The Little Hummingbird

Description

This inspiring children's book is based on a South American indigenous story about a courageous hummingbird who defies fear and expectations in her attempt to save the forest from fire. The illustrated story is supplemented by a natural and cultural history of hummingbirds, as well as an inspiring message from Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. The evocative artwork by internationally renowned Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas complements this optimistic tale that encourages everyone to take responsibility for their home and the planet.

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas challenges native stereotypes through illustrative story telling. His artwork is informed by many years of dedication to public service and political activism, mostly on behalf of the Haida. Yahgulanaas creates pop-graphic narratives that riff on traditional Haida stories and painting techniques, and developed "Haida Manga" the distinctive art form for which he is widely known. A trickster-like sense of humour contributes to his work's appeal. Yahgulanaas' books include Flight of the Hummingbird, A Tale of Two Shamans, The Last Voyage of the Black Ship, Hachidori, and most recently RED, a graphic novel published by Douglas & McIntyre. Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas has exhibited in several major galleries, including the Bill Reid Gallery, the McMichael Gallery, the Museum of Anthropology, the Glenbow Museum, and the National Arts Center in Ottawa. His Haida Anime "Flight of the Hummingbird" is featured on YouTube. For the past two decades, besides developing his unique visual style, Yahgulanaas has spent most of his time working with other Haida people to prevent their homeland, Haida Gwaii, from being logged. Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1940, the daughter of farmers in the highlands of Mount Kenya. She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, which, through networks of rural women, has planted over thirty million trees across Kenya since 1977. In 1986 the Movement established a Pan African Green Belt Network, which has taught people from other African countries the Green Belt Movement's approach to environmental conservation and community building. Several African countries have since started similar successful initiatives.

Praise for Flight of the Hummingbird: "Yahgulanaas's stylized renderings seem to express the 'spirit' of the creatures, adding great life and strength to the story itself. this slim little volume is, like Dukdukdiya, more valuable and powerful that its size suggests." Sustainablog "This book is something that you can buy for your child that they will come back to time and again, the older they get. When you get discouraged and feel like protecting the planet is a fad, read this book." Treehugger "Flight of the Hummingbird is one of those rare books that you can admire as a work of art in and of itself it is a beautiful book produced in an environmentally-friendly manner which fits nicely with the message." Booklorn "Yahgulanaas has illustrated this tale with stylized and utterly enchanting images of creatures... This is a wise and inspiring book. In this season of back-to-school, it contains a lesson for us all." Bellingham Herald Awards for Flight of the Hummingbird: Gold Medal in the Outstanding Book of the Year Award (IPPY Awards in the U.S.) in the "Storyteller of the Year" category Nominated for a BC Booksellers' Choice Award, 2009