FOX SONG

Philomel Books, 1993. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. New/As New. Paul Morin color illus.. CONDITION: UNREAD, but not quite perfect, 1993 Philomel hardcover (decorated boards) & dust jacket (in mylar cover), first edition, first printing. Beautiful color illustrations by Paul Morin. PROBLEM: tiny repaired tear top DJ edge at spine. CONTENT: Jamie, grieving over the death of her great-grandmother, remembers and describes some of the special times they shared. Grama Bowman, an Abenaki, told her stories and taught her about "'our old Indian way.'" Memories of gathering berries, birch bark for baskets, or sap for maple sugar, activities that brought them together and close to nature are related. She recalls seeing the tracks of a fox and her grama telling her, "'When you are out here and I am not with you, you keep your eyes open. You might see her and when you do, you will think of me.'" The elderly woman's wise words and an Abenaki song of greeting help the girl cope with her loss. When Jamie sings the song in the woods, she sees a fox and knows that she will "...never be alone." Morin's oil paintings are both realistic and textured. The characters' faces are depicted lovingly but without idealism. The palette is rich and warm, in mostly autumnal tones, but with spring and winter accents. Grades 2+.