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"Martin's
interpretations linger long in the mind." Books by Rafe Martin Rafe's books for adults and children are available at your favorite bookseller or can be ordered online. Click the title of any book for information and ordering details. NOW AVAILABLE..."SIGNED BOOKS BY MAIL" Order form
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Rafe's version of the Japanese ghost tale, "Ho-Ichi the Earless" is in two-time Newbery Award-winner, Avi's latest collection, Best Shorts: Favorite Stories for Sharing. Selected by Avi. Afterword by Katherine Paterson.
Grade 5 Up
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Order Birdwing from amazon.com Washington Post 2005 Best Kid's Book Book Sense Winter Pick Selected to New York Public Library's List of Books for the Teen Age 2006 Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Louisville Courier-Journal The Year's Best Books for Kids. |
Shown on the left
is the hardback cover for Birdwing, Rafe's new, magical, mythic,
adventurous, heroic novel from Arthur
A. Levine Books, Scholastic Publications
And so he grows up, marked by difference, a prince struggling to find a place in his father's kingdom while his wing pulls him toward the open sky. Ardwin barely knows how to speak to his family, yet his wing gives him the power to understand every other creature in the forest. Half the time Ardwin wishes his wing were gone. Yet when he learns that his father plans to have the wing severed, he knows he must flee...to save his life and to find his way. Birdwing is the story of a boy who falls, half-healed, out of myth and into the world. Can a young man like that find peace? Or will his very existence become grounds for war?
Birdwing The back cover. In this mythic and heroic novel, a young man with a left wing instead of an arm must find his own, unique place in life. How did he get the wing? Magic! Why the left side? That is the side of intuition and the heart. The old Grimm's Brothers' tale of "The Six Swans" ends like this: The
six shirts were ready, only the left sleeve of the sixth was wanting.
". . . The swans swept toward her and sank down so that she could throw
the shirts over them, and as they were touched by them, their swans' skins
fell off, and her brothers stood in their own bodily form before her,
and were vigorous and handsome. The youngest only lacked his left arm,
and had in the place of it a swan's wing on his shoulder." (from "The
Six Swans," The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales) Birdwing begins there, where the old tale ends. What happens to that boy? What is his destiny? What kind of young man will he become? How will he find his place on this earth and be happy, when all who see him think him a cripple or worse, a freak? His story has been waiting perhaps a thousand years to be told. Now at last we will know what happens in the ever after. Rafe
writes: "We all have a wing. Some hide theirs to fit in. Some cut
theirs off to appear like everyone else. And some learn to live fully
with their wing, just as they are, and, in fully accepting themselves
and their own unique gifts, heal not only themselves, but the kingdom."
Praise for Birdwing http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/03/11/055907.php • BIRDWING will be featured in the Scholastic Book Fairs for Spring 2007. Which means that it will be featured on the Bookfairs poster for Spring 2007, and that Rafe will be one of the four featured authors in the 2007 Bookfairs Author video that goes out to 100,000 schools. (And so is seen by an estimated 7 million students). The video includes a tour of his home and office and how things there became part of Birdwing. It also features a motorcycle ride with Rafe! Watch for it at your school starting January 2007, when the paperback of Birdwing with a dramatic new cover by noted artist and filmmaker, Matt Mahurin, will also become available. PLUS an audiobook version of BIRDWING is planned for 2007 as well, which may be narrated by Rafe. Stay tuned! 'What if...' provides
a firm platform for the author's extended (358 page) incredibly imaginative
back story for the old Grimm tale "The Six Swans." . . . Throughout, Martin
evokes strong human emotions. The scene where Rose and Ardwin confront
each other depicts two very conflicted adults with mixed feelings of duty
and choice, and the consequences of choosing. Such intense emotion is
leavened, for example, in the humor of the innkeeper's wife, a terrible
cook with a direct link to Mrs. Malaprop. In all, a deeply satisfying
read! An unfamilar Grimm's
fairy tale comes to life in the story of Ardwin, the youngest of six brothers
turned into swans. When the spell is broken on Ardwin, one wing remains,
leaving the young prince to struggle between the human and animal worlds.
