• Age: 8 to 18
• Grade: 3 to 12

Before two leggeds walked on Mother Earth there was a great cold. The animals formed a council; someone had to seek help from the Creator. Rainbow Crow, a most colourful bird, was selected because he had a beautiful voice that would surely impress the Creator. He flew into the heavens and won fire from above. But on the way back the fire began to burn his plumage black and destroy his beautiful voice. But Rainbow Crow persevered, bringing the life-saving fire safely back to his friends. This Lenape legend of courage and sacrifice is masterfully retold by award-winning author David Bouchard. The stunning art, painted on traditional drums by celebrated Canadian artist, David Jean, will inspire young and old alike.

English/Ojibwe edition. For the French/Ojibwe edition see Corneille Arc-en-ciel.

British Columbia's best-selling author and most sought-after public speaker has presented to hundreds of thousands of educators, parents and students the world over. This former teacher and principal of 28 years champions literacy. His message is spelled out in his best selling books The Gift of Reading and For the Love of Reading.
"The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of reading and there is no magic in giving it. There is no toy or program that will do the job for us. It takes time, commitment and most of all, fire. We cannot hope to light a fire in the hearts of others without a fire burning in our own. Light and stoke yours, then spread the flame fast and furious. Let literacy be your legacy."
Bouchard outlines individual roles and responsibilities in ascertaining that all children are given the gift of reading. He inspires like none other and leaves his listeners with a concrete plan and the rejuvenation needed to face literacy issues head on.
Born and raised on the Canadian prairie, the author of over twenty five best selling books now lives in British Columbia with his wife Vicki and their combined family of seven.
David Bouchard's books have won several prestigious awards, among them: the Governor General's Award for The Song Within My Heart in 2004 and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry award for Voices From the Wild in 1997. If You're not from the Prairie is listed on MacLean's list of the Top Twenty Children's books in the history of Canada.
You can access his web page at www.davidbouchard.com.

David Bouchard's profile page

David Jean was born in Toronto to immigrant parents. His father was Mainland Chinese; his mother was from Barbados, a mix of Cherokee, African, and Dutch descent. His paintings and lithographs are widely acclaimed and complement numerous notable collections worldwide, including those of Giorgio Gucci and former Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

David Jean's profile page

Manantial is a native South American musical group from Salasaca, Ecuador, in the Andes. The Salasaca people speak Kichwa, the indigenous language found in the songs of Manantial. After many years of performing in Ecuador, the group moved to Europe and are now based in Paris. The song "Tatanka" is a tribute to Native North American music and can be found on the CD The Secret of Dancing Spirits, by Ayllu Records.

Manantial's profile page

"David Jean's detailed, realistic illustrations were painted on traditional drum skins. As such, the circular shape of the artwork reflects the "circle of life" that Bouchard discusses in his foreword. The drum skins and Jean's brush strokes lend texture to the illustrations, giving them a lifelike, almost three-dimensional quality.
"Bouchard's evocative and touching story will appeal to a wide audience. In reading how Crow came to have black plumage and the harsh "Caw" with which we are today so familiar, we read of a brave, humble bird. The inspirational story of this heroic bird teaches readers about willingness to sacrifice individual selves for the good of all. It is an important lesson taught through an enjoyable story."
Highly Recommended.
-- CM Magazine