First Salmon [Hardcover]

Roxane Beauclair Salonen (Author), Jim Fowler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Each spring the Native America people of the Pacific Northwest celebrate First Salmon, which marks the arrival of the salmon that have provided them with food for centuries. But this spring, Charlie's heart is not in the celebration. First Salmon will never be the same without Uncle Joe. During the ceremony, Charlie remembers his late uncle and the good times they had together, skipping stones or taking out the cedar canoe. He remembers the things his uncle had taught him and the stories that he told. When one by one Charlie's people tell their own stories that honor the salmon, Charlie comes to an understanding that helps him see beyond his grief. Roxane Beauclair Salonen's moving story, with heartfelt illustrations by Jim Fowler, captures a special moment in the life of a boy, who is struggling with the death of a loved one.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–First Salmon is a ceremony celebrated by Pacific Northwest tribes as a way of honoring the fish that sustain life for their people. While Charlie watches the event, he remembers his beloved Uncle Joe, who recently passed away, thinking that it's just not the same without him, and he recalls the special moments they shared. By the story's end, he realizes that death is a part of the cycle of nature, and that as long as he has his memories of his uncle, Joe will always be a part of him. Salonen lovingly details the celebration, and Fowler's presentation of modern Native peoples participating in an ancient tradition are images that children need to see. However, there are a few problems. When Charlie begins to think back on time spent with Joe, youngsters must read carefully to realize that these are flashbacks. While Fowler's broad paint strokes work well on nature and far-off group scenes, his close-ups of humans are less successful, and his illustrations of Charlie are inconsistent. Still, this is a respectful treatment of the subject. Libraries in the Pacific Northwest will want this title, and classes anywhere studying Native peoples could certainly benefit from this careful depiction of tradition.–Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. As Charlie takes part in the annual First Salmon sacred ceremony performed by his Native American people, he confronts his grief for his beloved late uncle Joe. The bright double-page pictures show the young boy in jeans and baseball cap, part of a contemporary community involved in an ancient ritual taking place in a wild, sweeping landscape of water, rock, birds, and fish. The words capture the physical sense of missing someone: as Charlie skips pebbles as Joe had taught him, he remembers the feel of his uncle's hands guiding his own. He also remembers their swimming deep under water, and laughing. As people chant to call the first salmon of the season and quietly remember and honor their own parents and ancestors, Charlie finds comfort and connection. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (October 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590781716
• ISBN-13: 978-1590781715
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,911,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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