Never expecting to find love, he must decide whether his wing is a blessing
or a curse. His journey will keep you totally enchanted right up to the
surprising end. There are more questions
than answers at the end of "The Six Swans" by the Brother's Grimm: what
happened to the witch that cursed the family? Can the family recover from
the blame and guilt? What becomes of the littlest boy who still has a
swan wing? Martin picks up these threads in this masterful story of Prince
Ardwin, the youngest child, and his ultimate role in helping the entire
family find peace. . . Martin's intricate story traces the lives of each
minor player and explains some of the mysterious workings of the major
characters, including a deeper exploration of the motivations of the witch
who sparked the chain of events. The depictions of the fated love of Ardwin
and Alene, the princess with a tortured past whose life he saves, and
Ardwin's difficult struggle toward awakening into his own strengths are
credible and powerful. A dramatic and philosophical work, this will encourage
readers to consider the possibility that everyone carries blessings disguised
as curses. Rafe Martin is probably
best known for his picture books, including The Rough-Face Girl,
an Algonquin Indian version of the Cinerella story. An amazing storyteller,
Martin pushes the boundaries for retelling fairy tales with this coming-of-age
novel that will appeal to fans of Harry Potter or Philip Pullman.
Birdwing focuses on what happened to the six princes transformed
into swans in the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale after their sister broke
the evil spell. While the boys were returned to human form once the spell
was broken, fourteen-year-old Prince Ardwin retained a wing in place of
one arm. Tired of being taunted because he is different, Ardwin sets out
on an adventurous journey of self-discovery. The path he follows includes
enough sorcery, fighting, magic, and enlightenment to satisfy any fantasy
reader. In a magical tale
woven by master storyteller Rafe Martin, characters have "fallen out of
legend" into a tale of extraordinary beauty and philosophical depth. An
evil queen, an enchantress, a winged warrior, a gray-eyed goose girl who's
really a princess, a snow lion, giants, mechanical men, and a sarcastic
talking horse mix it up in a fairy tale adventure as inventive and soaring
as Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.
. . Martin has made a fairy tale world completely believable and readers,
. . . will ponder deep questions of what it means to be human, whether
differences are curses or gifts, and how to make one's life a worthy story.
Remember the Grimms'
story "The Six Swans"? A wicked queen turns her stepsons into wild swans;
the spell will be broken only if their little sister stays mute for six
years and weaves each of them a nettle shirt. When the time is up, she
has not quite finished a sleeve on the last shirt. The brothers regain
human form, but the youngest is left with one arm and one wing. The end
of that fairy tale is the starting point for this extraordinary novel.
. . In the best fairy-tale tradition, "Prince Freak" sets out to discover
how he must live. The marvelous thing about Birdwing is that, given its
highly literary origins, it is so tough, colloquial, funny and moving.
But then, having been sent back to the Grimms, you realize Martin has
merely emulated his masters. A book for kids who appreciate the likes
of William Mayne and Ursula K. Le Guin. Once upon a time:
Enchanted tales make up a large part of any child's book collection. Characters
like Snow White, Peter Pan and others draw children in with the promise
of magical encounters and unexpected events. A new fairy tale may be the
perfect gift for someone on your list. Consider "Birdwing" (Arthur A.
Levine Books, $16.99) by Rafe Martin, an enchanting story of Ardwin, a
boy who was rescued from a curse - but not entirely. One wing remained
in place of an arm, and that wing leads Ardwin on an adventure, all the
while questioning whether he is man or bird. Rafe Martin has written an absolutely faithful and exceedingly satisfying continuation of The Six Swans . . . Reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Adventures, we travel with our good-hearted hero, Ardwin, on his coming of age journey as he struggles to discover whether he is man or bird, gifted or cursed. Along the way he encounters delightfully memorable friends (humans and beasts) and nasty foes who provide rich, but seamless, layers to the main plot. . . . Martin does a superb job of unfolding . . . the essential birthright challenge each of us has to come to terms with: who we are, who we are becoming, and how we fly. Rated: 10 -- RATING
SCALE 10 = A desert island book for all time: Charlotte's Web, Frederick,
Bridge to Terabithia. Martin deftly weaves
fairy tale into fiction . . . The many original characters and unusual
adventure scenes ensure that readers will remember this well-paced fantasy.
"An emotive fairytale
extension thoughtfully explores the life of Ardwin, a prince with a swan's
wing instead of a left arm . . . The journey holds . . . surprises . .
. [with] memorable images created along the way as Martin touchingly weaves
together fairy tale, the wildness of animals and lyrical characterization."
