Secret of the Dance

by Andrea Spalding, Darlene Gait (Illustrator), Alfred Scow

Overview

In 1935, a nine-year-old boy's family held a forbidden Potlatch in faraway Kingcome Inlet. Watl'kina slipped from his bed to bear witness. In the Big House masked figures danced by firelight to the beat of the drum. And there, he saw a figure he knew. Aboriginal elder Alfred Scow and award-winning author Andrea Spalding collaborate to tell the story, to tell the secret of the dance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554691296
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Andrea Spalding immigrated to Canada in 1967 from Manchester, England. After living in Alberta for 24 years, Andrea relocated to British Columbia and lived on Pender Island. Her first children's book, The Most Beautiful Kite in the World, was selected as a Canadian Children's Book Center's "Our Choice." She has garnered awards and nominations ever since. For more information, visist www.andreaspalding.squarespace.com.

Darlene Gait was born on Vancouver Island and began painting as a child. Inspired by nature and by her Coast Salish heritage, Darlene brings a rich understanding of the natural world to her work, which is held in private collections and exhibited worldwide. Darlene lives in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.onemoon.ca.

Judge Alfred Scow, elder of the Kwakwa'wakw Nation, is a member of the Order of Canada. Now retired, Judge Scow and his wife live on Pender Island and in Vancouver.

Read an Excerpt

"Many years ago, when the world and I were younger, my family defied the government."

Editorial Reviews

"The illustrations...strikingly reflect Aboriginal imagery. The voice of the adult recalling a profound and transformative childhood moment is... immediate and credible."

Canadian Literature

"Based upon a true incident, this story provides a discussion venue for discrimination and prejudice."

Tucson USD

"An innocent perspective on a powerful act of defiance...Gait's large-scale acrylic paintings reinforce the religious dimension, infusing magic realism into the landscape and story."

Horn Book

"Powerful aboriginal images and symbols…are incorporated into almost all the acrylic paintings that illustrate this…fictionalized account of a signal event in the life of Alfred Scow...told in simple but evocative prose."

The Globe and Mail

"The child's view of brave adults in secret rebellion will even attract children somewhat older than the target audience."

Booklist

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BC Bookworld