Gray Wolf's Search [Hardcover]

Bruce Swanson (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

In this wonderful original tale, a young boy is told by his uncle, the village shaman, that his role in their clan and tribe depends on his finding and getting to know a very important person. Gray Wolf journeys through the woods and seashore around his home and through the seasons for a full year in the course of his search.

Through conversations with his brothers and sisters in the woods and waters—Bear, Eagle, Whale, Beaver, Owl and Wolf—Gray Wolf makes a wonderful discovery about the value of each and every one of us.

As children follow Gray Wolf on his journey they learn about village life among coastal peoples of the Pacific Northwest. This beautiful hardcover book is richly illustrated by the distinctive full-color artwork of Gary Peterson and fourteen original drawings.

Parents will enjoy reading this book aloud as much as young readers will enjoy following the story themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–5—A Native American boy is charged with the task by his shaman uncle of finding someone important and getting to know that person well. During his quest, Gray Wolf talks with a bear, a killer whale, and other animals and asks them if they have seen an important person. All of them reply that one human appears to be much like another to them. Finally, Gray Wolf has a vision of his village and realizes that all people are important. The story and ending are predictable, and the moral is heavy-handed. The characters and story are not based on an authentic legend and are merely stereotypes of Native American culture. The most redeeming quality of this offering is the illustrations. Peterson's colors and textures capture the feel of the American northwestern coastal regions. He skillfully incorporates Native American designs into otherwise pictorial representations and infuses each page with light. Yet even a few of these pictures seem idealized. In Jon J. Muth's The Three Questions (Scholastic, 2002), a boy goes in search of the answers to important questions and discovers them through his own experience. It is a better choice for those looking for a book about a child's search for truth.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
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Review

The storyline is easy to read, has a good message and should be shared by the whole family. (KidsWWrite )

The appeal of the book is not limited to children of First Nation descent. The message contained herein is for one and all. (CM Magazine )

The artist draws on the primal vibrance of indigenous culture in the captivating illustrations of this recommended book. (The Midwest Book Review )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: 7th Generation (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977918319
• ISBN-13: 978-0977918317
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 12.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,581,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book and classic story, February 11, 2007

By 

Tasha K. King (Edmonds, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gray Wolf's Search (Hardcover)

Gray Wolf is a classic story of a young boy learning about himself and the natural world around him. The author and illustrator clearly share a love for the Pacific Northwest and its rich heritage.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book about a gentle boy, September 5, 2009

By 

Jyotsna Sreenivasan "Gender Equality Bookstore" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gray Wolf's Search (Hardcover)

This book tells the story of Gray Wolf, a native boy of the Pacific Northwest who is given a task by his uncle, Raven's Head: Gray Wolf is to find a very important person, and get to know this person well.

Throughout the next year, Gray Wolf asks various animals if they know of this important person. Sister Bear, Brother Whale, and Sister Eagle claim never to have seen such a person. To them, all humans look and act alike.

Gray Wolf meets with Raven's Head again, but sadly tells him that he has not found the very important person. Raven's Head advises him to "look within."

As I was reading this book, at this point I assumed that the "very important person" would turn out to be Gray Wolf himself. But my 7-year-old son guessed that the important person would turn out to be everyone. And, in fact, my son was correct. Gray Wolf comes to realize that his family and friends are all equally important, and he brings this message back to his clan.

This book provides an interesting message of community to balance the message of individuality that we often get from mainstream culture. We are all important.

I also like the fact that the animals in this book are both female and male. So often, animals in pictures books are almost exclusively male. The paintings in this book are absolutely beautiful. I have added this book to my online Gender Equality Bookstore.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artist Gary Peterson draws upon the primal vibrance of indigenous culture, May 12, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gray Wolf's Search (Hardcover)

Author Bruce Swanson has more than thirty year's experience teaching history, often with a focus on Native American culture; Gray Wolf's Search is his picturebook about a young Native American told by his uncle, a shaman, that his future role in the clan depends upon locating a very important person. Gray Wolf goes on a journey to find and get to know this person - yet returns with unparalleled wisdom: "The very important person is you, and you, and you... Through all my travels, I found that no one is more important than another. Each one of us is a very important person." Artist Gary Peterson draws upon the primal vibrance of indigenous culture and reverence for the natural world in the captivating color illustrations of this recommended storybook.