Gray Wolf's Search (Op)

This book tells the story of Gray Wolf, a native boy of the Pacific Northwest who is given a task by his uncle, Raven's Head: Gray Wolf is to find a very important person, and get to know this person well. Throughout the next year, Gray Wolf asks various animals if they know of this important person. Sister Bear, Brother Whale, and Sister Eagle claim never to have seen such a person. To them, all humans look and act alike. Gray Wolf meets with Raven's Head again, but sadly tells him that he has not found the very important person. Raven's Head advises him to "look within." As I was reading this book, at this point I assumed that the "very important person" would turn out to be Gray Wolf himself. But my 7-year-old son guessed that the important person would turn out to be everyone. And, in fact, my son was correct. Gray Wolf comes to realize that his family and friends are all equally important, and he brings this message back to his clan. This book provides an interesting message of community to balance the message of individuality that we often get from mainstream culture. We are all important. I also like the fact that the animals in this book are both female and male. So often, animals in pictures books are almost exclusively male. The paintings in this book are absolutely beautiful. I have added this book to my online Gender Equality Bookstore.

Author Bruce Swanson has more than thirty year's experience teaching history, often with a focus on Native American culture; Gray Wolf's Search is his picturebook about a young Native American told by his uncle, a shaman, that his future role in the clan depends upon locating a very important person. Gray Wolf goes on a journey to find and get to know this person - yet returns with unparalleled wisdom: "The very important person is you, and you, and you... Through all my travels, I found that no one is more important than another. Each one of us is a very important person." Artist Gary Peterson draws upon the primal vibrance of indigenous culture and reverence for the natural world in the captivating color illustrations of this recommended storybook.

Gray Wolf is a classic story of a young boy learning about himself and the natural world around him. The author and illustrator clearly share a love for the Pacific Northwest and its rich heritage.