April has been designate a month when we celebrate the earth. Several new books celebrate old truths about the connection of humans to their world.
New in paperback is Dale Armond's The Seal Oil Lamp: An Adaptation of an Eskimo folk tale (Sierra Club Books for Children, $7.95; ages 7-11). Allugua, a young blind boy, is born to parents who have longed for a child. Full of stories, fun, and kindness to animals and people, Allugua well-loved, but deemed unlikely to survive. In accordance with tradition, he is left to die when villagers move to their spring fishing camp. Brave Allugua is kept warm, fed and entertained by Mouse Woman. Because of Allugua's kindness to her kin, she teaches him a magical chant that will call the animals to his spear. Allowed to live, Allugua becomes known as a master hunter and storyteller, as well as a man who is careful to honor the animals who give their lives for him.
Baba Wague Diakite retells a tale from his ancestral West Africa, The Hunter and the Crocodile (Scholastic, $15.95; ages 4-8). Donso, the hunter is surrounded by hungry crocodiles and cries for help from other animals. Cow, horse, chicken and mango tree in turn complains of the cruelty of man and turn their backs on him "with no guilt" . By the story's end Donso escapes this sad fate and " from that time forward he has reminded people of the importance of living in harmony with nature and the necessity of placing Man among- not above- all living things." A splendid delivery of wisdoms with lots of fun repetition and and patterns that will involve young listeners.
Rafe Martin retells a jataka tale from India, The Monkey Bridge (Knopf, $17.00; ages 5-9) showing a human king who learns caring from his primate counterpart. The king of monkeys guards the fruits falling from a "treasure tree" as he fears greedy people will put them in danger. What he fears comes to pass and the fruit is discovered by a self-important king who traces the fruit to its source. Fearing for his people, the monkey makes himself into a bridge so his people can flee and the sacrifice nearly kills him. The human king is forever changed when he asks about this action and the monkey replies: "if I save myself first, what would happen to my tribe, ...it is my love for them and my desire to help and protect them that makes me king, not my size and strength."
We know much of Noah, but we learn of his wife Naamah in Sandy Eisenberg Sasso's lyrical Prayer for the Earth (Jewish Lights Publishing, $16.95; ages 6 and up). Based on an ancient text the story tells of how Naamah gathers seeds of the trees and and flowers to make a garden. Amid the arc's pandemonium, Naamah and her husband "breathe the sweet aroma of the flowers" and are calmed by the quiet of her garden. Later when Naamah plants all she has gathered in the earth, God calls her "Mother of Seed" and she is restored by the beauty she has created. Illustrations by Bethanne Anderson are a vivid dancing bouquet of color and emotion.
Pamela Edwards' Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad (HarperCollins, $14.95; ages 7-10) tells of a young boy who escapes from slavery, his journey witnessed and perhaps aided by the animals who surround him. A heron calls and warns other animals about the approach of a Barefoot who flees his pursuers, the Heavy Boots. The young boy is shown fresh water by the frog, berries by a small mouse. When the Heavy Boots are bitten by mosquitoes and led astray by a deer, readers have to wonder about intention and coincidence and the rewards of respecting the natural world.
Bruce Hucko, an art "coach" who works with Navajo children from 6-13 shows how wisdoms of generations are apparent in their art and world view. With his help they have collaborated on A Rainbow at Night : The World in Words and Pictures by Navajo Children (Chronicle, $14.95; ages 7 and up). Each page spread shows a glowing piece of art and explanation and the picture of the child who created them, as well as a view of Navajo view of life and suggestions for how a child anywhere might interact with art and life. The book reveals in art and words show Navajo children see elements of nature as members of their family, know the land as their home, and care for the animals who provide for them.