Morning on the Lake

Publisher's description (Kids Can Press, 1999): 
A young boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Under the patient and gentle guidance of his grandfather, the boy gradually comes to respect the ways of nature and to understand his own place in the world.

In the first of three linked stories, a young boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Together, they discover the peaceful beauty of the lake. In the second story, the sun rises high in the summer sky as they climb a rocky cliff for a bird's-eye view of the land. And, finally, as an autumn night descends, they venture into the woods. Under the patient and gentle guidance of his grandfather, the boy gradually comes to respect the ways of nature and to understand his own place in the world.

Author and Illustrator biographies (Kids Can Press): 
Jan Bourdeau Waboose is a Nishnawbe Ojibway from Northern Ontario who based SkySisters on her own childhood experiences and her relationship with her older sister.

In her writing, she tries to convey the Indigenous life she sees in her family, friends and community – a larger, fuller picture than the stereotypes prevalent in North American society, she says.

In the late 1960s, Jan began a long-term relationship with the Indian Bands of Ontario, working with them for ten years and eventually heading their child welfare program. Her interest in writing developed in tandem with this organizational work. She has written for many Indigenous magazines and newspapers on issues connected with child welfare. She has also tried to correct inaccurate media portrayals of Indigenous people and Indigenous life. And she has written personal material – stories and poems – which now, increasingly, are being published.

Karen Reczuch has been illustrating children’s books for over 20 years. As a child, she was hardly ever without a pencil in her hand and remembers more than one teacher scolding her for “doodling” during class.Karen took commercial art in high school and continued on to the illustration program at Sheridan College. Nowadays, Karen works in a lovely studio on the banks of the Credit River in Glen Williams, Ontario, not far from her home in Acton.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 4

Keywords: grandfather, Mishomis, grandson, quality time, canoe, descriptive language, loon, baby loons, family, nature, learning on the land, smile, moment, story, storytelling, alliteration, hike, eagle, fear, bravery, simile, feather, pride, bonding, wolf, love, nature, purpose, kinship, animals, respect

Year of publication: 1999

Publisher information: Kids Can Press