Grandmother’s Pigeon. Louise Erdrich. Illus. by Jim LaMarche. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1996. 30 pages. $15.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-7868-0165-4. Grades K-4.
Potential Reactions…
There are several pretty awesome things going on in this story and I think kids will really enjoy it. I do think that some kids will be skeptical about Grandmother’s magic and ability ride to Greenland on porpoises and whales, but I think that the whole magical mystery of the book is neat enough to make them forget it’s impractical. The illustrations are the closest thing to photographs as you can get without a camera, and they are so detailed that young readers are bound to get lost in them. I love that this story mixes what seems to be Native American tradition and lore in to a story that is incredibly engaging. I think young readers may not notice the Native American aspects, but I don’t think that will take away from the story at all. I think the emphasis on nature and letting creatures be free and not trapped is a great message that also highlights Native American ideals. I think young readers will ask a lot of questions about Grandmother’s disappearance and how there could be eggs from an endangered species because kids are inquisitive, but then again I think younger readers will be amazed because they still believe in the implausible. I do worry that the text heavy pages may lose some younger readers and that it makes the story less than ideal for a story time. I do think it could be adapted in to a story to tell aloud, however. This story is a great mix of mystery, fantasy, reality, and fables, which means it has a good chance of appealing to everyone. I think the target audience will enjoy this book.
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