MORNING ON THE LAKE

This tale conveys to readers how a morning glide through still lake waters in a canoe, amid haze and reeds, can be more valuable than actually reaching any destination. An Ojibway boy and his Mishomis, or grandfather, rise early; after a canoe ride across the lake, they climb a rocky ledge--the grandfather's favorite place to be at noon. At night they walk through the dark forest. The animals they encounter--loon, eagle, timberwolves--are not hunted, but observed and respected. Their presence makes the day significant and draws the boy and his elder together in a shared experience. Remarkably rendered in Reczuch's watercolors are details such as the liquid reflection on the lake, the grandfather's wool plaid jacket, and the loon's sleek feathered back. If readers feel a shiver down their spines while reading these pages, it will be because this tale is informed by an awe of nature, the chill of dark trees, and the spiritualism inherent in finding an eagle feather.