First Spring: An Innu Tale of North America - Hardcover

Grade 2-4–This confusing adaptation attempts to explain why summer and winter take turns ruling Earth. When humans and animals shared a common language and had not yet evolved into separate beings, seasons did not exist and the creatures lived in endless winter and darkness. Joining a herd of caribou, the human-animals head south because of a vague knowledge that warmth and light exist there. The story meanders, and myriad animal-people assist or hinder the group in their travels. The mixed-media illustrations are the highlight here, with the dark, snowy landscape giving way to the green and blue of spring and summer. This laborious pourquoi tale lacks focus and is hard to follow.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
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