(Fantasy, YA). Birdwing is a fabulously
imaginative continuation of a Grimm's Brothers' folktale. The highly readable
and well-written story of a boy searching to find his place in the world
is packed with adventure, moral dilemmas, true and false friendships,
righting of wrongs, growing-up issues, plenty of danger, and a touch of
the fantastical. A marvelous, engaging
rendering of the age-old story of a boy's struggle to become a man and
find his rightful place in the world. Magic, wise animals, loyalty, betrayal,
love and war all come together in Ardwin's search for the blessings of
life. The writing is so engaging, the lessons so universal, and yet the
story so unique in taking off from "The Six Swans" by The Brothers Grimm
that readers will feel blessed with a rare glimpse into the meaning of
life by the end. A book no one will be able to forget. Martin begins where
the Grimms' "Six Swans" concludes-with the release of the six princes
from their evil stepmother's spell, but with the youngest (here named
Ardwin) left encumbered with one swan's wing. When Ardwin learns that
his father plans to accept neighboring King Ulfius's demand that the wing
be replaced with a golden prosthetic arm before Ardwin marries Ulfius's
daughter, Ardwin finds he's not ready to give up his burdensome appendage-which
confers such gifts as the ability to converse with animals. Pursued by
minions of both kings, he sets forth on a quest, first back to the swans
. . . on, in a Tolkienesque sequence, to the wizard Belarius (think Daedalus,
Gandalf, and Prospero); and then to a gory heroic battle against outsized
thugs who have kidnapped the goose-girl Alene . . . Ardwin's homecoming
occurs in several stages, with reconciliation its keynote; more important,
he's learned that, once controlled, his odd difference is empowering,
not only literally as a weapon but as a source of creativity. Like Tolkien's,
Martin's language segues agreeably from the courtly to the colloquial,
enriching a somewhat message-laden ("Differences are good...I am not cursed
at all, but blessed!") yet well-told tale. J.R.L. Ardwin grew up with
this terrible burden and the others called him a freak, many people were
afraid of him, and he came to see the wing as a curse. The wing gives
him the power to speak to other animals, so Ardwin decides to leave the
palace to find his own way. On his journey Ardwin faces many dangers but
also meets special people and creatures who will help him along the way.
Can Ardwin find the peace he searches for and find where he truly belongs?
An enchanting tale of love, loss and understanding. For the younger reader
12 and up, there's a fantasy tale, Birdwing (Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic
Inc) by Rafe Martin. It spins the story of a girl who rescued her six
brothers from a sorceress who had turned them into swans. All are returned
to human form, but one retains a single wing in the place of an arm. When
his father, a king, decides to sever the wing, he must flee from him,
as well as the sorceress who hunts him still. The theme of course is finding
one's true identity, but the story makes the journey a very interesting
one. ...a wonderful escape
for readers who love novels based on fairy tales. The characters are extremely
well drawn and the intricate plot echoes the labyrinth created by the
magician with the author serving as the glowing string to lead one through
to the end. More ways to learn about Birdwing
Enjoy this author-narrated video by Scholastic that tells of the inspiration for Birdwing!
Read an excerpt from Birdwing!
A Personal Letter
from Rafe Martin
Arthur
A. Levine Books Q & A with Author Rafe Martin
Arthur
A. Levine Books Presents Birdwing
Kids Bookshelf interview
with Rafe Martin
RECESS
RADIO: Listen to a short interview about Birdwing from the
perspective of Children's Literature.
http://www.recess.ufl.edu/transcripts/2005/1213.shtml
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BIRDWING NEW BIRDWING soars
in paperback! As of February 2007 BIRDWING will be available in
an Afterwords Edition, from Scholastic, Inc. $6.99 US/$8.99 CAN. With
gorgeous new cover art by noted artist Matt Mahurin. Includes author interview,
an entire Grimm's Brothers' tale-- The Goose Girl, retold by Rafe Martin,
and more! A more in-depth version
of the Afterwords interview with Rafe is now also available at
www.arthuralevinebooks.com/birdwing.asp
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 Order The Boy Who Lived With The Seals from amazon.com A Literary Guild
An Editors' Choice,
Best Books for Children Award, A CBC and NCSS Notable
Children's Book |
The Boy Who Lived with the Seals Illustrated by David Shannon G. P. Putnam Temporarily out of stock...to be reissued in paperback by Yellow Moon Press in 2006)  his companion to the critically acclaimed The Rough-Face Girlpresents
a mysterious Native American (Wasco-Chinook) tale of a boy who must follow
his own path and find his own way. In so doing, gifts come that benefit
the whole community.
"This spare but evocative retelling of a Chinook Indian tale about loss
and redemption is powerfully written and grippingly illustrated. . . .
An excellent addition to any collection, the book will have wide application
across curriculum lines." "This is an exceptionally fine addition to the growing shelf of Native
American lore." "Another potent Native American offering from a gifted pair." "Just how a good story should end." "Based on a tale related by the Chinook people of the Northwest
Coast, this is a moving account of a young boy who disappears one day
while his tribe camps near the great River during their spring migration.
Despite the tribe's frantic efforts to locate him, his whereabouts remain
a mystery. After the boy reappears among the seals, he is captured and
brought back to his home, where he must relearn all that he had once known.
A masterful retelling." |
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Winner of the Parents' Choice Gold Award |
The Boy Who Loved Mammoths |
 Order The Brave Little Parrot from amazon.com A Best Children's Book of the Year--Bank Street College Children's Book Committee |
The Brave Little Parrot Illustrated by Susan Gaber G.P. Putnam  hen a raging fire threatens to burn down the forest, all of the
animals run away in fear. All except for one brave little parrot,who has
an idea. Help me, she cries to the elephants, beseeching them to fill their
trunks with water to spray on the flames. "Help me!" she begs the cheetahs,
even as they urge her to flee and save herself. But the brave little parrot
will not be daunted. Can the determination and courage of one small bird
be enough to save a forest? "Susan Gaber's majestic illustrations and Rafe Martin's lyrical retelling bring to life an inspiring tale from ancient India that will speak to today's readers. Today, as rain forests burn, this old tale of doing the one little thing you can takes on special meaning." Perseverance saves the day in this graceful retelling of a traditional jataka tale from India. Martin employs a direct, engaging style to tell the story of a small parrot's battle against a raging forest fire....An author's note explains that that jataka tales ...based on the past lives of the Buddha...have been told and retold for 2500 years. This is an elegant continuation of that tradition." Publishers Weekly "Children will celebrate the brave little parrot's victory and ask for this story again and again. It's a wonderful choice for reading aloud." Booklist "In the story of a god disguised as an eagle that descends to earth to aid a small parrot, Martin offers one of the jataka tales from India, which chronicle the past lives of Buddha. When a forest fire erupts, a little parrot tries to convince the animals of the forest to help put out the fire, but she's told it's hopeless, and to save herself. Even the great eagle--a god who has watched the other gods and goddesses ridicule the parrot--can't dissuade the small bird from her noble effort. Those valiant attempts elicit compassionate tears from him: ``Tears fell from his eyes, fell in torrents, sheet after sheet, like cooling rain, upon the fire,upon the forest, upon the animals, and upon the little parrot.''Needless to say, the tears quench the fire, restoring harmony and beauty, and all the colors of the forest, mirrored in the parrot's new feathers. Readers may recognize aspects of the story from Native American lore, but will be less familiar with the shape-shifting powers of the Buddha. Gaber's jungle landscapes begin with a peaceable kingdom atmosphere, igniting into smoke-filled, flame-licked pages whose brush strokes highlight all the drama. Close-ups of wildlife bring readers face to face with majestic tigers, eagles, elephants, and the earnest, brave-hearted parrot--she'll win hearts with her theatrical heroics." Kirkus Reviews "His book doesn't preach . . . It's about seeing what needs to be done and doing it - and changing the world, in ways that can't be imagined, by the power of example. Martin's storytelling is lovely, lyrical, and spare. And the watercolor illustrations, by Susan Gaber, match the story's emotional depth . . . . Few children's books contain an end-page quote from Finnegan's Wake, James Joyce's classic, maddeningly difficult novel. But The Brave Little Parrot does and its perfect: "What bird has done yesterday man may do tomorrow." Lee Krenis Moore, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
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Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 1993 |
Dear as Salt
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 Order Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake from amazon.com ALA Notable Children's
Book |
Foolish
Rabbit's Big Mistake Illustrated by Ed Young G.P. Putnam  afe's retelling of a well-known jataka tale which illustrates
how jumping to conclusions can lead to trouble. It is the story of how a
little rabbit misinterprets a loud crash, and how a brave lion's common
sense restores order to chaos. It is, essentially, a story about fears and
rumors, and ultimately of courage. A funny, rhythmic beautiful picture book
about courage and facing fears - with a very happy ending.
"Recommended for all of us, grown or not, who have anything in common
with the foolish rabbit." "This Jataka tale from India, a forerunner of Chicken Little and Henny-Penny,
tells the story of a little rabbit who has fears about the end of the
world. . . . Young's illustrations for this ancient story are quite glorious.
