Educators looking for a contemporary story that focuses on honouring the land may find The Dancing Trees to be a useful resource. A boastful adolescent boy agrees to a challenge by his friends: to spend a night in the bush—alone. His Elders have tried to instill a respect for nature, but he litters, breaks branches, and pulls bark off trees. The trees decide to teach him a lesson. Wet, hungry, scared, and lost, Thomas remembers his grandma’s words, cleans up his mess, and finds his way home. The colourful illustrations and present-day characters will engage young readers, while the author’s message will be easily identified. This story is suitable as a read-aloud, read-to-self, and as a springboard to learning about connecting to and respecting nature.

Images: Colour illustrations
Contributor Affiliation: Author Masiana Kelly (Inuit/Dene), Illustrator Michelle Simpson
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools

Tiffany Kelly is Inuit and Dene from Kugluktuk, Nunavut, and Fort Simpson, NWT. Masiana is her Inuinnaqtun name. She was named after an Elder from Kugluktuk, where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. Masiana has been an educator for over 10 years and has always loved literacy and the art of storytelling, which she studied at the University of Alberta. She has always wanted to write children's stories to share the legends, traditions, and culture that she grew up with.

Masiana Kelly's profile page

Michelle Simpson grew up in the woods of Niagara Falls, Ontario and still resides there today. She is a full-time freelance illustrator, focusing mainly on children's publications, and holds a BAA in illustration from Sheridan College. Michelle has worked as a concept artist at KeyFrame Animation for kids cartoons such as Ollie: The Boy Who Became What He Ate (Season 2) and Tee and Mo (Season 1). She is the author of Night Festival: A Silent Picture Book and Monsters In My House which was short-listed for the Canadian Self Publishing awards in 2014. Michelle has also illustrated Hanukkah Harvie vs. Santa Claus by David Michael Slater and Back Home by Shaista Kaba Fatehali. Michelle draws her inspiration for her artwork from nature, animals and folklore.

Michelle Simpson's profile page

• Short-listed, First Nation Communities READ Award

“. . . the fable accomplishes its educative goal while entertaining readers with memorable characters and suspense.”

Kirkus

Educators looking for a contemporary story that focuses on honouring the land may find The Dancing Trees to be a useful resource. A boastful adolescent boy agrees to a challenge by his friends: to spend a night in the bush—alone. His Elders have tried to instill a respect for nature, but he litters, breaks branches, and pulls bark off trees. The trees decide to teach him a lesson. Wet, hungry, scared, and lost, Thomas remembers his grandma’s words, cleans up his mess, and finds his way home. The colourful illustrations and present-day characters will engage young readers, while the author’s message will be easily identified. This story is suitable as a read-aloud, read-to-self, and as a springboard to learning about connecting to and respecting nature.

Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools