Category: Children Publisher: Maine Authors Publishing978
ISBN-10: 1633811719
Pages: 32
Copyright: April 2019
ISBN-13: 9781633811713
Creative non-fiction about Native American David Moses Bridges, master canoe maker
Young Tobias is on a quest with his father, David Moses Bridges, the Tribe’s master canoe maker. Together they go deep into the Maine woods to find the perfect birch and to gather spruce roots, cedar and spruce gum to build a canoe in the ‘old ways.’ In this magical tale, David weaves Native American storytelling into the ancient art and spirituality of canoe making, including the heart-rending, mythological legend of the partridge, the first canoe maker.
Excerpt
Turning to his son, David said, "The spirit will protect our canoe. I learned to build a birch bark canoe in the way of our ancestors. But passing on these traditions is my real work."
Professional Reviews
Abbe Museum
“The Canoe Maker warms the heart and immerses us in nature. You can hear David Moses's voice in the words and you can feel the love of a father and son. This book is a wonderful testament to a Passamaquoddy culture keeper and a beautiful record of canoe making and its importance. Gather your little loved ones to hear a story of love, adventure, and the importance of memory.”
My twin brother and I built a boat in our basement from plans we found in Popular Mechanics. Largely marine plywood with a single piece of hardwood for the stern, the materials were cheap and the labor was free… Many hours using screws to put together the 8 foot, light dinghy that was easy to mount on the top of the car or sticking out of the trunk to take to ponds for fishing or two rivers for running.
I have also paddled over 200 miles and aluminum canoes on several trips down rivers and in the wilderness of the Boundary Waters. While I found the aluminum canoe still quite heavy, but rugged and practical, I really admired birchbark canoes for their light but strong construction from simple woodland materials. The genius of Native Americans who made and used them.
I am so glad you are helping maintain the craft by your books for young people. Like everything sustainable, canoes like this are far better than those of aluminum or plastic.
