Young Raven and Old Raven is a beautiful creation myth from the Kwakiutl people. This story is both told and illustrated by Chief Lelooska. At the beginning of time, the world is in darkness. Old Raven and his son live in a cave, where Old Raven guards a wooden chest which contains the sun, moon, stars and a bag which holds all of life. Young Raven disobeys his father, meaning only to look at these treasures, but he accidentally unleashes everything- the sun, moon, stars and first humans, which in turn become not only humans but all of the creatures of the world. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful.

This is an amazing collection of stories from Chief Lelooska himself. With Native Americans, it's common for these tales to be shared orally, rather than them be written down and shared via book form, so it's an honor to be able to read these stories! I really liked "Young Raven and Old Raven." These two reside in a dark cave guarding a basket that holds life, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Young raven finally convinces Old Raven to let him guard these treasures on his own, but the moon, sun and stars escape. Young Raven tries to run off, away from his father, and he releases life, letting all creatures run off into the forest, but only the bravest stay there with Young Raven and Old Raven, and those brave ones become the ancestors of the Indian tribes. This is a story I loved reading now, at age 21, and I would have loved hearing when I was much, much younger as well! I would very much enjoy reading this to my future students!

This is an oversized book that comes with a CD of Chief Lelooska telling the stories. The art is *gorgeous*, I've always been fascinated by this style of representing animals and people. The stories are aimed at children, creation and reasons for animals being like they are tales. ( )

On CD, Cheif Lalooska's voice gives these myths character and livliness that only an natural, careful storyteller can provide. In each myth in this collection, we learn about how something of importance to the American Indians of the Northwest Coast came to be--how the tides were determined and why halibut are so small, why day and night come in equal parts and bears hibernate, why loons protect fishermen, the true spirit of puffins, and how life was released by Young Rave leaving only the bravest humans still in human form to make up the Indians at the beginning of the world. ( )

I have been interested in Chief Lelooska since my class visited Lelooska Lodge last year. This assignment gave me a good opportunity to research him. I chose this book because it contains a number of Lelooska fables and myths. "Young Raven and Old Raven" tells the story of creation. The two live in a dark cave as Old Raven guards a crate that contains the sun, moon, stars, and life. Young Raven tricks his father into letting the curious youngster guard the box...and soon the sun, moon, and stars are in place. Young Raven tries to get away from his father and inadvertently releases life. Many creatures run to the woods but the bravest stay and become the ancestors of the great Indian tribes. It's an interesting myth and kids love to hear the story...and illustrate the story as they imagine it.