Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
By Gerald McDermott
The Story
A trickster raven sets out to steal light from Sky Chief and give it to a world living in darkness, risking discovery to pull off his boldest transformation yet.
Why It's Special
For the kid who roots for the clever underdog and asks 'but how did he do it?' on every page, this myth delivers a hero who wins with wit instead of muscle.
- Big idea: Cleverness and shape-shifting daring can bring light into the darkest places — trickery, used well, is its own kind of gift.
- Vibes: Bold, mythic, and visually striking, with the hush of an origin story being told around a fire.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy trickster and animal-hero tales
- are curious about myths and how the world came to be
- respond well to bold, graphic artwork with strong shapes and color
- like to root for the clever underdog
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Raven had to do to get close to Sky Chief and his light?
- Imagination: If you were a trickster like Raven, what shape would you turn into to sneak somewhere?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the world felt, living without light, before Raven's journey?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever worked hard to do something kind for a lot of people at once?
- Art & illustration: What do you notice about the colors and shapes the artist used to draw Raven?
