"Have you danced the round dance yet?
It's always been my favorite one.
My Moosum and my Kokum
Let me dance it to the rising sun.
We set our tipi by the creek
Where Moosum wakes me every day,
When first the sun caresses the earth
And draws us all outside to pray."
As I sit listening to David Bouchard's voice read the story, to the plaintive call of the flute, to the Cree language and to Northern Cree singing and drumming this story of the round dance, I know that it will find a permanent place in many homes and classrooms...deservedly so.
The narrator dances the round dance through a day and night in the company of his grandparents and is forever changed by the experience. As they sit by the creek sharing food and stories, Kokum begins the spiritual journey with a story of talking waters and the changing of the seasons, how babies are born and elders die and of their history. The call to the dance leads to a nearby arena where many dance and share stories to the beat of the drum. As the young dancer succumbs to exhaustion and is lead back to their tipi, he hears a voice telling him that he is changed and he realizes that the stories and the beating of the drum are heartfelt and forever his. Jim Poitras' adds another dimension to this multi-sensory book with his amazing illustrations. The silhouettes of the dancers as they gather for the round dance are accompanied by bright and beautiful backdrops. As the skies change, the colors become even more brilliant. Four full page spreads add depth to the story told. The text is printed on leather-like papers which give warmth to the two languages...English and Cree. The accompanying CD will be very much appreciated as young readers sit to listen on their own.
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