David Bouchard

Written in side-by-side paragraphs of English and Cree (roman alphabet), this story shows us how a young boy is instructed in cultural ways and explains the reason drums are so important to the Cree.
The illustrations by a Cree portray real scenes. Tho I believe they were painted separately from the creation of this book, the selected paintings fit well within the story line.
My grandchildren enjoyed hearing the included CD to give them a sense of what the story was talking about. There is no pronunciation guide, so if you are not from that culture you'll do the best you can with the Cree (or look for another source for pronunciation). The book ends with a note from the painter, which is a brief accounting of his life growing up in the old ways, but in a tiny typeface indicating it's status as background material.… (meer)