. . . The artist blends magnificent, rich colorings that form shapes and
shadows giving his artwork a highly original look. An excellent presentation
that is especially well-suited for story hour." " . . . one of the great all-time series of double-page spreads. .
. . A gem for reading aloud." "Remarkable scenes described by ... a renowned oral storyteller." " . . . characters that seem to be sculpted in color." Guess who loves Foolish Rabbit? |
Order The Hungry Tigress in paperback from amazon.com or from Yellowmoon.com Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award |
The Hungry Tigress
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A Junior Library Guild Selection Nominee for the 2003 Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award |
The Language of Birds "In this resonant retelling of a Russian folktale a rich merchant
has two sons: Vasilii, the elder who squanders his money on every pleasure,
and Ivan, who rescues a baby bird. The bird's grateful mother grants Ivan
a wish--to understand the language of the birds--which saves the brothers....Satisfying
on many levels."
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The Monkey Bridge
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 Order Mysterious Tales of Japan from amazon.com Anne Izard Storyteller’s
Choice Award ALA Notable Book Award of the |
Mysterious Tales of Japan
"This lyrically
written collection is a wondrous introduction to tales that may be unfamiliar
to children." "Some of
these ten stories, such as "The Boy Who Drew Cats," will be familiar to
readers; others will not. But all the tales are characterized by an eerie
beauty. In his introduction, Martin explains this quality as peculiarly
Japanese, with roots in the Shinto and Buddhist views of life. Most of
the tales focus on the spiritual powers within nature. A woman falls in
love with a pine tree; a man marries a dangerous snow maiden; a priest
is granted a wish to live three days as a carp. The theme of kindness
repaid occurs frequently but with a twist of bittersweet loss unusual
in Western folklore. Several stories are ghost tales, but even those are
haunting rather than horrifying. Every tale is headed with a haiku and
illustrated with one black-and-white drawing and one color plate. As with
his earlier work The Rough-Face Girl (1992), Martin's interpretations
linger long in the mind." Shivery,
mysterious, and cool as moonlight, these retellings respect both their
sources and their audience, while doing what stories do best -- entertain.
"The ten
wonderfully, eerily told tales [Martin] shares here rely not on terror
for impact but on enigma, subtlety, moral implication and taut storytelling....
Ages 8-up." "These
mysterious stories draw the reader into an eerie, beautiful world....This
wonderful collection is also richly illustrated." "All the
tales are characterized by an eerie beauty.... Most of the tales focus
on the spiritual powers in nature.... As with his earlier work The
Rough-Face Girl Martin's interpretations linger long in the mind." "Nicely
retold and handsomely illustrated." "Martin's
retellings are colloquial, lively, very accessible, and really do send
the shiver up the spine ....This is ideal for individual reading or read-alouds."
"Influenced to a large extent by American
writer Lafcadio Hearn, the author has brought together ten tales, of which
seven are based on Hearn's versions. Though replete with ghosts and spirits,
the tales are gently told where possible so that the collection assumes
a quietly eerie tone. The harsh consequences of broken promises are not
forgotten, however, and several of the lead characters are dead by tale's
end. The softly hued paintings, glowing with blues and golds, focus on
the key figure of each tale. The sources for the tales are carefully documented,
and additional comments by the author relate personal experiences that
affected his retellings." |
Order One Hand Clapping from amazon.com Winner of Storytelling World's 1996 Anthologies Award |
One Hand Clapping : Zen Stories for
All Ages "This thought-provoking
collection, designed for 'the tender heart children and adults naturally
share,' provides a window onto the contemplative nature of Buddhism. The
selections offer many layers of meaning for different levels of interest
. . . Like beads on a necklace, the stories are strung together and unified
by Morimoto's (My Hiroshima) agile illustrations . . . Gracefully compiled
and beautifully designed, this is a one-of-a-kind book. All ages."
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 Order The Rough-Face Girl in hard cover from amazon.com Order The Rough-Face Girl in paperback from amazon.com 1995 Virginia State
Reading Association Golden Sower Award, 1994 1994-5 Georgia Children's Picture Storybook Award IRA Teacher's Choice Award, 1993 Child Study Children's Book Committee "Children's Book of the Year 1993" 1993 Association of Booksellers for Children Booksellers' Choice Award Pick of the Lists,
1993-94 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master Reading List Utah 1995 Children's
Picture Book Children's Book |
The Rough-Face Girl "There are many versions of the Cinderella story, but none is more
eloquent or affecting -- or more strikingly illustrated." "... a welcome rediscovery of an American Indian Cinderella variant
whose heroine is both a religious mystic and a seeker after true love." "Martin's retelling is spare but never dry; the two sisters are richly
comic figures, the climax and ending uncontrived yet magically romantic.
