Nature's Circle and Other Northwest Coast Children's Stories

Sylvia Pantaleo is an associate professor of education, specializing in
children’s literature, at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

Similar to Aesop’s fables and Native legends, Challenger uses animals,
birds, and insects to communicate the moral life messages in his 16
stories. Each short narrative deals with an issue that is relevant to
readers of all ages, such as helping others in need, bullying,
overcoming obstacles, and co-operating with others. For example, in
“Osprey’s Fishing Game,” White Wings and Black Wings learn about
how to act appropriately when they either win or lose a game. In
“Mosquito’s Bite,” Granddaughter learns how hurtful revenge can
be. In several of the selections, grandparents act as archetypal
teachers who impart wisdom to a younger generation through stories.

Challenger is a Vancouver Island artisan whose admiration of historic
First Nations art is evident in his striking black, white, and red
Haida-style illustrations accompanying each story. He seems to be trying
to emulate the oral traditions of First Nations people in the style of
his prose. Although the stories communicate important messages about
valuing self, family, community, and nature, the moralistic narratives
are very didactic in nature, and the predictable story structure and
content diminish reader interest. Not a first-choice purchase.