Illustrated By: Roy Henry Vickers
Written by: Robert Budd
For Ages: Infant & Up (board book)
Language: English
Topics Covered: Indigenous Voices, Nature, Animals, Pacific Northwest, First Nations.
Summary: I’m in LOVE with this series! The artwork by Roy Henry Vickers is stunning, and I love the textures that add tactile details for readers. The colors are bright and the simple text introduce language and colors to readers using the natural world and various PNW critters. I also love the iconic First Nations imagery that is worked into the landscape and textures as well.
Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak: This book focuses on different sounds a person would hear when they’re enjoying the West Coast natural wonders. I like that the combination of sounds are both humans and animals, with beautifully rich colors used on the pages.
Sockeye Silver, Saltchuck Blue: This book focuses on colors found out in nature, and it’s just as beautiful. Language evokes sense memories of the different seasons, and raised details provide lovely inspiration to run fingers over the pages.
I’m so pleased to have been able to read these books from First Nations creators from the West Coast. Living on the East Coast, the distribution isn’t as widespread over here. I love the blending of culture and nature, and the text is so lyrical I can see these books becoming treasured stories for many years to come.
These 2 board books were kindly sent by Harbour Publishing, but all opinions are my own!
Roy Henry Vickers, a world – renowned Canadian First Nations artist began his career as a print maker. He made a name for himself when he built the Roy Henry Vickers Gallery in 1986 in Tofino, BC. People from all over the world travel to witness his creations, from the Limited Edition Prints, to his Original Paintings and the building he built himself with close friends and family.
Robert (Lucky) Budd holds an MA in history and has digitized many high-profile oral history collections including that of the Nisga’a First Nation. He is the author of Voices of British Columbia (Douglas & McIntyre, 2010), a bestseller which was shortlisted for the 2011 Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award, and its sequel, Echoes of British Columbia.
In 2013 Budd co-authored Raven Brings the Light with Roy Henry Vickers, who contributed 19 original art pieces to the book.The book became a national bestseller in Canada. They collaborated again in 2014 on the book Cloudwalker, in 2015 on the book Orca Chief, and in 2016 on the book Peace Dancer. Their first three books together were each short-listed for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award at the BC Book Prizes. Orca Chief was also the winner of the Moonbeam Spirit Award for Preservation, and nominated for the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award and Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize. And all four books have also been national bestsellers and referred to as the Northwest Coast Legends Series.
Budd currently lives in Victoria, BC.