. . . A strong distinctive tale with art to match." "This is a story for those of us who have anguished over the invasion
of Walt Disney into Native America....This [is a] story of mystery, true
hearts, and love. You and yours will enjoy it." "Simply in the words of an oral storyteller, Martin retells an Algonquin
folktale... Shannon's finely crafted ... paintings ... embody the full
flavor of the story.... this is a splendid read-aloud." "The text contains the cadences and rhythms of oral language, and the
illustrations, dark and vivid, use earth tones and shadows to convey the
drama of the text. A well-told tale in a handsome format." "[This] Cinderella story ... from Algonquin Indian folklore....is bound
to startle any Disney-raised child.... there's a mysticism and depth to
this version that take it to a plane far beyond Disney." "In this powerful retelling of a Native-American Cinderella story,
the Rough-Face Girl, the youngest of three daughters, is so named because
years of tending the fire have scarred her face and arms. She earns the
love of and the right to marry the powerful Invisible Being by seeing
him in the beauty of the earth around her. The text contains the cadences
and rhythms of oral language, and the illustrations, dark and vivid, use
earth tones and shadows to convey the drama." "The Rough-Face Girl is a wonder." Additional accolades for
The Rough-Face Girl:
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Order in Paperback The Shark God from amazon.com Nominated for the 2004 Virginia Young Readers State Award. Selected among the most outstanding books of 2001 (from a field of 7,023 juvenile titles) by the Los Angeles Best Books program Winner of the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award Selected as an HONORS AWARD WINNER by the 2001 National Association of Parenting Publications Awards Winner of a National Parenting Publications Award "A real find for story hours and individual readers as well." |
The Shark God The Shark God
has been "selected to be among the most outstanding books of 2001 in the
annual Los Angeles Best Books program, a partnership of the Los Angeles
Unified School District Library Services and the Children's Literature
and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association."
It was one of the only 4 books selected in Folklore. "The selections for
the 2001 list were made from a total of 7,023 juvenile titles published
in 2001." "The announcement of these outstanding books is being made at
the annual International Reading Association Convention this year (2003)
in Orlando." "Based on an ancient
legend from Hawaii, this story is sufficiently unfamiliar and suspenseful
to have appeal for storytellers and readers alike. The setting is a tropical
island ruled by an unfeeling despot; the catalytic characters are a brother
and sister who manage to rescue a rope-entangled shark despite the indifference
of their neighbors, who are as callous as the king. When in their exuberance
the children violate the rules and touch the king's drum, they are arrested
and condemned to death. In exasperation, their parents seek out the shark
god, depicted as a monumental man with a tattoo of a shark's open jaws
on his back. Moved by their story, the god engineers the family's rescue
and the destruction of their unworthy neighbors in a stunning cataclysm
of wind, waves, and clouds. The figures of the god and the king--particularly
the former--are in the tradition of Oceanic art; there are echoes of Gauguin
in page composition. Shannon's dark palette is well suited to the overall
tone, lightening effectively as the family sails to a new and more inviting
land. The appended author's note is informative and detailed.... Given
the fact that sharks are a source of endless fascination among children,
this is a real find for story hours and individual readers as well." "Once again Martin
and Shannon, author and illustrator of The Rough-Face Girl, have
teamed up for another brilliantly written and designed book. This little
known Hawaiian legend is full of suspense and should easily capture the
attention of a wide age range. The detailed and brightly colored paintings
effectively convey the Hawaiian culture as well as the power of the Shark
God and could be used quite nicely with large groups. Children with a
general interest in sharks will also enjoy this title." "The winning partnership
that created The Rough-Faced Girl (1992) reunites with this dramatic,
beautifully illustrated adaptation of an ancient Hawaiian legend. After
rescuing a shark near their tropical island--no thanks to their hard-hearted
neighbors--a jubilant brother and sister can't resist playing the king's
drum--a strictly taboo act, punishable by death. The pitiless king is
unrelenting in his sentence, and the children's parents seek solace from
the wise but wrathful Shark God, who destroys the island's population
with a flood reminiscent of Noah's story, saving only the children and
their parents and sending them off to a new life on another island with
a kinder king. In text and images, the story creates a potent sense of
atmosphere, power, and suspense. Young ones will feel the roaring Shark
God's murky lair, see his "strong, sharp, white teeth," and sense his
ferocious omnipotence, impressively portrayed in vibrant paintings reminiscent
of Gauguin and perfectly composed for large groups. In a concluding note,
the author describes how he toned down the original for a young audience.
