New Abenaki Children's Tale by Joseph Bruchac and Wisdom Tales

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Aug. 24, 2015 - PRLog -- “Promise to remember me,” said his mysterious wife. How could he forget her? There was something magical about her and their children. In the winter they had appeared as if from nowhere. However, in the spring they would not return to his village with him. Now the jealous chief’s daughter had cast a spell on him and he had forgotten them. Will the hunter be able to break the spell and see his magical family again, or will the chief’s daughter have her way forever?

    Join world-renowned storyteller, Joseph Bruchac, and award-winning illustrator, Bill Farnsworth, as they present this ancient and

unique Abenaki tale of family, loyalty, magic, and harmony between humans and the natural world.

About This Book

v  Joseph Bruchac retells this traditional story about keeping a promise which can be found in various forms among many of the indigenous nations of the northeast, both Iroquoian and Algonquin

v  Bill Farnsworth’s beautiful illustrations of the New England wilderness and the cultural significance of this intriguing story will appeal not only to children and adults, but to anyone with an interest in American history or Native American culture

Publication Details

v   ISBN: 978-1-937786-43-4

v   Pub Date:September 2015

v   Price:$16.95

v   Trim Size:8”x10”

v   Page Count: 32 hardcover

v   Ages: 7 and up

Praise for The Hunter’s Promise

“Gr 2–5— [The Hunter’s Promise is] a solid retelling of a traditional Wabanaki Confederacy story . . . Farnsworth's oil paintings add depth to this story. The feelings portrayed through the images allows readers to understand the emotions of the characters. Bruchac reinforces the importance of balance in the land, and integrity of the keeping one's word. VERDICT: A great addition for traditional tale collections. Recommended.”

—School Library Journal

“In a retelling of a story shared by several Northeast indigenous peoples, as Bruchac explains in an introductory note, a lonely Abenaki hunter gains a mysterious ‘winter wife’ who cares for him during his hunting expeditions away from his village. As the hunter prepares to return to his village, the woman asks him to ‘remember’ her (readers may wonder why he doesn’t attempt to bring her back with him). Remember her the man does, season after season, as well as the child she bears, until the village chief’s daughter enlists the help of a poohegan (spirit helper) to cloud his mind so he can marry her. Farnsworth’s handsome paintings depict a lush, light-infused wilderness, putting as much emphasis on the pristine setting as on the characters. The satisfying yet melancholy ending leaves a haunting impression.”

—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Joseph Bruchac is a world-renowned Native author and storyteller who has written more than 120 books for both children and adults. His work is heavily influenced by his Abenaki ancestry, and he has worked extensively with other family members on projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture and language. His poems, articles, and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, including National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine. Bruchac’s work has earned him numerous awards, including a Rockefeller Humanities Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children’s Literature, and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers’ Circle of the Americas. Bruchac’s most famous works include Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children (with Michael Caduto), Code Talker: A Book About the Navajo Marines, and Crazy Horse’s Vision (illustrated by S.D. Nelson). Joseph Bruchac lives in Greenfield Center, NY.

         About the Illustrator

Bill Farnsworth is a nationally known illustrator, painter, and educator of art. He has illustrated over 50 books, including the beloved Kaya series for American Girl. He has spent the last 30 years creating paintings for children’s books, magazines, advertisements, and fine art commissions of portraits and landscapes. Farnsworth’s children’s books have won accolades such as the Teachers Choice Award, the 2005 Patricia Gallagher Award, and the 2007 Volunteer State Book Award. In addition to his work on children’s books, his paintings have appeared at many national shows, galleries, and private collections. His illustrations have been included in the Society of Illustrators Annual Show, and his paintings in the Oil Painters of America National Show. Farnsworth has won numerous awards for this work, including awards of excellence from the Oil Painters of America 2006, 2007, 2011 Eastern Regional shows and the 2007 National Show; first place in the Fifth Biennial National show in Punta Gorda; two awards for Narrative Excellence from the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society; and Best in Show in the 2010 Cashiers paint out. In 2010, he was awarded Signature Status from the American Society of Marine Artists, while in 2011 he was awarded Signature Status from the Oil Painters of America. Bill Farnsworth currently lives with his wife Deborah in Venice, FL.