ECHOES OF THE ELDERS

An oversized, overburdened collection of five Northwest Coast native tales that has more appeal for folklorists than for children. A dedication-page note, an editor's note, an introduction by a history professor, and an elaborate map precede the tales, intended to outline how the book came to be. The late Chief Lelooska, of Cherokee heritage, was adopted into part of the Kwakiutl Nation tribe, which celebrated his skills as storyteller, carver, painter, and teacher. As Normandin notes, the chief worked on the stories and paintings until his death, and read them aloud for an audio CD that accompanies the book. The stories are superb, as are the paintings: Often the subject of a story is painted head-on with no background, an imposing and unforgettable figure. In the cautionary ``The Old Owl Witch,'' misbehaving children who harass an old witch in the forest are turned into mice, then exterminated by a flock of owls. ``Raven and Seagull'' features a sickly and abandoned boy who has gone off to die; he ends up helping a trapped loon who returns him to health and to his people. Despite the self-conscious design, which combines typefaces in a manner that may confuse children, and the abundantly distracting front matter, this is a loving tribute to the world of a prosperous people perched on the edge of great forests of hemlock and cedar. (Folklore. 7-11)