Crow and Hawk [Library Binding]

Michael Rosen (Author), John Clementson (Illustrator)

Book Description

This age-old Native American story from the Pueblo people addresses a contemporary issue. Crow sits on her clutch of eggs, but eventually gets tired and flies away. Hawk takes pity on the eggs and, once hatched, rears the baby crows as her own. Then Crow returns and it seems the chicks have two mothers. Only Eagle, King of the Birds, can decide who keeps them. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Abandoned babies, birth mothers vying with adoptive mothers for custody, a tearful judgment?this Pueblo story has all the ingredients of a bad made-for-TV movie. When Crow abandons her nest, Hawk moves in to care for the eggs, then stays to tend the hatchlings. When Crow finally returns to claim her youngsters, Hawk responds that she is their true mother because she has raised them. Eagle, King of the Birds, sides with Hawk and bluntly tells a crying Crow that "this is the way it must be. You left the nest; you have lost the children." Just as distressing as the cheerless story, though, is the overstimulating chaos of pattern, color and scenes-within-scenes in Clementson's cut-paper collages. In contrast to the restraint he showed in the vibrant illustrations for How Giraffe Got Such a Long Neck (which Rosen also wrote), there is neither visual hierarchy in these pictures nor an easy point of entry for the young audience. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. Crow is tired of sitting on the eggs in her nest and abandons them, so Hawk takes over and continues to care for the baby crows after they hatch. When Crow returns and tries to take the babies back, Hawk refuses to relinquish them. The birds appeal to Eagle, king of the birds, who, after listening to what the little crows have to say, tells Crow she has lost her children because she deserted them. Vivid cut-paper collages with colorful borders fill the pages and reflect the directness, simplicity, and clarity of the text. The story is an especially pertinent traditional tale because it mirrors contemporary society's increasing struggle with a complex family issue. Told to Ruth Benedict by an elderly storyteller of the Cochiti Pueblo, it appeared in Benedict's 1931 Tales of the Cochiti Indians. Rosen and Clementson's new interpretation is just right for picture-book and folktale collections. Karen Hutt

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books (J) (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015200257X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152002572
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,115,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Rosen, an English poet, scriptwriter, broadcaster, and performer, has been writing for children since 1970. He lives in London with his wife and five children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pueblo story about responsibility, March 9, 2008

By 

DONALD G. FOX "Santee Sioux" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crow and Hawk (Library Binding)

According to the introduction of the book, this story was told in the indigenous language of Keresan by a well-known elder of the Cochiti Pueblo near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1928. This traditional story is part of a larger tradition of Native Americans in teaching values and right ways of living in community through storytelling. Crow is impatient and leaves her eggs in order to do the things that she wants to do. In essence, she gives up her responsibility towards her children. When Hawk comes by and sees the eggs abandoned, she sits on the eggs, hatches the eggs and feeds the chicks. She has taken on a responsibility that was not originally hers and will not give it up even when Crow comes back and is indignant that Hawk will not give up the young fledglings. While it is a hard story for Crow, one does notice later that Eagle is comforting Crow in her loss. As for the colorful and vibrant illustrations, childen will definitely enjoy them as they are led to think about personal responsibility and the costs associated with giving it up.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff., April 25, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crow and Hawk (Library Binding)

This book reveals how modern adoption suits should be handled. The answer was plain, simple, and correct--how ironic that the bird which symbolizes America could see it so easily.