• Age: 5 to 10
• Grade: k to 5

This is Robert James Challenger's fifth collection of beautifully illustrated, easy-to-read short stories that impart practical, moral lessons about life in today's world.

As in Aesop's fables and First Nations legends, animals, birds and insects are the ones who do the teaching. Mother Eagle helps her daughter overcome her sibling rivalry. An encounter with Mosquito teaches a little girl that revenge doesn't make a person feel any better. Little Orca learns from his grandfather that being grown up has very little to do with how big you are.

Exploring a range of contemporary issues, including bullying and dealing with the death of loved ones, these stories are relevant and readable. As appealing to parents and teachers as they are to children, they are a wonderful way to convey values of respect, cooperation, and kindness.

Robert James (Jim) Challenger was born in Vancouver in 1953 and lives in Victoria, BC. Jim has spent his life absorbing the stories the Northwest Coast has to offer. A keen observer of the natural behaviour of wildlife, he has developed his own style of artwork that captures the essence of the many creatures that live around him.

Jim is an accomplished artist and stone carver, and has sold his beach-stone and glass carvings to collectors around the world. His highly sought form-line designs capture the shape and movement of his subjects while maintaining the simplicity of flowing lines and shapes. Through his stories and designs, Jim brings a unique perspective to how we can learn from nature’s examples in the world that surrounds us. For more information about the author, visit www.rjchallenger.com.

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