Prince & The Salmonpeople [Hardcover]

Rizzoli (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

This Native American legend of the Salmon People, the animal spirits responsible for the abundance of the salmon along the West Coast, is illustrated with black-and-white drawings that highlight the text. An excellent tale to accompany the environmental issue of the endangered salmon of the Northwest. Photos of actual Northwest Native American artifacts bring the legend to life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-In this tale that incorporates anthropological data, a prince born at the same moment the spring salmon run is destined by "the greatest of all shamans" to remind his people of their interdependence with the fish. Busy and forgetful, the people neglect the salmon rituals, and famine results. The prince, having angered his mother, runs away and, ultimately, lives with his uncle, the Chief of the Spring Salmon People. Here, he ends the famine by restoring the proper rituals. Though its message is unimpeachable, the narrative is not only slow, but also confusing. (Why does the "greatest" shaman not guard the rituals? How does the boy get pocketsful of goat fat in the midst of a famine? How can readers know that he has actually left the "real" world and entered the spirit world, when there is no threshold depicted?) However, it is authentic and admirable in many ways. Numerous grisaille drawings done in the traditional native Northwest style enrich the volume. The figures appear slightly stiff and archaic, but their formal attitudes are in keeping with cultural norms and the seriousness of the story. In addition, there are many color and black-and-white photographs-with detailed captions-of Tsimshian people and artifacts interspersed throughout the text. These pages break the flow of the tale, but do contribute to its flavor. A worthy effort, more to be consulted for reports than for the pleasure of a good read.
Patricia Dooley, formerly at University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Claire Rudolf Murphy is the author of ten books for children including Children of the Gold Rush and Caribou Girl. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (May 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847816621
• ISBN-13: 978-0847816620
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,874,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Based upon accounts and interviews with Tsimshian elders, April 20, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: The Prince and the Salmon People: A Tale (Paperback)

Claire Rudolf Murphy's The Prince And The Salmon People is an entertaining rendition of the legend of the Salmon People, an ancient tale told among many tribes of Northwest Coast Indians. Based upon accounts and interviews with Tsimshian elders and craftsman, and enhanced with black-and-white drawings, by Duane Pasco, this classic Native American legend comes to life for young readers in a particularly vibrant story about the interdependence between humans and animals.