Paul Owen Lewis

Davy spends his free time daydreaming on a hillside by the bay thinking about the orca whales that live in the waters below. His dreams feel so real, but when he tells the fishermen in town about them, they laugh him off and tell him the orcas are dangerous. Davy is determined to make their acquaintance. During a dream, Davy plans how he might do this and sets his plan in action. By painting the underside of a boat to look like an orca whale, the orcas are not so afraid of his boat and they show more come to greet him. Davy has finally found his friends! On the way home as the sun sets, Davy's boat strikes some rocks and starts to sink! Luckily, his new friends are nearby to rescue Davy and get him to the shore safely. This is a sweet story by a local Washington author that I have had the honor of meeting on several occasions. The illustrations are gorgeous and really capture the feeling of the hills and waterways of the Pacific Northwest and the majesty of the orca whales. A local classic! show less

A young Haida prince is cast ashore during a violent sea storm, finding himself in the realm of the Killer Whale people. These colossal beings welcome him into their world, where he embarks on a spiritual journey that bridges the human and animal realms. The story follows the three rites of passage—separation, initiation, and return—showing how the prince leaves the ordinary world, undergoes transformation, and comes back changed. The book explores identity, transformation, and the show more interconnectedness of all beings, while the author’s note emphasizes the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage. show less

Storm Boy opens with a compelling sentence and image, "A chief's son went fishing alone, and a terrible storm arose," and the boy is shown falling overboard and sinking beneath the waves. When he awakes he is with a strange, but hospitable people, who treat him with respect, honour him with food and share their traditional dances. He returns the honour and is returned safely to his home, only to find he has been gone a year. Paul Owen Lewis clearly understands the great themes of mythology show more (as is evidenced in the research notes at the back of the book), and brings them to life with striking, modern interpretations of traditional motifs of the Northwest Coast. An excellent addition to any First Nations story collection. show less

I don't remember holiday books from my own childhood so much as I remember books I read to my own offspring about 20-25 years ago. One that I still have in my Christmas box is this one, The Starlight Bride, written and illustrated by Paul Owen Lewis and published in 1988, when my son was two.

This book isn't really about Christmas, but it is set during Advent - which right there makes it rather unique for children's books! A prince must marry before taking over the kingdom from his old father show more the king, and (as in Cinderella), noble women from the surrounding area are invited to come and stay the month of Advent, during which time the prince (Bachelor style) interacts with each of the ladies in a variety of social environments. When it comes time to make a choice, though, he cannot make up his mind. He asks God to give him a particular sign to indicate the right woman.

On the book jacket, Lewis says the book was based on a friend's dream, "in which she saw me with an elderly man in a courtyard surrounded on three sides by little houses with different-colored doors. At each we knocked, and each opened to reveal a different young woman who invited us in to visit. The dream fascinated me, and I couldn't help but see it as a story of father and son, or King and Prince, seeking the perfect mate. Reflecting on my own experiences and desires, I projected myself into the scene and the story practically wrote itself."

This beautiful book has a lovely message and gorgeous illustrations, full of rich, vibrant color. I especially like the border designs around the main picture on each page. I also like the fact that the story is set in a place that does NOT have snow at Christmastime. For a girl who grew up in a Gulf Coast climate, that is important!

© Amanda Pape - 2013 - this review also appears on my blog, Bookin' It. show less