Even with his alterations, this powerful tale will rivet children ready
for a little terror and some heavy but well-handed morality. Great cover,
too." "The creators of
Rough-Face Girl (1992) and The Boy Who Lived with the Seals
(1993) ...get together for another strongly told, strikingly illustrated
folktale. Detailing his own additions in an appended note, Martin reworks
an old Hawaiian myth into a story of mercy rewarded. Shannon peoples his
island scenes with sturdy, tattooed, mahogany-skinned figures but Kauhuhu
[the Shark God] magnificently huge and ferocious, is by far the most powerful
presence here: human in form but with silver skin, decidedly shark-like
features, and an immense toothy mouth tattooed across his shoulder blades...there's
enough joy, terror and drama here to captivate any reader or listener."
"Combining threads
from a Hawaiian legend and his own creative imagination Martin has woven
a tale of two kind-hearted children who aid a shark in distress.... Shannon's
vigorous illustrations provide a dramatic backdrop for this well-told
tale of cruelty and compassion.... From the vivid cover depicting the
Shark God assuming a gigantic human form to the laughing sound of the
royal drum as the liberated family sails off to their new home, this is
a winning package." |
Order A Storyteller's Story from amazon.com |
A Storyteller's Story Illustrated by Jill Krementz Richard C. Owen Publishers http://www.RCOwen.com/MTA-RafeMartin.htm  hotos by award-winning author and photographer Jill Krementz (A
Very Young Dancer, A Very Young Rider and many others) illustrate
this look into the life of a professional storyteller and children's author.
Rafe shares his day, his life, his travels, his work, and describes his
writing process."Though more children are doing author studies in school, there's a lack of materials....This refreshing book combines good, simple writing and appealing photographs with an idea whose time has come." Booklist "Just the ticket for those librarian-perplexing assignments
for autobiographies."
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And The Storytelling Princess in paperback from amazon.com Winner 2004 Storytelling World Award Honor Title Junior Library Guild Selection |
The Storytelling Princess "A prince who loves
to read and a princess who craves adventure fly in the face of parental
authority when informed of their arranged marriage.... Though the prince
finally agrees to marry "someone who can tell me a story whose ending
I don't know," the princess steadfastly proclaims, "I'd rather be washed
overboard in a storm at sea." Fate intervenes...and throws them together...not
knowing that each is the other's intended. Told in the language and structure
of a traditional tale, the story has many motifs that will be familiar
to readers who will, ironically sense the ending long before it is clear
to the prince. That predictability is nonetheless genuinely satisfying,
as there are enough elements of excitement and energy within the action
and the telling to engage and maintain children's attention." "The handsome prince
loves books, and the princess is daring and smart. Martin brings them
together in an inventive fairy tale with a modern twist: one of them is
a teller of tales; the other is a listener in search of a story with a
surprise ending. The pictures are as warm and winning as the story." "Enchanting!" |
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Straight to The Heart of Zen |
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2001 Honor Title, Storytelling World Award, Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners Recipient of a 2001 Christie Award |
The Twelve Months |
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Order Will's Mammoth from amazon.com ALA Notable Book |
Illustrated by Stephen Gammell 
afe Martin understands the power of imagination and its importance in
growing up. In a few words he brings to life Will, a boy who believes
in his mammoth. Will loves big woolly mammoths. Even when his parents
tell him that there aren't any mammoths left, that doesn't stop Will.
Climbing on top of a giant boulder, Will takes off on his own woolly mammoth,
and the adventures begin. Dazzling illustrations sweep the reader into
a breathtaking, colorful, prehistoric world.
"Will has a perfectly splendid day riding his mammoth at the head of the
mammoth herd. This simple exercise of the imagination is electrified by
the splotchy, snowy, wildly energetic illustrations. A triumph of mammoth
mania."
"A marvelous imaginary journey that will strike a responsive chord in young
and old alike."
"From Gammell's imaginatively lettered title page to the last sighting of
young Will, sound asleep and dreaming of his favorite subject, this is a
rare treasure of a book. . . . A paean to imaginative play that should be
around as long as the mammoth has been gone.
