Muskrat Will Be Swimming [Hardcover]

Cheryl Savageau (Author), Robert Hynes (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

A heart-warming tale of the lesson a girl learns from a Seneca creation story told to her by her grandfather--a lesson of knowing who you are and staying strong in the face of hurtful criticism. Elegantly illustrated, Muskrat Will Be Swimming is a treasure for all who have dealt with the fear of being different. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6?This exquisite, multifaceted tribute to the power of story incorporates issues of cultural diversity, empathy, the environment, and?most universally?intergenerational guidance and love. A Native American girl is ostracized because she lives in "shanty town," a collection of trailers and abandoned vacation cottages along the lake. Jeannie and the other children from her neighborhood have been labeled "Lake Rats." At first, she tries to tell her classmates of the pleasures of nature she regularly experiences. After enough taunting, she decides to keep her feelings to herself. It is the gentle guidance of her grandfather that finally brings Jeannie from shame to appreciation. He leads the child to consider muskrats, the real "lake rats," in a new light. After a vivid dream, Jeannie performs a fitting ritual that establishes her own oneness with the lake and provides her with a newfound sense of well being. Hynes is equally adept at capturing human emotions and the beauty of nature. Full- and half-page illustrations are arranged with an eye-catching use of white space. An interesting note describes the role of stories in Native American cultures, recommends additional reading, and adds more information about muskrats. A unique book with an important message.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6^-8. Living in a lakeside community of "cellar holes, trailers, and old winterized cottages," a girl of Native American and French descent loves her home, but feels demeaned when classmates call her a lake rat. She confides in Grampa, who listens, questions, and reminds her of a legend concerning Muskrat. A dream and a symbolic dive into the lake help the girl fully accept where she's from and who she is. The delicate artwork, done in acrylics and colored pencils, has an appealing, luminous quality. A change in typography marks the telling of the muskrat legend, midway through the girl's story. A handsome picture book that makes its statement quietly and effectively. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Rising Moon (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873586042
• ISBN-13: 978-0873586047
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #699,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An award winning and very strongly recommended addition, January 6, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Muskrat Will Be Swimming (Paperback)

"Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is the inspiring story of a native American girl who, with the gentle guidance of her grandfather, learns to find strength in her identity as a native American living in the broader American society. Elegantly illustrated by Robert Hynes, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" also includes the Seneca creation story and demonstrates how such ancient tales of native American cultures can be utilized to help children find their way in the world. Author Cheryl Savageau has written a superb story that will entertain and inspire young readers in grades 3 through 6. Enhanced with a 'Teachers Take Note' section devoted to suggestions for activities and thematically appropriate resources, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is an award winning and very strongly recommended addition to elementary school and community library picturebook collections.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Girl finds pride in herself and her heritage, November 7, 1999

By 

Kathy P "zxczxczxc" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muskrat Will Be Swimming (Hardcover)

I love this book and so does my six year old son. Very sensitively deals with namecalling. The young girl's grandfather sees that she is upset and by telling her a native amercian tale helps her find pride in her heritage and herself. Weaves together the present day story of the girl with the folktale very well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong messages about identity formation, May 16, 2010

By 

utbtkids "utbtkids" (San Jose) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muskrat Will Be Swimming (Paperback)

As an immigrant bringing up my children in fatherland, I often struggle between 'being a Roman in Rome' and establishing culturally consistent values. In a way I am blessed. I live in the Silicon Valley where my children get to see a large Indian community that they can identify with. They go to a school that truly values diversity. Though complicated in many ways, we always have the choice of going back to motherland.

I was thinking along these lines and it suddenly struck me like a thunderbolt - what about Native American people? Living like aliens in their own land, they face the same issues any immigrant faces. At the crucial age of 5 or 6, when a child's thinking is expanding from ego-centrism to more concrete logic and reasoning, the Native American children go to school. Is it a culture shock for them? Is the peer group conducive for building self-esteem? Are they exposed to conflicting cultural messages? Is the peer judgement too cruel for these children? How do they deal with it?

Questions, questions and more questions! Most of which are answered in Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Jeannie is a young 6-ish year old girl who loves living with her family around a lake. Other children at school tease her. They call her LAKE RAT. Jeannie unsuccessfully tries explaining how much fun it is to swim in the lake, to watch turtles lay eggs and to catch dragonflies. So Jeannie finally gives up.

There is one wise man or woman who imparts wisdom at such situations and Muskrat Will Be Swimming is no exception! Jeannie's grandfather makes her realize that one cannot change what family or culture they are born in to, but it is up to the individual to realize their true potential an rise up to the occasion. `Even if you are a rat, you have a specific role in this universe' says the wise grandpa.

Cheryl highlights the lifestyle of Native American people throughout the book. I am quoting couple of my favorites.

"..none of the kids have clothes passed down from two sets of cousins. All their clothes are brand-new clean, not clean from hundreds of washings, faded and soft like mine."

"So I don't tell them about the fish we catch and eat at big fish-frys mid-summer under the stars. I figure they'd tell me food is supposed to come from the supermarket. So I just get quite and don't say anything."

I grew up listening to made up stories about everything under the Sun from my dad and aunt. I read my first children's book when I was 9-10! So story-telling tradition followed by the Native American has a mystic pull that I simply cannot resist! Plus the beautiful illustrations and the priceless message, I consider this book a value addition to my bookshelf..... Hmmm.....let me correct that, to my children's bookshelf :)

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