Trilingual UA Press Children's Book Receives Honor

UA News Services
June 9, 2005


"The Good Rainbow Road," a tri-lingual children's book in the Native American storytelling tradition, has been awarded the 12th annual "Skipping Stones" Honor Award.

The "Skipping Stones" honor award recognizes authors whose work promotes respect for the ecological richness and cultural diversity in the world. "Skipping Stones" applauds "The Good Rainbow Road" for strengthening awareness of the world by promoting the importance of shaping the future through understanding nature, taking care of natural resources and getting along with one another.

In "The Good Rainbow Road," a story for children over the age of seven, two courageous young boys are chosen to find the water spirits who can save their village from a terrible drought. The nearby lake and stream have dried up, crops have withered and died and even the hardy oak trees have become brittle sticks. Although the story is located in the Native American world, renowned author Simon J. Ortiz believes that all people are a part of creation and each other, and therefore have stories that join them. Adversity, bravery and destiny are the universal themes that will resonate with readers of all ages.

The book honors language in a unique fashion suitable for classroom storytelling activities. It is presented in English and the boys' Keres, which is spoken at Acoma, N. M., and six other Pueblo communities. A Spanish translation is provided. The book is published in cooperation with Oyate, a community- based Native organization dedicated to the continuation of traditional literatures and histories. Bold color illustrations from acclaimed artist and storyteller Michael Lacapa accompany the text.

Poet, fiction writer, and essayist Ortiz, a native of Acoma, is the author of numerous books, including "Out There Somewhere, Men on the Moon;" "From San Creek;" "Speaking for the Generations" and "Woven Stone." All have been published by The University of Arizona Press. He is currently a professor at the University of Toronto.

Illustrator/storyteller Michael Lacapa, who passed away earlier this year, co- authored and illustrated his first book, "Ndee' Benadogé'i: Three Stories of the White Mountain Apahce Tribe," in 1981. Lacapa, of Apache/Hopi/Tewa descent, also illustrated and authored fourteen other literary works "for the child in us all." (Lacapa is survived by his wife, Kathy; two sons, Daniel and Anthony and daughter, Rochelle.)

"The Good Rainbow Road"
Text by Simon J. Ortiz; illustrations by Michael Lacapa
Publication Date: Aug. 4, 2004
64 pp., 11" x 10," 27 color illustrations
$16.95 hardcover, ISBN 0-8165-2340-1

For more information, contact Holly Dolan, publicity manager for The University of Arizona Press, at 520-621-3920, or by e-mail at hdolan@uapress.arizona.edu

Or visit the UA Press online at www.uapress.arizona.edu

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Holly Dolan
publicity manager
The University of Arizona Press
520-621-3920
hdolan@uapress.arizona.edu