"One winter morning, Will's mother and father inform him that his favorite
fauna, the woolly mammoth, is extinct. But the boy knows better. Squinting
his eyes, he manages to conjure up the prehistoric past, complete with saber
-- toothed tigers, early versions of horse, warthogs, and of course, the
elephant's tusky ancestor . . . Stephen Gammell augments Rafe Martin's whimsical
text with celebrations of early mammals, snow and that greatest of all time
machines, a child's imagination."
"Radiant invention in a small epic of the imagination." |
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Winner 2004 Storytelling World Award Winning Title Selected for New York Public Library List of the "100 Books for Reading and Sharing" -- also known as The New York Public Library's List of the "100 Best Books of the Year!" NOW in paperback from barnesandnoble.com |
The World Before This One: A Novel in Legend
Ages 9-12. In a time before stories Crow, a young Seneca boy, and his grandmother
have been cast out of the community. They struggle to find enough food to
survive and make it through the harsh winters. One day as Crow is hunting
birds he's startled by a voice he hears coming from a boulder. The boulder
tells Crow many wonderful stories of a life before this one, and each day
Crow returns to hear more stories. But when Crow returns home he has very
little food with and his grandmother becomes suspicious. She fears something
evil has a hold on Crow and plans to put an end to it. But will she succeed
before Crow discovers his own destiny within the clan? A powerful story
of folklore and legend with beautiful paper sculptures.
Gr. 5-8. Working with a council of Seneca elders, storyteller Martin created
a collection of folktales that reads like a novel. After being shunned by
their community, young Gaqka (Crow) and his grandmother retreat to the woods,
where Gaqka learns to hunt and where he encounters an enchanted storytelling
stone that tells about "the world before this one." Gaqka's hunting suffers
when he begins to visit the stone daily, and his worried grandmother sends
spies who, like her grandson, also fall under the stone's spell. Eventually,
the whole village recognizes the power of stories, and Gaqka, as storyteller,
returns as an esteemed member of his community. In the stone's voice, Martin
retells the ancient tales in language that is both spare and exciting, deftly
folding them into the novel's compelling framing story that is based on
a Seneca legend. Nichols' expertly cut paper sculptures, elegant and minimal,
don't overpower the stories. Peter Jemison, a Seneca elder, introduces the
book, and an extensive author's note offers more cultural background and
source information. A highly readable, intriguing novel about northern Native
American traditions, for both curricular support and pleasure reading. "Written in the style of a novel, this collection of 14 Seneca tales is presented through the retelling of one central story into which all the others are artfully woven. Each story has been carefully selected for its perti |
nce upon a time, six brothers were turned into swans. And once
upon a time, the spell was broken, giving back to each brother his human
form...all except for Ardwin, the youngest. He was left with one arm enchanted,
forever a wing.
ere is the story of Will, a boy who believes that mammoths really
exist, and who goes out to find one. When Will meets his mammoth in a
snowstorm, the real threat of danger clashes with the equally real power
of Will's imagination. The magic and delight of this tale is brought to
life by the 22 illustrations by award-winning artist Richard Wehrman.
With its rich language and penetrating vision, this book will entrance
children and adults alike. In short, this story demonstrates the creative
power of the imagination, and will inspire readers to have faith in theirs.
You can also hear Rafe's told version of this tale on the audiocassette
Rafe Martin Tells His Children's Books. This is the original, long
literary version of the original story that Rafe turned into his award-winning
picture-book Will's Mammoth. The last section of this book is an
essay on Rafe's writing process and the origins, from his own childhood,
of this award-winning story. A terrific companion to the picture-book
version and a wonderful exploration of an author's actual writing process.
n this Alaskan Eskimo tale joy comes to the world through the Eagle
Mother, the animals, and the arts, which build community. It is also a
story about the importance of storytelling and the illustrations--oil
paintings all-are simply gorgeous.
"From the renowned author of The Rough-Face Girl comes an
exquisitely rendered version of one of India's best-loved tales, about
what it means to be a king. Having studied the Buddhist tradition for
many decades, Martin is at his best in this fable of how a king's greed
put a tribe of monkeys in mortal danger, while a monkey king's sacrifice
restores peace to his kingdom. Full-color illustrations."
collection of ten of
Rafe's favorite Japanese folktales draws readers into an eerie, beautiful
world that is not so different from our own with such stories as the romantic
"Green Willow" and the suspenseful "Ho-ichi the Earless."
