The Red Cedar of Afognak is a rich and informative Everybody Picture book created though the Afognak Village Tribe. The story is told from the point of view of a grandfather who is taking a steam bath with two grandchildren after hunting. Native culture is discussed and the recent history of the Afognak Village is considered along with the vast Native knowledge of the world. The book is told through a storytelling vehicle with rich, yet simple drawings that carry a frontier feel. The story takes place in what feels like modern times, but constantly references the last century of the grandfather’s life, and the extended history of the local tribe. It is a well written and extremely informative book that showcases the value of Native culture. ( )

- Fiction, Picture Book, Information
Drabek, Alisha A. and Karen R. Adams. Afognak Elder J.P. Pestrikoff. The Red Cedar of Afognak: A Driftwood Journey. Illus. by Gloria N. Selby. Native Village of Afognak. 27 pp. All Ages.
Two Alutiiq boys discover a huge log in the woods near their village, Afognak, and set out to understand how/why it got there. Their grandpa (apaa) EAGERLY SHARES with them of when a huge tidal wave swept over the village and that it was that that most likely left that one red cedar log in the woods. Throughout the book information pertaining to Alaska and the Alutiiq people of Afognak is weaved through the text and the drawings, diagrams and charts within the pages.
AK: Produced from the village of Afognak, this is an accurate description of Alutiiq culture and knowledge. It shares historical and linguistic information. This book was part of Afognak’s desire to maintain and share their culture.
Activity: Have you ever asked the adults in your family or community about something you found or learned? Were they able to share with you information that helped you understand it? Do you think it’s important that we look towards Elders in manners that consider the history of an area or phenomenon?

Information: Picture Book
Alaska, Afognak, Red Cedar, Alaska Native,

Drabek, Alisha S. & Karen R. Adams. The Red Cedar of Afognak; a Driftwood Journey. Illus. By Gloria N. Selby. Produced by Native Village of Afognak. 28 Pages. Intermediate.

An Apaa and his two grandsons, Michael and James, live on an island in the small village of Afognak, AK and discuss the importance of learning from our ancestors through the journey of the large piece of red cedar drift wood that appeared on their island. This informative dialogue created a SCHOLACTIC AND INFORMATIVE story told in third person that portrays the importance of tradition and learning from it.

Alaska Info/Connections:
Afognak, Native Alaskans, Bathhouse, Alutiiq words

Activity: Discuss other ways we can use our ancestors and the environment to help us solve problems in the future.

This book was both well-written and informative. It describes tide charts, dates of tsunamis, native words, the alphabet and more in addition to the story. This book is obviously meant to be written for the descendants of the Native Village of Afognak, in order to document some of the culture and history of those native people and Alaska. ( )