicely with the white of the snow, and on several pages the late-day rainbow-colored sky is reflected on the ground. Whether or not children are close to their own elders, this beautiful picture book engages and delights. The grandfather points out animals in both English and Ojibwemowin; the illustrator is a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. VERDICT An excellent addition to any school or public library, especially those looking to freshen up their picture book collections on the subject of winter.-Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State Univ., NHα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pajama Press
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1772781363
• ISBN 13: 9781772781366
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Faria Jennifer
• Number of pages: 32